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 E-mail: TKGA@TKGA.com Web site: www.TKGA.com Phone: (740) 452-4541 Fax: (740) 452-2552 Mail: 1100-H Brandywine Blvd Zanesville OH USA 43701-7303 TKGA Staff:
Press Office Included here are releases of information about The Knitting Guild Association. Scroll down for releases on these topics: ~ Champagne Toast Opened The Knitting Guild Association's 25th Year Conference ~ Results of 2010 TKGA Pattern Design Competition ~ Celebrating Silver! What 25 Years Has Meant to The Knitting Guild Association ~ About The Knitting Guild Association ~ The World Has Gone Knit Crazy! ~ Survey of The Knitting Guild Association ~ TKGA Conferences and Markets Press releases AND THE WINNERS ARE ... ! THE KNITTING GUILD ASSOCIATION AND YARNMARKET.COM ANNOUNCE WINNERS OF THE 2011 TKGA DESIGN CONTEST Quality knitting is always a winner, especially when it is paired with original design. The Knitting Guild Association (TKGA) has long sought to encourage quality and originality not only through TKGA-sponsored education and Cast On magazine, but also through special knitting contests. For 2011, six talented TKGA members are being recognized for their entries in the 2011 TKGA Design Competition. Yarnmarket.com joined TKGA as the industry sponsor for the contest. Yarnmarket.com sponsored all prizes in the form of gift certificates to Yarnmarket.com, and the yarn distributor will publish all winning designs. Each entry has been knit in a yarn currently available from Yarnmarket.com. Judges included Jan Gratz from Yarnmarket, Inc., Penny Sitler from TKGA, and designer Nicky Epstein. "As always, it is difficult to choose from the many quality entries," said Sitler. "It is exciting to see the talent among members of TKGA and to be able to reward them!" First, second and third place winners were chosen from two entry categories: Masters and Members. Masters contestants have completed at least two levels of the TKGA Master Hand Knitting Program and were required to provide a written pattern. Masters winners are: First Place ($500 certificate) Stephanie Hatfield, with “Vineyard” (kimono-style jacket); Second Place ($350 certificate) Nancy Vandivert, with “Lilac Festival Bag” (felted and flowered); Third Place ($200 certificate) Arenda Holladay, with “Bye, Bye Bunting” (hooded, Fair Isle). Winners in the Members category (who were not required to prepare a written pattern) are: First Place ($300 certificate) Susan Abed, with “Cabled Vest”; Second Place ($200 certificate) Emily Armstrong, with “Aran Sampler Afghan”; and Third Place ($100 certificate) Britt Raubenheimer, with “Searose Beach Pullover”. Judges considered compliance with rules, design appeal, use of stitches, color, selection of materials, and quality of written pattern (for Masters entries). They also judged quality of workmanship, finishing, appearance of entries. All winning garments were displayed at the Summer Knit & Crochet Show/TKGA Conference at the end of July in Minneapolis, Minnesota. "It was a pleasure to present awards personally to those winners who were present at the Conference. We are now working on getting all of these wonderful patterns ready for visitors of Yarnmarket.com to enjoy," said Deborah Knight of Yarnmarket.com. For additional details about The Knitting Guild Association, its programs and design contests, contact TKGA@TKGA.com. Contest photos are posted at www.TKGA.com. # # # CHAMPAGNE TOAST OPENED THE KNITTING GUILD ASSOCIATION’S TWENTY-FIFTH YEAR CONFERENCE CELEBRATION IN MANCHESTER, NH Peering both back in time and ahead to the future, The Knitting Guild Association (TKGA) celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary at the 2010 Conference, July 9-10, in Manchester, NH. The association, which boasts approximately 10,000 members was formed in 1984 and conducted its first conference in 1985. To open the festivities, TKGA Executive Director Penny Sitler presented a toast with champagne provided by Laura Bryant of Prism Yarns and Barry Klein of TrendsetterYarns. Sitler shared: “What a lot has changed since those early years. We are not just changed, but better today because of the work of our early TKGA members and leaders.” Twenty-fifth Anniversary Pins were popular keepsakes of the conference. Early members of TKGA who were present and honored to wear “In the Beginning, I Was There!” buttons included: Mary Blackwell, Beth Brown-Reinsel, Marlyn Ibele, Lois Mitchell, Joan Schrouder, Barbara Scott, Gertrude Soncrant and Bernadine Weeks. At the Friday evening Gala Anniversary dinner before 180 TKGA members from across the country, button wearers blew out the candles on the TKGA Anniversary cake. [Photo hi-res jpg available – L-R: TKGA original members blew out the 25th Anniversary Cake Candles: Beth Brown-Reinsel, Joan Schrouder, Gertrude Soncrant, Barbara Scott, Lois Mitchell, Marlyn Ibele, Mary Blackwell.]