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August 8, 2024 (Webinar)
Nan Palmer Pieces of Quiet: The Link between Yoga and Knitting Why do we knit? So many reasons! To calm ourselves, to stretch our creativity muscles, to make something beautiful and/or warm, to knit something for a loved one. The goal of yoga practice is to stretch, strengthen and ready the body for being still enough to listen to that wise voice that comes to us when we reach that Zen-like place. And isn’t that what happens when we knit, either alone or in company? We relax, our thoughts become less scattered, those big problems get smaller and more manageable. And we often laugh at that too-serious part of ourselves. The goal for this presentation is to teach you some breathing techniques, some easy stretches, and take you to a place of balanced energy at the end of our practice. Nan Palmer is a Certified Yoga Therapist at Abiding Yoga Therapy. |
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July 11, 2024 (Webinar)
Britt Garber Crafting Visibility: The Importance of BIPOC Representation in the Fiber Industry Britt will talk about the challenges and successes of advocating for diversity in the fiber industry that led to the creation of The Makers of Color Collective. As a BIPOC crafter, she will share her personal experiences and explain how seeing oneself represented in the hobbies we love shapes our identity and enhances our crafting journey. The presentation will highlight why inclusivity is crucial for promoting a vibrant and supportive community. Whether you are new to KnotBadBritt or curious about the impact of The Makers of Color Collective, this talk will offer valuable insights into the importance of diversity in crafting and how each of us can contribute to creating a more inclusive environment. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Britt of KnotBadBritt is a distinguished crochet designer specializing in advanced patterns that challenge and delight skilled crafters. |
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June 13, 2024 (hybrid meeting)
Sue King, Big Timber Alpacas Knitting with Suri Alpaca What is Suri alpaca and why knit with Suri alpaca yarn? These questions and more will be explored by Sue in her discussion about the wonderful Suri alpaca and its fine, lustrous soft fiber. After a short video on Knitting with Suri, Sue will show samples of Suri yarn and Huacaya yarn (the other alpaca breed) and its end products. Hopefully this discussion will encourage you to experiment with the wonders of Suri alpaca yarn in your knitting projects. Sue has a passion for the Suri alpacas and operates Big Timber Alpacas, an internationally known Suri alpaca farm near Sherwood, OR, with over 40 Suri alpacas. In addition, Sue is a weaver in her Big Timber Weaving Studio using Suri alpaca and other natural fibers in her woven projects. |
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May 9, 2024 (hybrid meeting)
Emily Lymm The Psychology of Color: Color Theory for Makers The psychology of color asks why you are drawn to certain colors. And how much of that is influenced by our environment? Let’s become empowered to break that cycle with some advanced color theory and identify how to make clothes that truly represent our unique personalities and tastes. |
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April 11, 2024 (hybrid meeting)
The Drunk Knitter: Safiyyah Talley Two at a Time Socks Safiyyah is the author of the best selling book Knit 2 Socks in 1. She is also a knitwear designer, teacher, blogger, and podcaster that works out of her home in scenic Indiana, USA. When she is not knitting, Safiyyah either spends her free time hiking with her photographer husband, her toddler son Beau and chocolate lab Arya, or enjoying the rural Indiana landscape with her three cats Khaleessi, Nymeria, and Benjamin Chase. |
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March 14, 2024 (hybrid meeting)
Zeb Walter Disco Fibers - Making De-Stashing Easy Come and learn how this crazy idea of secondhand yarn all got started, you might even find out exactly what is “secondhand yarn.” Zeb Walter started Disco Fibers in April of 2023 to fill a need within the fiber arts community. Many secondhand stores fill Portlander life from clothing to furniture, to every outdoor activity that there is, but for the dedicated fiber artist, the choices are not as abundant. Disco Fibers acts not only as a de-stash service to individuals and companies, but also as a retail conduit to make fiber arts more affordable to the everyone. |
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February 8, 2024 (hybrid meeting)
Sivia Harding Roosimine and Vikkel, a Perfect Pair Roosimine is an Estonian inlay colorwork technique that is as easy as pie - you simply lay in the contrast color in as you go - it’s not even knitted! It produces a delightfully embossed texture that is unlike anything else. Vikkel braids, which look like a horizontal line of knitting, are incredibly complementary to Roosimine, and the two techniques are often found together, a perfect pair! Sivia Harding has worked with fiber and art since she can remember. She is known for exceptional designs including lace, garments, accessories, and imaginative Moebius creations. She has been widely published and on Ravelry as Sivia Harding Knit Design. |
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January 11, 2024 (hybrid meeting)
Sweater Show-and-Tell January we are rolling out the red carpet to show off all of our beautiful sweaters and "ooh" and "ahh'' over our immense talent! There's also plenty of room to show off all our goofs and laugh at our mistakes! Bring your best or worst for a show-and-tell night with your favorite fiber friends. |
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December 14, 2023 (hybrid meeting)
Xandy Peters Unexpected Knitting A half hour talk about how an open mind and willingness to make mistakes has led to interesting swatches and eventually collections of new designs in my own work.Slides showing notebook pages, inspiration images and design process demonstrate how a small idea can grow with experimentation and sometimes even mistakes become favorite new stitches. Xandy Peters is best-known as the innovator of the stacked-stitch technique, especially the Fox Paws pattern. Xandy has been published in many magazines including Vogue Knitting, Twist Collective, Knitscene, Knitty, and Pom Pom Quarterly. Xandy’s patterns can be found on Ravelry or at xandypeters.com |
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November 9, 2023 (hybrid meeting)
