Home - Fort Vancouver Knitters Guild

MISSION

The Fort Vancouver Knitters Guild is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to provide education to guild members to further skills in knitting, broaden their understanding of the craft, and to serve the community through services and donations.

WELCOME

All are welcome regardless of age, skin color, nationality, religion, gender identity or disability. We dedicate ourselves to the goal of a diverse, inclusive and spirited knitting community free from inequality, racism and injustice.

Upcoming Events

Monthly Meeting

Our next meeting is on May 7, 2026 and it is in-person and a hybrid meeting.

WHERE:
We will meet at:
Barberton Grange (Map)
9400 NE 72nd Ave,
Vancouver, WA 98665

PRESENTER

"Knitting with both Animal and Plant Fibers"
Jorjan Werry

Come join me and let me answer all of those questions you might have. I’ll have several samples and would love to share all of my mistakes and successes with you. Hope to see you in June.

Patterns that she has used to knit in animal or plant fiber:
1. The Simple Tee by Churchmouse.
2. The Super Simple Summer Pullover by Joji Locatelli
3. The RipRap by Cheryl Toy

Source: Ravelry

Knitting Article: "Elizabeth Smith Knit's "3 Tips for Summer Yarn Substitution."

ZOOM
Log in begins at 6:15. The link is in the Zoom invites sent out before the meeting or here below on the FVKG website.

If you cannot attend in person, you will find the zoom link below.

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID:

Passcode:

Sacred Sheep!!
sacredsheep
Tickets go on sale June 1st
for November 6th-8th

Sacred Sheep Website

Sacred Sheep is in its third year as a destination for curated vendors with excellent yarns and fibers along with pet-able sheep, food carts, hats, bags, jewelry, tattoos, and so much more. To attend is to support our local yarn and fiber event. To purchase is to contribute to its success. Sibling rivalry aside, nothing tragic happens when we venture across the bridge to Portland. If you don't want to drive, we can carpool. So come on! Let's go and have a great time!!

Also check out the link on the left to Sacred Sheep's 2025 video. You may be surprised who you see repping the FVKG!!

Notes

A Note From Karen

Greetings, everyone!

June is shaping up to be an absolutely fantastic month for our guild! We have a full lineup of creative fun, inspiration, and chances to connect with fellow makers. Our June hybrid meeting will feature a special learning session led by our very own craft master, Jorjan—trust me, you won’t want to miss the skills and ideas she’ll be sharing!

And mark those calendars… June 13th is Knit in Public Day! Let’s show off our stitches, spread the joy of crafting, and fill the community with yarny goodness.

See the flyer below about our cozy and creative Wine & Twine gathering on June 23rd. It’s always a highlight—hope to see you there!

Warmly, Karen

Karen Stavis
karenstavis@gmail.com
516.721.0605

A Note From Shirley

What Does a TKGA guild membership mean? By Heather Storta

We get lots of questions about what a Guild Membership with TKGA means and how that membership category could benefit a local guild. I'll try to answer your questions! TKGA offers lots of benefits for individual members: Cast On, the monthly K2TOG newsletter, virtual meetings, limited-time discounts at various companies, the ability to sign up for correspondence courses and certifications, and so much more. But we also offer a host of benefits aimed directly at supporting local guilds, too!!

A guild membership is different from an individual membership.
If your local guild is affiliated with TKGA, then the guild liaison has access to support materials, but that doesn't mean that local guild members are automatically members of TKGA. The only way to access TKGA as an individual is to become an individual member of TKGA. This includes signing up for courses, buying a ticket for the annual Next Level Knitting Conference, and any other individual benefit. We highly encourage guilds to promote TKGA and the benefits of being a member of TKGA to their members! Instead, an affiliated guild has access to our guild section of the website. There is a public-facing page with basic information about guilds, including a listing of all of our affiliated guilds and their information, but there is also a special password-protected area that only affiliated guilds have access to.

This has:
•Frequently Asked Question, covering questions guilds commonly ask us once they've joined.
• Articles: Guild Spotlights from various K2TOG newsletters, plus other articles aimed specifically at guilds covering guild management, or program ideas. Also charity knitting articles, for ideas on organizations to work with for charity drives.
• Audio Visual Programs. We have repackaged many of our Virtual Guild Meeting presentations (with the permission of the presenters) specifically for guilds. You can play these videos at guild meetings as a program topic for your guild.
• Program Ideas and Outlines. Fellow guilds have shared program outlines or rough ideas. Use these as springboards for developing your own guild educational programs.
• Speakers/Presenters List. This is a list of presenters (and their contact info)—they are all TKGA members, some certified with various TKGA certifications, who are all open to teaching in person or virtually for guilds.
• Member-Guild Officers Meeting. We hold this every other month. It is for guild officers only and is a brainstorming session. Ask questions and get feedback from fellow guild presidents, vice presidents, and educational programmers around the country and the world!