. Silver Starters who were recognized through a PowerPoint presentation included TKGA founder Carol Wigginton who retired in 2001; Marlyn Ibele who chartered the first TKGA guild – the Western Reserve Knitting Guild, OH which is still active; Barbara B. Scott who served on early Journal Committees and Master Knitting Program Committees and who developed and still teaches TKGA correspondence courses; and Shirley MacNulty who chaired the first Master Knitting Committee, contributed regular articles to the then fledgling TKGA magazine Cast On, and continues to design, write about and teach knitting. Designers Dixie Falls and Joan O’Steen who appeared in the first issue of Cast On magazine in the fall of 1984 sent their congratulations to TKGA. Silver Starters who continue to contribute to TKGA as correspondence course instructors are Evie Rosen and Janet Johnson Stephens. Gertrude Soncrant, one of the first three TKGA members to earn the widely respected TKGA Master Knitter title in 1989, was able to attend. Soncrant helped to applaud new Master Knitters who were officially welcomed during the Gala dinner and given their Master Knitter pins by TKGA Master Knitting Committee Co-chair Molly Ferrante. At present, a total of 297 guilds are affiliated with TKGA. Attending representatives of guilds that are ten years old or older were presented an anniversary certificate. Guilds who were awarded include the Western Reserve Knitting Guild, OH (26 years old); Atlanta Knitting Guild, GA (25 years old); Hyde Park Knitting Guild of Chicago, IL (22 years old), Woolgatherers Knitting Guild, MI (20 years old); Big Apple Knitting Guild, NY (19 years old); and The Mountain View Knitters, NH (18 years old). [Photo hi-res jpg available – L-R: Anniversary guild representatives Marlyn Ibele, Western Reserve Knitting Guild, OH; Lois Mitchell, Atlanta Knitting Guild, GA; Mary Blackwell, Hyde Park Knitting Guild of Chicago, IL; unnamed representative; Michele Rodriguez, Woolgatherers Knitting Guild, MI; Roselle Siegel, Big Apple Knitters Guild, NY; Suzanne Federer, The Mountain View Knitters, NH]. In recognition of her work in the early days of the Association, Marlyn Ibele was presented with a lifetime membership in TKGA. Marlyn not only chartered the first TKGA guild, but also taught at TKGA conferences, authored the original TKGA Professional Finishing correspondence course and helped to establish the TKGA Memorial Fund. Marlyn’s husband had said, “Weren’t you lucky to have your hobby do so much for you!” And Marlyn’s reply was: “Yes, I’ve truly been lucky, and my thanks goes to this wonderful organization, TKGA. May it continue to grow and inspire other knitters as it did me!” [Photo hi-res jpg available – L-R: Lifetime Membership Award Presentation: TKGA Executive Director Penny Sitler, Award recipient Marlyn Ibele]. Knitting excellence and education continue to be the hallmarks of TKGA. Educational programs and articles in Cast On magazine encourage knitters to grow their skills, and knitting competitions afford an avenue of recognition. Winners of the 2010 TKGA Pattern Design Competition were announced at the conference. Among the prizes awarded by Jan Gratz of sponsor Yarnmarket was a $1,000 Grand Prize gift certificate from Yarnmarket that went to Kathleen M. Eldredge of Aurora, Colorado, for her reversible child’s “Classic Aran Meets Double Knit Tunic Sweater”. [Photo hi-res jpg available – TKGA Pattern Design Competition Grand Prize Winning Entry, reversible child’s “Classic Aran Meets Double Knit Tunic Sweater” by Kathleen M. Eldredge, Aurora, C, who received a $1,000 award certificate from sponsor Yarnmarket.]