Ana Campos Overcoming The Fear of Hand Dyed Yarns and Variegation Are you curious about hand dyed yarns but not sure how to use them? Do you struggle to pick the right project for your hand dyed yarns? This lecture is for you! Indie dyer and shop owner Ana Campos will talk about different styles of hand dyed yarns, how to use color theory to select the right yarn for your projects, how to manage pooling, and how to purposefully control pooling. Ana Campos was born in São Paulo, Brazil, and now makes her home in the Witch City (Salem, Massachusetts). She is a founding member of Vogue Knitting's Diversity Advisory Council and is committed to increasing equity and access in the fiber world. As a teacher she strives to empower her students to create pieces they love. |
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October 12, 2023 (hybrid meeting)
Laura Nelkin Bling Your Knits! This lecture is a deep dive into the multiple ways you can add beads to your knitting. Laura Nelkin will look at methods for working with pre-strung beads and place beads, and how to decide which method to use. She’ll discuss choosing beads and yarn, along with how to look at an existing pattern in your library and how to add beads to it. Are you ready to add a little bling to your knitting? Laura Nelkin is a prolific and innovative knitwear designer with a passion for knitting with beads. |
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September 14, 2023 (hybrid meeting)
September Sweater Cast-on Party Come join us as we have a Cast-On Party for Sweaters in September instead of our usual presentation. Fellow members will be advising on measurements and gauge. We will have snacks and refreshments for the in-person folk, BYO for those online. Virtual attendees will be in a meeting, not a webinar, so will be able to interact with each other. Board Member Pattern Recommendations: Scrappy Cardigan by Safiyyah Talley Spearheads by Jared Flood Dog Star by Tin Can Knits Strange Brew by Tin Can Knits Featherweight Cardigan by Hannah Fettig Coffee Bean Cardigan by Elizabeth Smith |
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August 10, 2023 (hybrid meeting)
Laura Ricketts Sámi Knitting The Sámi are Scandinavia’s only UN-recognized, indigenous people. On the fringe of European society, their knitting tradition has been largely unknown or ignored. Nevertheless, Sámi knitting is a small microcosm of a beautiful, unique textile tradition. Drawing on ten years of research, I will acquaint the audience with the subsets of Sámi culture, Sámi knitting, and some regional differences in patterns and practice. |
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July 13, 2023 (hybrid meeting)
Tian Connaughton Swatch: Beyond the Gauge You might be thinking that making a swatch is boring. Right? But not so fast. Swatching is more than just a square piece of fabric. It’s magic! In this presentation, Tian will show you how valuable swatching is to the outcome of your project and how to use your swatch for more than just checking your gauge. You will learn how to use your swatch to calculate yardage for your project to answer the age-old question, “Do I have enough yarn?” because while we do love a good game of yarn chicken, we love even more to actually finish our projects. Then, what to do with all the swatches you’ve accumulated? Tian will show you some fun project ideas. Tian is a crochet and knitwear designer, tech editor, business coach, and instructor for fiber enthusiasts. |
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June 8, 2023 (hybrid meeting)
Seth Richardson Embracing Creativity: How a Natural Human Impulse Drives Us to Knit Amazing Things Yes, we’re all creative! Even when we follow a pattern, each of us has a unique perspective and a set of skills that we use to make something a bit different than everyone else. But how does this work, and how can we recognize and encourage our individual creative identities? In this presentation, designer Seth Richardson will talk about some aspects of Creativity and connect them to the fiber arts to look at the different decisions we make when we work on our craft. We’ll also discuss methods and exercises for expanding your creative potential to help you explore new avenues in your knitting or finding your voice as a designer. It’s time to spice up that project queue with something new! Seth (he/him/his) is a Portland-based pattern designer who enjoys creating pieces that use simple texture and he is especially interested in designing works that explore the various relationships of straight lines. You can find him at @sethrichardsonknits on Instagram. |
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May 11, 2023 (hybrid meeting)
Ellie Alexander-Loomis Scrap Down with Skeinanigans! Scrappy projects are so much fun, but it takes some work to make sure your project doesn't look brown in the end! We’ll begin this journey with a bit of color theory, then we will delve into the tips and tricks they've developed to make scrappy blankets fun and fuss-free. Ellie (they/she) is a practitioner of many crafts living on beautiful Whidbey Island in Washington State. They experienced quite a jump start in their career with the success of their Northeasterly pattern, and enjoy being able to share scrappy and size inclusive knitting through Skeinanigans Designs. When they are not crafting, they enjoy acting in community theater, playing Dungeons and Dragons and cuddling their two rescue hound dogs. |
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April 13, 2023 (hybrid meeting)
Amanda Lane Reclaiming Yarn From Knit Garments With the perspective of an engineer and a garment designer, Amanda Lane has unlocked the secret to reclaiming yarn from thrift shop garments. Amanda will talk about how to reclaim yarn from thrifted sweaters, including how to over-dye the yarn. She is obsessed with all things fiber and understanding how things work. She loves learning new skills and sharing her knowledge with others. Amanda spends most of her free time knitting, spinning, sewing, and weaving. |
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March 9, 2023 (hybrid meeting)
Michele Lee Bernstein Brioche Knit Love with Michele Lee Bernstein Michele Lee Bernstein designs and teaches from her home in Portland, OR. She loves using interesting techniques to make small objects from one or two skeins of very special yarn. Michele will talk about her history with brioche knitting and share samples from her new book: Brioche Knit Love. In her book she teaches a new technique with every pattern. Bring your US 15 needles and super bulky yarn (or worsted weight and US size 6 needles). Her presentation will include a starter one-color brioche project! |
