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 News

Welcome our 2020 Board

12/12/2019

 
Thank you to the following board members for volunteering to serve in 2020.  Thanks to them the guild will be continuing in 2020.

​Anna R - President
Marcie C - Treasurer
Sharleen R - Webmaster
Karen H - Newsletter
Tina S - Member at Large
Rebekah A - Member at Large
Laura O - Member at Large

The Guild might not be ending!!!!

12/6/2019

 
It looks like the guild might NOT be shutting down at the end of 2019! We may have found our new president, and the fate of the guild will be decided just before the December meeting on Tuesday, December 10. Please come to the meeting to hear the very latest news -- hopefully good news!

This meeting will also feature our annual gift exchange. If you wish to participate, just bring a wrapped gift. The value of the gift should be approximately $15. We ask that the gifts be fiber-related in some way. Remember to wrap your gift so there’s no peeking! Popular gifts in previous years have included:
  • Handknit or crocheted items
  • Pattern books or other fiber-related books
  • Skeins of yarn (perhaps along with a pattern)
  • Project bags
  • Needles, stitch markers and other goodies

Please come for the fun even if you do not wish to participate in the exchange

Survey Results

11/16/2019

 
In the November newsletter we asked members to take a survey to indicate which 3 charities would be their pick to donate any remaining monies upon the dissolution of the guild.  As of November 16, 2016, 16 members have completed the survey.  This survey is still open.  If you haven't yet indicated your preference, please vote.  The  the link can be found  in your November newsletter
Survey Results be be seen here:

The End of the Guild

11/1/2019

 
As many of you know the end of the Guild is approaching. We will disband as of December 31, 2020. This website will be taken down, but past newsletters will remain available through Google docs (a link will be provided in the final newsletter).

We have had offers to take over the positions of Treasurer, Webmaster, and Newsletter Editor -- if we can find a President. It is impossible for a few members to continue to run the Guild with no leadership. There has been no indication of any volunteers who are interested in serving as President or in other leading roles.

According to the by-laws, the dissolution of the Guild requires that once all outstanding bills have been paid the remaining monies should be distributed to charity. A link to a survey was sent out to members in the November newsletter asking to vote for their top 3 choices.  

Our December newsletter will contain a list of knitting groups that meet at local yarn shops and libraries. We encourage everyone to attend our November and December meetings to share contact info so that you can keep in touch with your friends from the guild. So many wonderful friendships have been built through the guild over the years and are sure to continue for a long time to come

2020 Board Members Needed

10/9/2019

 
At the October Guild meeting the need for people to fill leadership positions was discussed.  Without volunteers for these position it is likely the Guild will fold at the end of 2019.  

The Open Positions are:
  • President:  Serve as leader at all guild meetings and Board meetings; responsible for the overall management of the guild.  This position was vacant in 2019.  
  • Treasurer:   Rosemary P will meet with the new treasurer to hand over all the key information and explain her duties
  • Webmaster:  Develop and maintain the guild’s website which includes
    o Weekly tasks (PayPal reports)
    o Monthly tasks (Uploading newsletter, calendar, photos, events, etc.)
    o Yearly tasks (Update board information, registration forms) as well as “as needed” tasks
    - Time Requirement: 5 hours per month and attend board meetings.  The website has been moved to a new webhost (Weebly) in 2019 and is easy to maintain.  Laura O. has documented the new  website and is happy to provide a hand-off for the transition.   
  • Newsletter Editor:  Rebekah would be happy to meet with the new editor to explain the whole process. She currently creates the newsletter using Adobe InDesign, but you can use any program you have access to and are comfortable with and should feel free to make it your own. Previous editors have used Microsoft Publisher, Word, and other programs.
  • Monthly Program Coordinator
    - Coordinate the programs for monthly meetings
    - Survey members to gather topics of interest and volunteers to present the program
    - Time Requirement: 2 to 5 hours per month and attend board meetings
  • Weekend Workshop Coordinator:   Coordinate weekend workshops
    - Lead the committee to plan and run workshops
    - Time Requirement: 1 to 4 hours per month preparing minutes and attend board meeting

Contact us for additional information and/or to be put in touch with the current board members.  


Quick turnaround for a Commissioned Scarf

10/2/2019

 

The Guild received an email today (Oct 2) from a producer of a TV Commercial that is seeking a hand-knitted scarf to use in on Saturday.  