. The 2010 conference was the debut for a new event called “On Your Way to the Masters Day”. The TKGA Master Hand Knitting Program Committee presented information about The Knitting Guild Association’s Masters Program and reviewed work in progress by those enrolled in the prestigious program. [Photo hi-res jpg available – At “On Your Way to the Masters Day” Arenda Holladay welcomes those enrolled in or considering enrolling in the TKGA Master Knitting Program.] Several fashion shows added inspiration and color to the conference. A Masters Style Show featured garments by those who have earned their “Master Knitter” title over the years, an exhibitor’s fashion parade highlighted exciting designs by professional designers, and a TKGA member fashion show allowed members to shine. Namaste sponsored the member fashion show which was organized by designer Gwen Bortner and announced by designer Lily Chin. [Photo hi-res jpg available – Just one of the many fashions shown at the conference is this lace shawl by long-time TKGA member and designer Joan Schrouder.] In honor of each year of TKGA, the fall 2010 issue of Cast On magazine (the educational journal for knitters and official publication of TKGA) will feature 25 new designs by designers who have contributed to past issues. A poster-preview of these designs and designers was on display as part of a reminiscence of Cast On covers from past years. [Photo hi-res jpg available – A display of covers from TKGA’s official magazine Cast On reflects how designs have changed over 25 years.] As TKGA has grown, so has the list of accomplished knitting designers and authors who have contributed to knitting over 25 years. In anticipation of the anniversary TKGA had encouraged members to identify significant “knitterati” in a listing at www.tkga.com/anniversary.shtm. While the list doesn’t include every possible candidate, it does identify many knitters who have contributed to the strength and growth of TKGA and knitting in general over the past 25 years. What would a 25th anniversary celebration be without a review of the present and a crystal ball peek at the next 25 years? TKGA Member Services and Programs Coordinator Debby Johnston shared that “Right now, younger knitters are influencing the pattern design in Cast On magazine, lowering the age of members of the TKGA Master Knitting Program Committee and broadening knitting interest in general. Commercial fashion runways reflect youthful knitting interest and television and movie stars find it good publicity to be known as a knitter. Knitting and fiber events by TKGA and other organizations continue to flood calendars across the country. Publications and magazines targeting knitters continue to line store shelves and internet shopping sites. And ‘Knitting in Public’ now has its own week, instead of just a day (annually in June).” [Photo hi-res jpg available – (L-R) Fresh young faces of some of the new TKGA Master Hand Knitting Committee: Leslie Gonzalez, Mary Forte, Suzanne Bryan.] “The future of knitting continues to look bright,” says Johnston. “TKGA members are passing along their love of the art and tell us in surveys that they have taught someone 18 years or younger to knit in the last year. Knitting has sprung up in hundreds of school and after-school venues across the country, often spurred by the Needle Arts Mentoring ProgramSM of the Helping Hands Foundation which is supported by TKGA.” To help members keep knitting in the public eye, a new TKGA slogan was unveiled at the conference. TKGA members were able to purchase T-shirts bearing the colorful image and the words “Knit All That You Can Knit”. [Photo hi-res jpg available – T-shirts bearing the new TKGA slogan “Knit All That You Can Knit” were unveiled at the conference and remain available for members to purchase.] While we can’t see clearly too far into the future, it is fun to speculate what things in the year 2035 might look like. Possible changes in climate and vast leaps in technology led Rae Deane Leathan of Washington state -- one of dozens of TKGA members who posted predictions at www.tkga.com/anniversary.shtm -- to write: “...climate change will…impact natural fiber availability…small sheep, goat and camelids will become household pets for the fanatics among us. ...Message boards will use interactive video so we can demonstrate our problems. A virtual world will allow us to have...interaction in our knitting circles... [For] shopping on line...don your 3-D goggles or flip a switch on your reading glasses and enter a virtual world where you can feel yarn, match colors from different vendors, see how a knitting needle feels when you hold it....Design or try on clothes on [a virtual] image of our own bodies. TKGA will...[provide a]...world where we can sit down in a virtual space...