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February 9, 2023 (Webinar)
Susan Plack Let's Knit Fast! AKA Boost Your Speed With A Knitting Machine! Susan Plack will introduce the mechanics and inspiration of machine knitting through a demonstration of how a knitting machine makes fabric. She will discuss strategies for creating unique objects quickly and encourage exploration of what is possible with the use of a knitting machine. Susan is a fiber artist who has learned, created, and taught many different fiber arts. She currently teaches fiber arts classes at a local yarn store. Her area of specialization is machine knitting socks and to date, she has knit 245 pairs! |
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January 12, 2023 (Webinar)
Anna-Lisa Miller Photographing Your Fiber Arts In this presentation, Anna-Lisa will share her tips for capturing the beauty of finished objects using a camera or phone. She will also teach us the strategies that professionals use in editing photos. Anna-Lisa is a local fiber artist and professional photographer. She works with local knitting designers to help them showcase the artistry of their designs. |
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December 8, 2022 (hybrid meeting)
Tina Johnston The Portland Community College Project: A Fleece Partnership Tina Johnston, owner of Black Sheep Fiber Emporium and Kokomo Yarns, spent several years working with the sheep at Portland Community College’s Rock Creek Campus during shearing days. In conjunction with the farm manager, Tina educates veterinary technician students about fleeces. She has also been sharing fleeces with other spinners and working to develop yarns and roving from the fleeces of the Rock Creek Campus flock. In this presentation, Tina will teach us about fleeces and tell us about her work with PCC. |
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November 10, 2022 (hybrid meeting)
Jen Parroccini Your Most-worn Sweater: Choosing Patterns for Your Wardrobe and Your Life Jen Parroccini will share recommendations for choosing knitting patterns that get worn. She'll start with what we already have and love, talk about identifying gaps, nail down the properties we need in our knits, and talk about where to find patterns. Jen will be joining us from Pittsburgh, PA. She primarily designs sweaters, gravitating towards texture, structure, and fine finishing. Jen is committed to size inclusion; her background includes custom sewing and professional tailoring. Jen also offers workshops and consulting. Her website is https://www.jpknitsthings.com 
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October 13, 2022 (hybrid meeting)
Beth Brown-Reinsel Scandinavian Construction Techniques Beth Brown-Reinsel has traveled extensively in Scandinavia, studying the methods developed in those countries to construct sweaters. She will share with us many examples illustrating the techniques used in designing and knitting sweaters in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, including knitted sleeve facings, buttonbands, the Swedish half gusset, surface design, felt and braid embellishment, and more. Beth has been teaching historic and traditional knitting workshops nationally and internationally for over thirty years. She is a knitting designer with her own line of patterns and the author of Knitting Ganseys as well as many articles featured in major knitting magazines. |
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September 8, 2022 (hybrid meeting)
Sarah Keller Help! My Stash is Smothering Me! Sarah Keller will show you how to take control of your stash by teaching you to critically evaluate the yarn you have and organize your stash in a way that will help you actually use it. In the process, you will learn to let go of the stress of having too much yarn and be ready to cast on new projects that utilize that stash. Sarah has been the owner of Knot Another Hat in Hood River since 2005 and has been teaching knitting for twenty years. She is also a designer of knitting patterns, which she publishes through Knot Another Hat. |
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August 11, 2022 (hybrid meeting)
Karel Chan Mindful Making: Training, Expanding, and Relaxing the Mind Through Creativity and Craft Karel Chan is the owner and designer at KC Knitting Company. She designs knitting patterns for mindful making, which fosters the cultivation of contentment, satisfaction, and well-being. She will discuss the process of mindfulness and how to intentionally engage the mind in knitting to enhance mental health and wellbeing. Her philosophy encourages the knitter to learn about their own body and to engage with techniques, methods, and craft that align with the individual. |
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July 14, 2022 (hybrid meeting)
Anne Berk Annetarsia Knits Anne Berk, the author of Annetarsia Knits, will introduce new methods for knitting intarsia patterns, including techniques for knitting flat and in the round for both stockinette and garter stitch projects. Intarsia offers opportunities for using color to create beautiful “painted” designs in knitting, which result in lightweight fabrics that are ideal for garments. Anne’s techniques help knitters get around some of the disadvantages of intarsia, such as the awkwardness of managing yarn and dealing with all of the ends. Anne is a nationally known knitting designer, teacher, and author. |
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June 9, 2022 (Webinar)
Sydney Crabaugh Knitwear Becomes Fashion: Twentieth Century Knitting History Join Sydney Crabaugh as she brings you from 1920s through 1950s when knitted items turned into fashion staples. This presentation will touch upon key moments in early 20th century knitting history that affected the surge of fashionable knitwear and knitting trends in the 1930s. We'll look at how knitting shifted during World War II, as well as postwar and 1950s knitting. Come learn about how knitting from the past helped shape the knitting world we all know and love today. Sydney has been working in the yarn world for more than ten years and is the Headmistress of the online Squid’s School of Vintage Knitting. Her areas of expertise include twentieth century knitting history as well as garment knitting and construction. |
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May 12, 2022 (Webinar)