In addition to the website with support materials, we freely feature your guild in the K2TOG newsletter and/or our social media. Send us your guild updates, and we will happily share them with our members! We frequently feature guild profiles in the newsletter as well. The liaison login also grant access to Cast On and the K2TOG newsletter, however this is intended only as support for developing programs for the local guild. We expect guilds, for example, to take information in technical articles and use it as research for an educational program for the guild. Copyright applies to all material within Cast On and any other publication or presentation by TKGA, and these are not to be copied or shared. I hope this helps to show you that TKGA has a lot to offer our affiliated guilds! I am your TKGA liaison!

Please let me know if you have questions.

Shirley Hoehne
TKGA@ftvancouverknittersguild.org

A Note From Hook and Needle

Do you love making beautiful things and helping inspire other crafters?

We’re putting together a list of sample makers for Hook & Needle! These are the fiber artists who help us bring patterns, yarn, and project ideas to life in the shop through beautiful finished samples. If you would enjoy creating pieces that help customers imagine their next project, we’d love to hear from you. We’ll be gathering interest through a short form, where you can tell us a little about your skills, preferences, and availability. Compensation options will be available.

Additionally, we’re now on Discord! This is a place to connect with each other outside of the shop. You'll find an area to show off your makes, post progress and ask questions during Make Alongs, and chat!

Interested? Contact us for more information:

Hook & Needle
621 Broadway St
Vancouver, Washington 98660-3500
(971) 319-4164
hello@hookandneedlefiber.com

Thank you for being part of this creative little corner of the world with us Upcoming Classes at Hook and Needle 💛

FVKG on Social Media

Find Us on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/FortVancouverKnittersGuild/

Find Us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fvknittersguild/

OUR GUILD VALUES

COMMUNITY

GIVING THROUGH KNITTING

EDUCATION

Community

May Show and Share

* Projects completed by our members *

We are continually amazed by the creativity and talent within our Guild!!

Marla Peterson

Velda Madison

Karen Stavis

Spring Retreat Runaway Show

Mary Crichton

Debbie Cardiff

Geri Baer

Ann Harrison

Marla Peterson

Laura Haines

Janelle Serio

Robin Weston

Sandy Peterson

Gillian Wallis

Mary Crichton

Knitting News

Just a reminder that in addition to the monthly 2nd Tuesdays FVKG Knit Night at Leonardo’s, there are several options for social knitting in Clark County, with more being added all the time. A sample of various informal knitting groups in our area include:

✦ Knit Happens
Mondays at the Camas Library from 12:30 - 3, main floor near the fireplace. The address is 625 NE 4th Avenue, Camas.

✦ Open Knit, Wednesdays at Leonardo’s Pizza | 16505 SE 1st St., Vancouver | 11am - 2pm

✦ Thursdays at Chuck’s Produce/Salmon Creek in the deli area from 10 am - 12 noon. Come join us! The address is 2302 NE 117th St., Vancouver.

✦ Knitting and Crochet Club
Tuesdays from 9:30-11:30am at Firstenburg Center. Knitting help is available. Small fee. Contact Firstenburg Center for more information.

✦ Adult Fiber Art Social Circle
Wednesdays from 5:30-6:30pm Vancouver Mall Library/8700 NE Vancouver Mall Dr #285, Wednesdays 10am-12noon at Ridgefield Community Library/210 N Main Ave, Ridgefield ✦ Fridays 11am,-1pm at Woodland Community Library, 411 Lakeshore Dr, Woodland

✦ Adult Craft and Chat Fridays from 4-5pm at Battle Ground Community Library/1207 SE 8th Way, Battle Ground

✦ Open Craft at Hook and Needle ✦ Wednesdays 4pm - 7pm | Sundays 12pm - 4pm

FVKG Upcoming Events

International Knit in Public Day

Save the Date!! June 13, 2026

Knit in Public Day is the largest knitter-led event in the world. Local organizers bring their own fresh ideas into planning where the event will be held and what people would like to do. Knit in Public Day is about showing the general public that knitting can be a community activity in a very distinct way.

This year, KIP is Saturday, June 13. FVKG is participating. Join us at Leroy Haagen Park in East Vancouver from 11am-2pm.

Where: 13412 NE LeRoy Haagen Memorial Drive, Vancouver. (Across from the DMV on 136th)

What: Remember to bring a lawn chair, water, and a hat if it’s sunny or an umbrella if it’s raining. We will have the hat knitting machine there for members to make hats for charity.

This is a free event.

Ikea also has a KIP event, from 10a,-12noon. It’s a free event; however, advanced sign up is required to attend.

