Shenandoah Knitting Guild

The Purpose of The Shenandoah Knitting Guild is to promote the continuing education of persons interested in improving their knitting skills through meetings, workshops, and networking with other knitters locally, regionally, and nationally.

Daytime Meetings are held at the First Christian Church, 75 Merrimans Lane, Winchester, Virginia at 10:30 a.m. on the second Friday of each month. When the Frederick County schools are closed due to inclement weather, the meeting will be postponed until the third Friday of the month. Our next meeting day is July 12. We will learn the technique to do a knit-in pocket. If you want to join our group, we will welcome you warmly.

An informal gathering called Sit and Knit is held on the fourth Tuesday of each month, starting at 10:00 am. at the Woodbrook Community Center, 100 Rosewood Lane in Winchester VA. Our next Sit and Knit is June 25.

Guild Activities

Each month our members meet to learn new techniques, share stories and inspire each other by sharing our current projects during Show and Tell.

Members show their latest projects.

Community Outreach

The Guild members enjoy helping out in the community. One of our on-going projects is “Sweaters and Hats” for two daycare centers, Winchester Day Nursery and Fremont Street Nursery. There is free yarn available to any member who wishes to participate in this voluntary effort. Many of the Guild members are happy to be a mentor/instructor to new knitters. You may contact Pat Hays - 540-888-4348.

Virginia with Child Sweater Children Receiving Sweaters

Membership

Dues of $20.00 are paid at the start of each year. If you join mid year we will adjust the amount of the dues. We have a monthly newsletter which may be postal mailed, accessed through the web site, or sent directly as a pdf attachment to an email.

News

Our May meeting was an interesting program by Waltraud Hornick who showed us how to use a Lucette to make a cord and how she adjusted the pattern using her hand spun yarn to knit a sweater for herself.

Members show their latest projects.
Members show their latest projects.

In June we met for a salad potluck at a member's home.

Virginia Saunders knit this turtle sweater for a lucky child who receives it in December at our daycare donation.
Virginia Saunders knit this turtle sweater for a lucky child who receives it in December at our daycare donation.

In April Sandy Kielsgard showed the members how to do the Magic Knot to join yarns.

Juliet Martin shows the bunny sweater and hat she created to give to our daycare project.
Juliet Martin shows the bunny sweater and hat she created to give to our daycare project.

Our March 2013 meeting was learning the many methods of making our own buttons from yarn.

Gail Crane shows the baby shrug in progress.
Gail Crane shows the baby shrug in progress.

In February 2013 Pat Hays demonstrated how easy it is to knit cables.

Pat Hays shows Gail Crane and Barbara Sirbaugh the page in the Vogue Knitting book that has the instructions on which cable symbol is represented and how each is knitted.
Pat Hays shows Gail Crane and Barbara Sirbaugh the page in the Vogue Knitting book that has the instructions on which cable symbol is represented and how each is knitted.

Our January meeting had members bringing their favorite patterns for children's sweaters and hats.

Jackie Grondin shows some of the toys she knit while babysitting her granddaughter.
Jackie Grondin shows some of the toys she knit while babysitting her granddaughter.

We were busy in December 2012. We donated children's sweaters and caps to Winchester Day Nursery, the Laurel Center, and the Salvation Army. We held a food drive for CCAP and had our annual holiday party at the church.

Members load their plates with delicious potluck offerings.
Members load their plates with delicious potluck offerings.

In November 2012 we took a field trip to Woodstock to visit Spin A Yarn at the Market yarn shop. They welcomed us warmly and gave us a free demonstration of a technique called "Four Below". The group had lunch after the shopping experience at the Spring House Tavern. One of our members won a drawing given by the yarn shop.

Juanita White demonstrates
Juanita White demonstrates "Four Below" to SKG members.

In September 2012 we had a booth at the Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival in Berryville VA.

Al Hays mans the booth at the Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival.
Al Hays mans the booth at the Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival.

In September 2012 Juliet Martin showed us how to do correct seams in knitting.

Renee Lavitz displays a sweater she knit for our daycare project.
Renee Lavitz displays a sweater she knit for our daycare project.

Our August 2012 meeting was presented by Pat Hays. We learned how to do bobbles by crochet and by knitting. Pat also had handouts on using duplicate stitch and embroidery in knitting.

Carolyn Cox shows the stocking she knit.
Carolyn Cox shows the stocking she knit.

In July 2012 we had a Swap Meet. Members brought yarn and patterns for other members.

Virginia Saunders shows the members a sweater she knit for our daycare donation project.
Virginia Saunders shows the members a sweater she knit for our daycare donation project.

Our June 2012 meeting was our Salad Luncheon at a member's home. The food was delicious, and the setting and weather were wonderful.

Barbara Sirbaugh shows the members a vest she knit for her grandchild.
Barbara Sirbaugh shows the members a vest she knit for her grandchild.

On May 22 several members visited N.W. Works, Inc. in Winchester to teach some of the clients and staff about knitting.

Waltraud Hornig watches as a new knitter learns.
Waltraud Hornig watches as a new knitter learns.

The program in May 2012 was steeking. Pat Hays and Dee Dee Heuer showed the members how to knit a tube with extra stitches so that it may be sewn to reinforce it, then cut to make a cardigan from a sweater knit in the round.