(beach, town square, cozy coffee shop) and knit together, sharing our problems over the Masters [Program] quest....” TKGA Executive Director Penny Sitler closed the conference by recognizing all TKGA members. “I marvel at the warmth and strength of the knitting community. It is a joy to work with men, women and children who have a passion for knitting. And it is exciting to see how the passion continues to grow! We appreciate all of you who love the art of knitting and have made TKGA your knitting association! Congratulations on 25 years and thank you from the bottom of our hearts.” [Photo hi-res jpg available – TKGA Executive Director Penny Sitler thanks all knitters for choosing TKGA as their knitting association.] For information about The Knitting Guild Association and how knitters of all skill levels can join this non-profit organization, visit www.TKGA.com or contact TKGA, 1100-H Brandywine Blvd, Zanesville, OH 43701-7303, Phone: 740-452-4541, Fax: 740-452-2552, E-mail: TKGA@TKGA.com. # # # A REMARKABLE DOUBLE KNIT CHILDREN’S FASHION TAKES THE GRAND PRIZE IN THE 2010 TKGA PATTERN DESIGN COMPETITION, WITH ALL WINNING PATTERNS TO BE PUBLISHED BY COMPETITION SPONSOR YARNMARKET.COM “Classic Aran Meets Double Knit Tunic Sweater”, a children’s fashion design by The Knitting Guild Association (TKGA) Member Kathleen M. Eldredge, Aurora, CO, has been awarded the 2010 TKGA Pattern Design Competition Grand Prize – a $1,000 gift certificate for Yarnmarket.com. In partnership with TKGA, competition sponsor Yarnmarket.com awarded additional gift certificates as prizes in three design categories. First, second and third prizes are valued at $300, $200 and $100, respectively. Yarnmarket.com will produce the winning patterns. From a field of juried finalists, selected by judges from TKGA and Yarnmarket.com, plus designer Iris Schrier, the following entries placed as winners. Criteria included such things as design appeal, use of stitches, color and selection of materials, originality of design and design details. Winners by category are: Accessories First Place – Georgia Vincent, Pittsfield, NH for “Knit Me A Yarn Tote” Accessories Second Place – Sandra F. VanBurkleo, Grosse Pointe Park, MI, for “Felted Bags with Attitude” Accessories Third Place – Inna Voltchkova, Buffalo Grove, IL, for “Lacy Scarf” Children’s Fashion First Place – Mareva Lynde, Scottsdale, AZ, for “Girl Toddler’s Easy Breezy Summer Cardi” Children’s Fashion Second Place – Liilia Van Maanen, Pagosa Springs, CO, for “Girl’s Summer Top” Women’s Fashion Classic First Place – Brit Raubenheimer, Sandpoint, ID, for “Silver Mountain Pullover” Women’s Fashion Classic Second Place – Sandra F. VanBurkleo, Grosse Point Park, MI, for “Bemidji Pullover” Women’s Fashion Classic Third Place – Frannie Collins, New Providence, NJ, for “Sparkling Holiday Wrap” “We were thrilled with the creativity of the designs,” says Alex Nikifortchuk, COO of Yarnmarket.LLC. “We’ll be featuring many of the winning patterns in our online fashion magazine for knitters, KnitchMagazine.com, and will also be making them available for free at Yarnmarket.com in time for the autumn fashion season.” “The competition provided an ideal avenue of opportunity for TKGA members who are budding knitwear designers,” says TKGA Executive Director Penny Sitler. “We plan to offer the competition again.” The winning garments were displayed July 9-10 at the TKGA National Conference and Knit & Crochet Show in Manchester, NH, where awards were announced by Jan Gratz of Yarnmarket. Photos from the display will appear in the Show’s online photo gallery at www.KnitandCrochetShow.com. TKGA represents approximately 10,000 knitters in the United States and around the world. They sponsor TKGA Conferences in conjunction with Knit & Crochet Shows. The next TKGA Conference is scheduled for July 28-30, 2011 in Minneapolis, MN. TKGA is dedicated to providing knitting education and inspiration, and offers correspondence courses and a Master Knitting Program in addition to classes at the Conferences. Cast On magazine, produced quarterly by TKGA for its members and member retail store sales, is popularly known as The Educational Journal for Knitters. Yarnmarket.com is a global online yarn shop that offers over 800 yarn brands from 80 manufacturers. Yarnmarket.com, BargainYARNS.com, and Yarndex.com, the industry acclaimed yarn reference with details on over 4500 yarns, are wholly owned subsidiaries of Yarnmarket, LLC. For more information about the TKGA Pattern Design Competition, contact: Deborah Knight Yarnmarket, LLC Telephone: 