Suzanne Bryan Afterthought Pockets Suzanne Bryan will discuss a variety of approaches to afterthought pockets and their construction as well as their advantages when compared with other styles of pockets. She will demonstrate how to create afterthought patch pockets and afterthought knitted-on pockets; both styles will be presented with vertical as well as horizontal openings. Suzanne is a Master Knitter, author of numerous articles, prolific tutorial creator, and knitting teacher. The primary focus of her interests and expertise is in the architecture of knitting. |
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April 14, 2022 (Webinar)
Margaret Radcliffe From Fiber to Fabric: Knitting the U.S. Heritage Sheep Breeds Margaret Radcliffe will take you on a tour of her experiences working with U.S. heritage sheep breeds over the last three years including the challenges of washing, preparing, and spinning wool from over 20 breeds. She will describe the wide variety of wool properties across these breeds, and the choices that have contribute to crafting successful knitted garments from her handspun yarns. Margaret is an internationally recognized teacher, the author of several bestselling knitting books, and the designer of the Maggie’s Rags line of knitting patterns. |
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March 10, 2022 (Webinar)
Faina Goberstein The Art of Slip-Stitch Knitting Faina Goberstein will discuss the many uses of slip-stitches, including color and texture, to create effects that vary widely in their appearance. She will elaborate upon this by introducing the four groups of slip-stitch knitting patterns, how they can be incorporated to achieve different effects, and how they can inspire knitting designs. She will also highlight how the choice of yarn can enhance the results with these patterns. Faina Goberstein is an internationally recognized independent knitwear designer and professional teacher. She is also the co-author of The Art of Slip Stitch and The Art of Seamless Knitting. |
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February 10, 2022 (Webinar)
Catherine Lowe Change the Way You Think About Knitting Catherine Lowe will discuss how her couture methods for hand knitting differ from traditional hand knitting and why couture methods are important for giving knitters complete control over their project outcomes. The development of Catherine’s couture knitting techniques is the result of a shift in her perspective that led her on a journey in pursuit of better fabrication and construction techniques for hand knitting. She will explain the philosophy behind her approach, detail the consequences of its techniques for both the process and the outcome of a project, and suggest how these techniques can be incorporated into any knitting practice to elevate the look and functionality of hand knit garments. Catherine is a designer, teacher, the developer and owner of Catherine Lowe Yarns, and the co-founder of Knitting with Company. |
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January 13, 2022 (Webinar)
Patty Lyons Secrets of Yarn Substitution Proper yarn selection can make or break your knitting project and when done appropriately, yarn substitution will result in a project that is beautiful and fits beautifully. Patty Lyons will teach us how to substitute yarns with confidence by explaining the differences between pattern gauge and yarn gauge and how a swatch can help illuminate yardage versus yarn weight. She will also delve into an exploration of the properties of different fibers to help us understand how those properties will affect the finished object. Patty is a nationally recognized knitting teacher and technique expert who specializes in sweater design and is known for teaching the “why” of knitting in her pursuit of training more mindful knitters. |
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December 9, 2021 (Webinar)
Gayle Roehm Hand Knitting Design in Japan Gayle Roehm will discuss Japanese knitting design and introduce us to some of her favorite Japanese knitwear designers and their designs, highlighting the incorporation of beautiful stitchwork and unique variations on traditional techniques. While there isn’t a long tradition of Japanese knitting nor specific unifying elements of Japanese design, you are likely to be inspired, amazed, and sometimes bewildered by these creative and intriguing designers. Gayle has lived in Japan, speaks Japanese, and is the translator of Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible and 250 Japanese Knitting Stitches as well as several other books of Japanese knitting. She is also a nationally recognized knitting instructor and a knitwear designer. Download Gayle's handout |
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November 11, 2021 (Webinar)
Kate Atherley The Good, The Bad, and The Pooling: Working with Multicolored Yarns Kate Atherley will discuss the fun and challenges of working with hand-painted yarns, including a review of different types of hand-painted colorways. With the help of lots of photos, she will explain how to figure out what a yarn will look like when it is knitted up and she’ll provide guidance on how to best apply different types of colorways for the most attractive results. Kate will also share stories about the best, the worst, and the most surprising skeins of variegated yarns she’s bought. She is a knitting author with nine published books, an internationally recognized knitting teacher and editor, and the co-founder and publisher of Digits & Threads, an online magazine of Canadian fiber and textile arts. |
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October 14, 2021 (Webinar)
Susan Rainey Introduction to Invisible Stranding Invisible stranding is a game changer that Susan Rainey loves to share with other knitters and she will introduce this technique to us in her presentation. Also known as Ladderback Jacquard, invisible stranding is an essential tool for the serious colorwork knitter because it allows the knitter to carry yarn across any number of stitches without catching the floats. When knitting with two or more colors, it is usually standard practice to trap long floats by twisting the working yarn with the carried yarn, but this creates a pucker in the fabric on the right side, and often, the other carried color shows through. With invisible stranding, these issues are eliminated and the colorwork remains neat and uniform. Susan is a knitting instructor who dabbles in design. She shares her passion for knitting with her equally obsessed sister, Sally, on their blog “The Rainey Sisters,” which has been going strong for fifteen years. |