Anyone have something in their 'charity knitting' or 'gift knitting' stash that might work?  Contact info@windycityknittingguild.com if you would like the contact info.  

​Here is the request:



I am a production designer in town, (I live in Lincoln Sq, near Sulzer Library) and I need a very simple, but very long scarf knit for a commercial I am working on.
The turnaround is very quick, so not sure for someone would be able to do it.

It can be a very simple pattern/stitch and whatever yarn (heavier?) that would help with a speedy completion would be fine.

The scarf can be between 6"-9" wide and maybe 7'-8' long.


We would need to pick up the scarf by end of day on Friday, 4 Oct, as we are shooting it on Sat.

If this is possible, let me know as soon possible and also how much it would cost.

Many thanks for your consideration.

Additional info:
I was hoping that a one color, very simple pattern or stitch (?) would help to make it more doable.


However, if by some chance, someone would be able to do this, and they have enough of one color (which is perfect-do not need multiple colors) on hand, then maybe more efficient for them to use what they have.  Otherwise, we can certainly supply yarn.

We of course would reimburse them for the cost of the yarn in addition to the time involved in the actual knitting.

Charity Knitting - October Meeting

10/1/2019

 
Knitting for groups in need will be the focus of our October meeting.

Please bring items you have been working on this year to donate to the groups we are supporting in 2019. We will make sure they get to the appropriate charities.

A few of the groups that we support (but not all) include:
  • Cancer Wellness Center (chemo hats)
  • The Snuggles Project (blankets for shelter dogs and cats)
  • The Seaman’s Church Institute (warm garments such as scarves, hats, slippers)
  • Mount Sinai Hospital (washable hats for babies)
  • Wool-Aid (warm woolen items for children in cold climates around the world)

In addition to knitting for these groups, we also received a special request from Sung K at our September meeting. Sung has taught a group from the 11th District CAPS meetings to knit, and now they are working on knitting baby hats for at-risk moms at Mount Sinai Hospital. Sung’s group will deliver the hats towards the end of November, so she will need any donations by the November meeting. These hats must be made with easy care yarn, such as cotton/bamboo/acrylic. 

2020 Board Members Needed

9/2/2019

 
Several our our board members have decided not to continue on the board in 2020. We are announcing this now so that you can begin thinking about the future of our guild and how you can contribute. Without board members, the guild will not be able to continue in its present form.

The following positions will be open at our November elections:
  • President
  • Treasurer
  • Webmaster
  • Newsletter Editor
  • Monthly Program Coordinator
  • Weekend Workshop Coordinator

​See the September newsletter for more information regarding these positions.  

September Meeting - Knitting Stripes in the Round

9/1/2019

 
At our September meeting we will explore a technique for knitting stripes in the round which does not include carrying yarn up the side of your work. Helical knitting is a fun way to incorporate yarns from your stash.

Homework is involved for the meeting. Below are the supplies you will need and the prep for the meeting.

Supplies Needed:
 
• knitting needles (circular or double points) in US 6 and US 8 
• yarn from stash in worsted weight - a main color for knitting the brim of a hat and contrasting yarn (minimum of 2 colors) for knitting stripes.

Homework:
 
• Cast-on 88 stitches and join to knit in the round 
• Knit a 1 x 1 rib, or 2 x 2 rib for desired length (1.5 to 3 inches in length) 
• Switch to larger needles and knit 1 row

At the meeting we will continue the hat pattern. If you have small amounts of worsted yarn in your stash and you would like to share with fellow knitters - please bring to the meeting.

​Meeting Details:

Date: Tuesday, September 10, 2019 from 6:45 to 8:45 pm
Meeting Location:
Welles Park 
2333 W Sunnyside Ave, Chicago

Assistance with knitting program in Rogers Park

8/13/2019

 
Can you help? 

I am the Health Education Coordinator at Heartland Health Centers- an FQHC with clinics along the north and northwest sides of Chicago. We have a knitting program that has been running for a few years at our clinic in Rogers Park (1300 W Devon Ave), but our instructor is unable to lead the class starting in the fall! The group normally runs on Tuesdays from 1:15-2:30, year round, and though we have some experienced knitters, most are new to knitting and want to learn how! I was wondering if your group had anyone who would be interested in helping with the program or if you know of any other programs/ people to reach out to?

Please contact us if you, or anyone you know, can help.  We will put you in touch with the requestor.  
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  • WCKG Home
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