614-861-7223, extension 31 deborah@yarnmarket.com Or The Knitting Guild Association TKGA@TKGA.com Telephone: 740-452-4541 ### Celebrating Silver! What 25 Years Has Meant to The Knitting Guild Association In the year that Reagan and Gorbachev held their first arms control summit, MacGyver sold millions of Swiss Army knives, Madonna was Desperately Seeking Susan, and the Live Aid Rock Concert raised over $600M for African famine relief -- who would have thought that knitting was beginning to organize! But organize it did! And now, more than 10,000 members and 25 years later, The Knitting Guild Association (TKGA) is going strong, its conferences are thriving and Cast On magazine continues to impart knitting wisdom and education the world over. The Association is celebrating its silver anniversary on July 9-10, 2010, at TKGA’s National Conference ( http://www.tkga.com/anniversary.shtm ) with recognitions, awards and reflections. The August-October 2010 keepsake issue of Cast On magazine will be dedicated to the TKGA Anniversary and will feature designs by 25 designers who have appeared in its pages since the magazine began. TKGA founder Carol Wigginton could not have fully envisioned how far her original organization would come. With the name The Knitting Guild of America, the vision was to unite knitters from across the country, but in 2001 the name was changed to The Knitting Guild “Association” to include scores of members from outside the U.S. The first 1985 national gathering for knitters in Dallas, Texas, with a few teachers, retail exhibitors and a couple hundred attendees, has grown into annual conferences of thousands, where tickets regularly sell out for 300-400 hours of classes taught by 12-20 professional teachers, including some who have grown into larger than life “knitterati” – knitting stars like Nancie Wiseman, Laura Bryant, Lily Chin, Margaret Fisher and Melissa Leapman. A 20-page two-color association journal titled Cast On has evolved into an 86-page full-color quarterly magazine filled with lessons, quality patterns and TKGA news. The internet has made www.TKGA.com a reality and makes it possible for TKGA to be “home” to knitters around the world. Knitters seldom let their needles idle. They’re always eager to learn and improve their skills or tackle a new project. Nearly 25 years of TKGA correspondence courses have kept the learning going between conferences. Honorary TKGA member Barbara Scott presented her popular “Basics, Basics, Basics” course in 1990 (a course now taught by Arenda Holladay for TKGA). Barbara now teaches “Swatch to Sweater” to help students customize sweater sizes and styles. Other popular correspondence courses are “Professional Finishing Techniques” by Dixie Berryman, “Mosaic Knitting” by Evie Rosen, “Certification for Knitting Judges” by Janet Johnson Stephens and “Machine Knitting-Getting Started” by Jennie Merritt. The goal of every knitter is to create hand-made items that don’t look “homemade”. TKGA is the best resource to accomplish this goal! The pinnacle of knitting accomplishment is to earn the title “TKGA Master Knitter” by completing a three-level evaluation program. To date more than 195 knitters have received their TKGA Master Knitter certificate, pin and official listing at http://www.tkga.com/mastersprogram.shtm , and thousands of others are enrolled in the Program and working toward that goal. In addition to national “bonding” through TKGA, knitters love to mingle locally and share what they know. From the beginning, TKGA members have organized themselves into local guilds. The guilds affiliated with TKGA number more than 290 and have anywhere from 12 to 300 members. TKGA helps them stay connected nationally through a quarterly newsletter, special guild web page, and opportunities to meet other guilds at conferences. The very first TKGA guild to form – Western Reserve Knitting Guild in Ohio – is still active! When asked what she has seen change or remain the same about knitting over the past 25 years, TKGA Advisory Board Member Laura Bryant of Prism Yarns said: “Access, access, access…in so many ways. Knitters can connect and learn from one another so easily through the internet and events such as the TKGA Conferences. No more stitchin’ in the dark, not knowing what might be wrong. Knitting information is at the fingertips of everyone with internet connectivity. Also, the Guild network has been fantastic in forging community. Despite technological leaps that have