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September 9, 2021 (Webinar)
Kim McBrien Evans of Indigodragonfly Inclusive Design and the Maker Kim McBrien Evans of Indigodragonfly is a Canadian knitwear designer and indie hand dyer whose designs are known for their ability to turn an abstract idea into a textile reality while simultaneously fitting and complimenting a wide range of bodies. She will be discussing the maker's role in inclusive design with a focus on improving sweater fabric and fit through understanding ease, the importance of taking and applying measurements to choose a size or create a hybrid size, and what three things you can do to make your next sweater perfect for the wearer. She will also highlight the role of the maker in improving access to inclusive sizing. |
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August 12, 2021 (Webinar)
Françoise Danoy of Aroha Knits Demystifying Shawl Shapes Françoise Danoy of Aroha Knits will discuss shawl construction and shaping by highlighting how the usage and placement of increases and decreases work together to form the popular shawl shapes seen in designs: triangular, crescent and asymmetrical. The presentation will focus on the ways that understanding shawl construction can help knitters to more confidently knit or design shawls. This knowledge can then be incorporated into a knitter’s repertoire to boost creativity in conceiving and crafting their projects. Françoise is a knitwear designer who uses her designs to connect artistically with her Maori heritage. She is also an instructor and mentor to beginning designers through her signature program, the SWATCH Studio Circle. |
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July 8, 2021 (Webinar)
Carolyn Bloom of Bloom Handmade Studio Creating Outside Your Comfort Zone - Taking Chances, Embracing Mistakes and Discovering Your Artistic Potential Carolyn Bloom is a designer and teacher who has developed techniques for embroidery on stockinette that allow the items to be reversible. In this presentation, she will share examples of this work as well as the creative process that led to the creation of her techniques. She believes that taking risks in artistry and allowing for failure can lead to incredibly rewarding artist experiences of learning, changing, expanding, and expressing oneself. Carolyn’s patterns have been published by Interweave Press and Twist Collective and she has been featured as a guest lecturer at Knitty City in New York City. |
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June 10, 2021 (Webinar)
Jesie Ostermiller of Knitty Jo Designs Mastering Color Choice Jesie Ostermiller, the author of The Colorwork Bible, will discuss how to choose colors that work together. She will teach the techniques and skills that are needed to make effective and successful color choices. The presentation will include real knitting examples to help knitters identify color combinations, learn about the science behind the color wheel, and apply that knowledge to create beautiful knitwear. Jesie is an avid knitter and designer with a passion for colorwork. Her designs have been featured in various Interweave publications and can be found on Ravelry. |
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May 13, 2021 (Webinar)
Faith Humphrey Hill of Dartily Mirror Knitting Faith Humphrey Hill will discuss Mirror Knitting, a technique that allows the knitter to work stitches from the left hand needle to the right hand needle, then knit them back again from the right hand needle to the left all without turning the work. Mirror Knitting is an efficient technique for short rows, large projects that are heavy to rotate, and colorful yoke cardigans that you don’t need to steek! It’s also a technique that is interchangeable with other methods within a single project. This presentation will include demonstrations of the technique in both English and Continental styles of knitting as well as a discussion of the technique’s impact on stitch structure. |
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April 8, 2021 (Webinar)
Carson Demers of Ergo, I Knit Tips to Knitting Longevity and Comfort Carson Demers of Ergo, I Knit will give an overview of what you need to know in order to be able to knit comfortably for years to come. He’ll give specific tips and strategies for integrating his recommendations into your knitting routine. Carson is a physical therapist who manages an ergonomics program for a San Francisco Bay Area medical center. He is also accomplished at knitting, spinning, designing, teaching, writing, always with a watchful eye toward ergonomics. His aim is to keep knitters creating healthfully and comfortably ever after. Carson is the author and publisher of Knitting Comfortably: The Ergonomics of Handknitting and a regular contributor to Ply magazine. |
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March 11, 2021 (Webinar)
Jennifer Berg of Native Knits We Are Still Here: Keeping My Culture Alive Through Knit Design Jennifer will talk about sharing her Navajo heritage through Native focused knitting designs. She'll give us a tour of her home, family store, frybread stand (small example of tortilla making by Clara, Jennifer's grandmother) and talk about how she is keeping her heritage alive through design. She'll show her inspirations and talk a bit about appreciation vs appropriation. Jennifer will introduce her Tsekoh Cowl (Rock cut/Canyon), which was designed specifically for her visit to Puddletown, and which will be featured in the class she will teach for the Guild on April 17th and April 24th, 2021. |
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February 11, 2021 (Webinar)
Kristine Vejar and Adrienne Rodriguez, cofounders of A Verb For Keeping Warm Journeys in Natural Dyeing Journeys in Natural Dyeing shares the story of Kristine Vejar and Adrienne Rodriguez’s travels to four countries, Iceland, Mexico, Japan, and Indonesia, where they visited natural dyers who use their locally-sourced dyes in dramatically different environments to create textiles that evoke beauty, a connection to the land on which they live, and showcase their mastery of skill. From their California-based studio, Vejar and Rodriguez used their own locally-grown and gathered dyestuffs, from leaves to fungi, and utilized techniques, from extraction to fermentation, to create over 400 shades of color. This book includes profiles of the artists met, shares their process of creating dye, and includes recipes and projects to create a wide spectrum of color. Kristine and Adrienne hope this book and talk help you learn how to work with your own natural environment to create deep, beautiful colors and to see your neighborhood in a whole new way. |