made communication and our community/mentoring/learning much easier, knitting is age old and still takes just two sticks and some string!” TKGA members have posted their predictions of what the next 25 years may bring for TKGA and knitting. Their enlightening observations and forecasts are posted at http://www.tkga.com/anniversary.shtm . Penny Sitler, Executive Director of TKGA says, "I marvel at the warmth and strength of the knitting community. It is a joy to work with men, women and children who have a passion for knitting. And it is exciting to see how the passion continues to grow!" The Knitting Guild Association is headquartered in Zanesville, Ohio and has been proudly managed by Offinger Management Company since 2001. TKGA can be contacted at 1100-H Brandywine Blvd, Zanesville OH 43701-7303 or via e-mail at TKGA@TKGA.com . Visit the association Web site: www.TKGA.com . ABOUT THE KNITTING GUILD ASSOCIATION The Knitting Guild Association (TKGA) is a non-profit organization of approximately 10,000 individual members and 280 affiliated local member clubs/guilds. Membership has increased 17% since late 2001, when Offinger Management Company assumed the reins of the association. The Association is an organization of knitters dedicated to promoting knitting as a worthwhile and enjoyable hobby. Its official publication is Cast On magazine, which is provided quarterly as a member benefit. The magazine is also available in independent retail shops. A list of contact information for The Knitting Guild Association clubs/guilds can be found at http://www.e-offinger.net/tkga/guildsbystate1.cfm. The Association offers its members correspondence courses and a Master Knitter program for expanding their knitting skills. Members have exclusive access to many articles, patterns and helpful information found on the Members-only area of The Knitting Guild Association web site (www.TKGA.com). Knitters are encouraged to participate in charity knitting, especially the Precious Pals(SM) program where they supply stuffed bears with hand-knitted outfits for organizations that assist children in crisis. The Knitting Guild Association annual conferences include classes by popular knitting teachers, and exhibits that feature opportunities to buy from retailer vendors from around the country (www.KnitandCrochetShow.com). Individual membership in The Knitting Guild Association includes a year's subscription to Cast On magazine, discounts on classes at the Knit & Crochet Show, free Show entry, and more. The Knitting Guild Association is managed by Offinger Management Company, one of the nation's leaders in association management (offinger.com). You can contact The Knitting Guild Association at 1100-H Brandywine Blvd, Zanesville OH 43701-7303. Phone: 740-452-4541. Fax: 740-452-2552. E-mail: TKGA@TKGA.com. Web site: www.TKGA.com. The World Has Gone Knit Crazy! On the heels of the new Millennium, a magic dust seems to have fallen across the world, causing sticks and strings to leap into the hands of thousands who have taken up knitting. What else could have sparked a resurgence of this art which has lain dormant since a brief popularity with the back-to-nature flower children of the Sixties and Seventies? Young women, in particular, have taken up knitting with a happy fervor. And men have also joined the fun. According to The Knitting Guild Association (TKGA) in Zanesville, Ohio, here are a few possible answers. The yarns now available to knitters come in a dizzying array of fiber, color and style. There are novelty yarns that the least experienced knitter can whip up into a fashionably “hot” scarf, with nothing more than a simple repeat of row after row of the basic Garter stitch. The novelty yarns are chunky or furry, fuzzy, nubby, glittery, neon and more. Great grandmother would be aghast at the departure from the pastels and earth tones of her day! And now "green" yarns have made their way into the fiber mix and are popular with knitters across the country. Natural fibers include soy, bamboo, hemp and more. With the new yarns have come new designs geared to styles popular with younger knitters. In addition to crop tops, felted bags, cell phone cases and I-pod covers, nearly every knitting fashion magazine features at least one ad for exotic knitted lingerie. The designs take knitters beyond some of the tired fashions found on retail shelves. Knitters are adept at adapting basic patterns to suit their fashion preferences – whether stitching funky