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January 14, 2021 (Webinar)
Cecelia Campochiaro An Introduction to Sequence Knitting and Making Marls Hear about sequence knitting, marls as colorwork, and Cecelia’s journey from high tech to knitting-book author. Cecelia's suggestions for Yarns to Marl. |
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December 10, 2020 (Webinar)
Lori Patterson of Abstract Fiber Understanding Yarn Through Hand Spinning Hand spinning your own yarn is positively the best way to understand yarn. And when you understand yarn you can genuinely make your knitted projects truly your own. In this talk, Lori will provide a clear roadmap for learning about hand spinning yarn and how it can help you get to know your yarn that much better. For some resources that Lori provided: click here |
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November 12, 2020 (Webinar)
Kay Hopkins of Knit for the Soul Top Down Sweaters for a Perfect Fit Kay strives to design simply elegant knitwear that is fun to make and to wear. She's a big fan of seamless and top-down designs so that they can be tried on for that perfect fit as you go and to prevent unfortunate fit surprises at the end. She'll share a bit about how she got started, how she does it, and some stories along the way. |
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October 8, 2020 (Webinar)
Michele Lee Bernstein a.k.a. PDXKnitterati Blocking: It's Magic! Do you block your knits? Should you? Learn how to make your knits look their best! Steam blocking and wet blocking will be discussed during this presentation. |
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September 10, 2020 (Webinar)
Renate Yerkes a.k.a. Elephino PDX Selbuvotter: The Iconic Mittens of Norway How did these humble hand warmers come about and go on to become a great Norwegian tradition and national treasure? How has this knitting tradition made room to include knitters across the globe? |
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August 13, 2020 (Webinar)
Lorilee Beltman shows us how to add color to cables Lorilee be joining us to give us a little tour of her studio and show us how to add color to knitted cables. She'll show us many samples that use Colors That Climb or Vertically Stranded Colorwork. These contrasting colors are knitted in as you go. After seeing some inspiring samples in lace, stockinette, and other fabrics, we will focus on cables. She'll show us several examples to add color to cables, then she'll show us how to do it. You'll be able to learn a lot by just watching. But, if you'd like to knit along with Lorilee during the meeting, please prepare the homework swatch. |
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July 9, 2020 (Webinar)
Mary Mortensen discusses Stranded Knitting Techniques Stranded knitting includes several traditions (Fair Isle, Scandinavian) and is used in very modern designs as well. Mary will discuss the traditions and techniques, including steeking, charts, and color dominance. |
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June 11, 2020 (Webinar)
Cheryl Murray talks Cast-ons, Bind-offs: Basic and Beyond Are you stumped if a pattern calls for a specific cast on technique? Are you constantly battling too-tight bind-offs? Are you in a cast-on/bind-off rut? Come explore several alternative methods for beginning and ending your projects. |
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May 14, 2020 (Webinar)
Luigi Boccia talks about designing & launching a new yarn Luigi Boccia is co-owner and operations manager of Brooklyn Tweed. Luigi manages and develops every aspect of Brooklyn Tweed’s business operations and growth strategy. He loves working with designers, ranchers, and skilled textile workers in the USA to create the very best yarns and patterns. Luigi will take us behind the scenes at BT and describe how a new yarn is developed. |
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April 9, 2020 (Webinar)
Meaghan Schmaltz a.k.a. The Unapologetic Knitter The Shape of Things: Creating Inclusive Designs. Back by popular demand, Meaghan Schmaltz, a.k.a. The Unapologetic Knitter, will present The Shape of Things: Creating Inclusive Designs. With a focus on grading garments for the knitting industry, Meaghan will share the importance of representation and focus on the challenges and the rewards of creating an inclusive portfolio of knitwear for every knitter! Meaghan’s past (and present) careers have been about precision and have generally been technical in nature: landscape architecture, wedding planning, bookkeeping, and now technical editing of knitting patterns with a strong focus on garment grading and brioche knitting. Meaghan’s YouTube brioche tutorials, created over 3 years ago, still get thousands of views each month: https://youtube.com/theunapologeticknitterknits Meaghan’s journey from a hobby knitter, to a designer, and now a technical editor seems like a natural progression for someone who loves precision and sharing knitting knowledge! |
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March 12, 2020
March's meeting was cancelled due to COVID-19 |
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February 13, 2020
Yvonne Cutright shares her life as a knitter. Yvonne learned to knit as a Brownie and has been knitting "full-time" since making her first practice sock in junior high. A former elementary school teacher, Yvonne has taught knitting classes in shops, guilds, and at home. To hone her own skills, she has taken classes around the country, including the Craft Council Advanced Knitting Program as well as their Instructor Program. When TKGA first began, Yvonne was a member of the Publishing Committee, taught classes at their knitting events, and wrote and taught a Color Theory Class (before computer classes) as a long-distant class. In the '80s, Yvonne became a member of the Professional Designers Guild. Currently, Yvonne makes sweaters and custom garments for private clients and friends, creates knitting patterns, and develops new material for classes. Yvonne can be found teaching in Portland and beyond. |
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January 9, 2020
Debbi Stone will talk to us about gauge, fabric and ease. Having learned to knit and crochet at an early age from both of her grandmothers, fiber arts have always been an important part of Debbi's life. Her designs can be found on Ravelry at The Stitches Of My Life Designs where she goes by the name of cockeyed, for obvious reasons. She also collaborates on designs with Marcy Vandale under the label Adventure Du Jour Designs, all of which can be found on Ravelry as well. Along with designing, Debbi teaches knitting and technology classes at local yarn shops in the Portland area. She also has partnered with Stephanie Pearl-McPhee and co-hosts the 3 Strung Along knitting/spinning retreats each year held at The Resort at Port Ludlow in Port Ludlow, Washington where she teaches as well. |
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December 12, 2019
Lessons from a Knit Wit Brad Clark: Author, Artist, and Professional Speaker. In addition to showing art around Portland, Brad speaks at conferences, conventions and business meetings. Audiences leave inspired to put their best energy toward their best work… so they can live their best lives. Like a professional Organizer helps clean out your closets, Brad helps entrepreneurs and leaders de-clutter, change perspective, and find joy in their work and personal lives. But… for this December Guild meeting he will share a special presentation: Lessons from a Knit Wit. Brad and his life-long sweetheart, Cheri, owned The Naked Sheep Knit Shop for 12 years. Cheri is now a designer and instructor working at Twisted Yarn Shop. Living with a knitter for over 30 years has taught Brad a lot. He will be sharing insightful lessons, humorous stories, and tips to keep from unraveling during the holidays and all year long. He will also be selling and signing copies of his Knitting-themed Children's book, There's Only One You. |
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November 14, 2019
Kim Biegler of Ewethful Fiber Farm & Mill Kim Biegler is the processor and owner of Ewethful Fiber Farm & Mill in Halsey, OR. She will be speaking at the meeting about all aspects of wool and yarn making in Oregon. From growing fiber and purchasing fiber from other growers, different types of wool and their attributes and the yarn making process. Sourcing to scouring to yarn and all the steps in between making Ewethful yarns one of the few yarns completely grown and milled in the PNW. She will also be bringing her yarn and fibers for sale! |
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October 10, 2019
Stitch Maps: The What, Where, Why, and How with JC Briar What is a stitch map, and why are more and more knitters choosing to follow them? In this talk, JC explains what makes stitch maps so cool, where you can find them – and how you can create them yourself. JC will have her book, Charts Made Simple, for sale at the meeting. Check or cash only. About JC Briar: A self-confessed “technique freak” and “skill junkie,” JC dabbles in all kinds of knitting, but has a special fondness for textured knitting and novel construction techniques. If it involves lace, cables, or seamless construction, it’s sure to catch her eye. She shares her enthusiasm by teaching at shops and fiber festivals, and through her book Charts Made Simple. Her latest venture is Stitch-Maps.com, a website for viewing and creating grid-free charts of unparalleled fluidity, authenticity, and beauty. |
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September 12, 2019
Kim Winter Shares Ten Top Sweater Tips Before Casting On This month, our own Volunteer Coordinator Kim Winter stepped in to share her Tip Top Sweater Tips before casting on. As a knitting teacher herself, Kim is full of amazing information. |
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August 8, 2019
Shaggy Bear Farms with Wendy Hanson Shaggy Bear Farms is a small family farm that focuses on the rare, endangered, and lesser-known fiber breeds. They're located in the small town of Scio, Oregon. Currently, they raise 39 different breeds of fiber animals strictly for their fleeces. They pride themselves on being a source of “farm to needle” yarns and fiber for spinning. They're a “forever farm” and frequently serve as a “farm sanctuary and rescue space” for animals needing a new home. Wendy Hanson, chief shepherdess, is looking forward to the opportunity to share her experiences, adventures, and a love of all things fiber with the Puddletown Knitting Guild. Won’t you please join her for a raucous and unorthodox view of life on the farm, sheep, goats, and the people she has encountered? Wendy will have yarn for sale at this meeting! |
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July 11, 2019
PKG First Annual Summer Party There is no formal program at this month's meeting. This time is set aside for those working on Rose Haven blanket donations to complete, start, or continue those projects. And, of course, we will have snacks (ice cream! dairy and non!), games, and prizes. Working on a non-blanket project you just can't put down? We understand and of course. Bring it and join the party! All are welcome. We'll have a special extended Show and Tell! Bring those projects that require a bit more time to truly do their story justice. |
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June 13, 2019
All About Sheep to Shawl at Black Sheep Gathering Celeste Percy will be here to tell us all the ins and outs of the sheep to shawl contest held at Black Sheep Gathering every year. As a participant for three years and an organizer for more, Celeste knows everything that goes into making a shawl in 6 hours with a 6 person team. Come be inspired and then make your plans to go watch the contest live on July Fourth weekend. |
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May 9, 2019
Meaghan Schmaltz a.k.a. The Unapologetic Knitter Unraveling the Process: Post-design to Publication With a focus on technical editing, Meaghan will share the ins and outs of the steps followed to prepare a pattern for publication! Meaghan is known for making tech-editing fun (and funny!). |
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April 11, 2019
Marie Greene a.k.a Olive Knits Marie Greene (Olive Knits) will present "You Are the Boss of Your Sweater." If sweater knitting stresses you out, or if you struggle to get the results you expect, Marie's insightful (and fun!) approach to sweater knitting will leave you inspired and ready to tackle your next project. In 2018 Marie shared her passion for the maker community through her TEDx talk, "Think Like a Maker". Her first book, Seamless Knit Sweaters in 2 Weeks, is out now. Her second book, Knit Shawls & Wraps in 1 Week, will be released October 29th of this year. |
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March 14, 2019