shrugs or adding knitted sleeves to otherwise plain denim jackets. As the fad comes full circle, we see the retail chains starting to fill their racks with imported knitted garments. Celebrities are sporting their knitting prowess (Sarah Jessica Parker, Julia Roberts, Dakota Fanning, the Olsen twins and Tyra Banks, to name a few). Characters on television have been spotted knitting: Garcia on "Criminal Minds" and Meredith on "Grey's Anatomy" , for example. Articles on knitting have appeared in most major newspapers, plus magazines like InStyle, Country Living, Country Home, Parents, Teen, First and even Cooking Light. Several schools (like the Waldorf School in Chicago) are capitalizing on the fad and are adding knitting to their selection of art/craft classes. The Helping Hands Foundation (http://www.needleartsmentoring.org) is providing knitting materials and guidelines to encourage schools, after-school programs, inner city organizations and other groups to teach knitting. Local knitting guilds (like those affiliated with TKGA) enjoy teaching people how to knit, inviting them to their meetings, or to their knitting booths at county fairs. Snowboarding Minnesota teens (both boys and girls) have appeared on television (Today Show) to show off their skill in knitting and crocheting their favorite toboggans. Knitting can keep one’s hands and mind profitably engaged, helping to crowd out harmful activities like smoking or over-eating. The repetitive nature of stitching is soothing and therapeutic – a welcome relief from a stressful day at work or at home with the kids. Knitting provides pleasing tactile stimulation that counteracts hours engaged in high-tech computer activities. Interestingly, high-tech, modern communication also helps boost the knitting craze. Not only can knitters register online for conferences or make online yarn purchases, but they can also get immediate online answers to the occasional knitting crisis or how to do a new stitch or technique. Knitters can engage in chat lists or message board forums, like the one at www.TKGA.com, where fellow knitters eagerly share their expertise. Knitting can be social or solitary. Hundreds of knitting clubs and guilds have formed across the country. TKGA has more than 280 affiliated TKGA clubs/guilds posted online (http://www.e-offinger.net/tkga/guildsbystate1.cfm) so any knitter can find a group nearby. Whether knitting alone or together, knitting can serve as an outreach. Projects can be completed and donated to help those less fortunate. Scores of charity organizations accept knitted blankets, chemo caps, preemie baby clothes, or Precious Pals(SM) stuffed (http://www.tkga.com/pals.html). Recent tragic events have increased the call for relief items. Penny Sitler, Executive Director of The Knitting Guild Association, says, “Out of our 11,000 membership, roughly 10% are under the age of 30. The number of men is about 1% at present, but more guys are certainly welcome in guilds and at our annual conferences. Our organization is excited to be able to offer support and quality education for all knitters. It’s easy to find us online – we hope you’ll visit www.TKGA.com and www.KnitandCrochetShow.com.” The Knitting Guild Association is managed by Offinger Management Company, one of the nation's leaders in association management (offinger.com). You can contact The Knitting Guild Association at 1100-H Brandywine Blvd, Zanesville OH 43701-7303. Phone: 740-452-4541. Fax: 740-452-2552. E-mail: TKGA@TKGA.com. Web site: www.TKGA.com. Recent TKGA Member Survey Results An e-mail survey of the The Knitting Guild Association (TKGA) membership was conducted in March 2008. Total number of respondents to the survey was 2,579. (Note that references to Cast On are to the official publication of The Knitting Guild Association, which is a member benefit.)
NOTE: The 2005 State of the Needle Arts Survey in the United States by The National NeedleArts Association (TNNA) estimated that there were 1,116,000 active knitters and crocheters in the United States. For additional information on the knitting industry (estimated number of knitters, knitting and crochet-related yarn sales, and more), you are invited to visit www.tnna.org and ask about their current "State of the Specialty Needle Arts" survey. Another survey of interest may be the annual retail research survey by The Craft Yarn Council: "5,000 Crocheters and Knitters Speak Out". |
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