Stitch and Stir Podcast Join Emme and Samantha of the Stitch & Stir Podcast as they get the audience involved in a night of fun and games. Emme and Samantha record a podcast live, share insight on what is behind running a podcast, talk about their most shameful knitting secrets (and ask to hear from the audience), and offer a chance to play their 'Gimme, Gimme!' game show for a chance to win knitting related prizes. |
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February 14, 2019
Anatomy of a Sock Socks! Socks! And more socks! Expert sock knitter Emily Devlin, a.k.a. FairweatherKnits, will explore the many options and techniques for casting on, binding off, working heels and toes, and making size adjustments. Which bind off is really the stretchiest? Top down? Toe up? Afterthought heel? What about the spiral rib pattern with such a close fit making a heel is unnecessary? Emily will lead us through the many choices of knitting a sock and she will share her favorites. |
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January 10, 2019
More than Two Sides to This story: The Dynamic World of Double Knitting with Renate Yerkes Instructor and designer Renate (Elephino PDX) will talk about double knitting's place in history, its place in fashion, and how its plush and sumptuous fabric is only rivaled by its adaptability. |
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December 13, 2018
The BrooklynTweed Experience Jamie McCarthy, Jen Hurley, and more friendly faces from Brooklyn Tweed will share their Brooklyn Tweed experiences working with the local, breed-specific yarn company and bring small, free goodies for you. Yarn will be for sale as well. |
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November 8, 2018
Collaboration with Lorajean Kelley and Shannon Squire Fiber besties and frequent collaborators Lorajean of Knitted Wit and Shannon of Shannon Squire Designs will bring sparkle and unicorn vibes while answering questions about the work they do together and how it knits into their strong friendship. |
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October 11, 2018
A Put a Bead On It with Sivia Harding Sivia Harding is known for her exceptional lace and bead designs, and has been working with fiber and art since she can remember. She will share inspiration and tips for beaded knitting. |
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September 13, 2018
The (C) Word: Copyright for Knitters Parna Mehrbani shares her surprisingly funny and engaging presentation on the basics of copyright law, common issues that come up in the fiber industry, and provides recommended do's and don'ts for knitters, local yarn stores, and designers. Some of you may know Parna as a teacher at Twisted and a designer of many of Twisted's Knit12Together series projects. |
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August 9, 2018
Change the Gauge with Nele Redweik Have you ever loved a pattern, but just can’t get the right gauge with the perfect yarn? Or ever wanted to knit a favorite pattern in thinner or thicker yarn than it calls for? Make a sweater longer, shorter, change the shaping so that it better fits your body, but don’t know where to start? Don’t despair, it probably can be done, and Nele will tell you how to go about it. |
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July 12, 2018
A Speaking in Color with Helene Knott Whether you work in Fair Isle, stripes, or multicolored shawls, color choice is fun but often scary. Master Quilter Helene Knott will teach you how to use a color wheel to create beautiful color schemes and explore other methods of picking color combinations that are truly unique and will make your projects sing with color. Also at this meeting we'll have Master Knitters Sue, Hilary, and Leslie will explain the many resources available to knitters through The Knitting Guild Association. |
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June 14, 2018
Dandyism Explored Emily Carrig will join us to talk about her thesis, Rebellious Transfers: Dandyism Explored Through Shaping & Cables, and earning her masters degree in Machine Knitwear Design in Scotland. |
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May 10, 2018
Alpacas: A Lifestyle Choice This month PKG is excited to host Dave Zandberg of ZZAlpacas. Dave will educate and amuse us with tales of raising alpacas as a business and a passion. Dave and his wife Sue currently house nearly 75 happy animals (50 alpacas, 9 llamas, 7 angora goats, 3 Livestock Guardian Dogs, 2 Corriedale sheep, and 3 mini-donkeys). You might have seen them at OFFF, Black Sheep, Fibermania, Vogue Knitting Live Seattle, Fiber Fusion, or Stitches West. Dave is even bringing some of his luxurious ZZAlpaca yarn with him! |
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April 12, 2018
Chelsea Fuller Walks Us Through the Physics of Yarn Chelsea brings her spinning experience to arm us with the knowledge behind how our yarns are made, enabling us to choose the best materials for each project, and ensuring that we're creating long-wearing items that can be handed down. |
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March 8, 2018
Theressa Silver of ArgentGal Designs Theressa will talk to us about swatching, substitution, and what yarns want to be when they grow up, as well as reviewing the strengths and weaknesses of common fibers. |
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February 8, 2018
Andrea Hungerford Andrea Hungerford of By Hand Serial and Blueberry Hill Designs will give us a peek behind the scenes of the By Hand Serial lookbook creative process. |
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January 11, 2018
Annette Caughman Drawing on her experience working at several local yarn stores Annette will run us through the ideal process to knit a sweater, be it your first or your eighteenth. |
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December 14, 2017
Anne Huffington-Carroll Physical therapist Anne Huffington-Carroll, an avid knitter with a background in ballet and musical theater, understands the importance of staying healthy while pursuing your passions. She is the Lead Therapist at Providence NE Rehabilitation, and has been a PT for the last 17 years. |
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November 9, 2017
Innagural Meeting: PDXKnitterati a.k.a. Michelle Bernstein We’ve got a fantastic local designer and teacher for our first meeting. PDXKnitterati (aka Michelle Bernstein) will be joining us to talk about her process as a designer. We also have a Tip/Technique of the Month, Show and Tell, and door prizes! There will be light snacks, hot tea, and water available. |