FVKG at Clark County Fair

Summer is starting and it’s time to plan our summer activities. The Guild is staffing the Fort Vancouver Knitters Guild informational table the second weekend of the Fair, August 14, 15 and 16th. One of the primary purposes for our guild is to serve the community through education and services provided by the members so we annually staff a table at the Clark County Fair as one of the ways we fulfill that purpose.

It has always been hard for us to staff the Fair for the whole 10 days, so it has been decided to only be present for one weekend. Each volunteer receives free tickets for admission and parking to the Fair the day in which they volunteer.

We demonstrate knitting for any passersby and provide information about the Guild and other knitting resources. The building in which we are located is the exhibit hall so it is air conditioned, with two people at the table each shift. You can bring a comfortable chair, perhaps your lunch, a project you are working on and maybe one or two completed ones to show off with. You are welcome to make a day of it seeing the Fair before and after your shift.

Interestingly, our fair is judged by both State of Washington Fair judges and by the Clark County Fair Board. We are in the Needlework section and contribute to the entire sections judging points. Individual tables are judged on informative presentation, and engagement with the public. If tables are not staffed, lack informative content, or only have limited public interaction that section of the fair does not score as highly. As a result, we are looking for the loan of a swift, ball winder, dress form, or any other tool of our craft to display for demonstration.

Please claim your shift with Sign Up Genius: Sign-up list
We need to have numbers turned in to the Fair by June 10th, so please don’t delay in signing up!

Hope to see you at the Fair!

Adrienne Hale

Knitterly Travels

Stephen and Penelope's

Just returning from a fun and very exciting to Amsterdam. When a knitter goes to Amsterdam, I can assure you this place is in the foreground of your planning!

My questions were:
* How close can I stay to this store?
* Which day(s) will I go?
* What am I interested in?
* What yarn am I looking for?

Answers:
* Close!
* A day to sleep off jet lag.
* Two shawl patterns with yarn, and some of Stephen's pattern books.
* More Qing yarn!

They do ship to the US, too. So some yarn that I'm yarn dreaming about has to come with the next shipment. Stephen West's designs are on Ravelry, too.

The Woolery Rewards Program

A valuable reminder: You can support FVKG and buy your yarn and fiber at the same time — what could be better?

The Woolery is a family-owned store, and the perfect place for weaving, spinning, felting, dyeing, rug hooking, punch needle, knitting, and crocheting. In addition to being a great resource for us for our addictions er, crafts, it can also help the guild out with a cash-back program. FVKG has enrolled in the Woolery Guild Rewards Program (WGRP), where the Woolery donates 5% of all purchases made when the member first clicks on the WGRP link.

Then look around online, and place your order as usual.

NOTE PLEASE, you must use this link to ensure the rewards go to FVKG.

Questions? Contact Laurel at treasurer@ftvancouverknittersguild.org.

Laurel Prager

Knitterly Reads

Knitting the U.S.A. (Nancy Bates, Insight Editions, 2025).

Following on the success of Knitting the National Parks and Knitting California, author/knitter/teacher/fiber enthusiast Bates has again come up with 50 beanie hats that are inspired by and represent every state. Organized by region - North, South, Midwest, and West - each design features some unique feature of each state. Perhaps it’s a take on a color or symbol associated with a state, such as a multicolored hot air balloons against a blue sky for New Mexico or a basket of ripe peaches for Georgia or even a wooden sailing ship against a backdrop of fall foliage for Connecticut. The designs are often an unexpected take on a state’s identity but lovely, nonetheless. Made in worsted weight yarn for average adult heads, techniques include stranded colorwork, duplicate stitch, and - because they are beanies - choosing an appropriate cast on stitch. Useful, fun, unique, and imminently giftable.

Wardrobe Embroidery - Warner Bolstad (Zakka Workshop, 2021).

While not strictly a knitting book, this title nicely fits into the fiber arts roundhouse. Subtitled: knit & embroidery projects for up cycling clothes, the book presents several embroidery patterns that can be used on knits or other fabrics. Nine are knitting patterns - headband, neck warmer and several sweaters, both pullover and cardigan. Another nine are clothing items with embroidered embellishments - shirts, hats, totes, and of course jeans. Many designs are reminiscent of the sixties style hippie garments but definitely updated for today’s trends. A pattern library and inspiration gallery will get your fingers itching for both knitting needles and embroidery hoops. From a young Norwegian designer whose philosophy is: don’t throw it away, upcycle it for another season or two of fashionable attire.

Giving Through Knitting

Screenshot_2025-03-28_at_10.20.32_AM.png

"And, don’t forget the hat machine!"

Here’s a picture of a few of the hats I produced on our Guild hat machine last year, both for the Guild
project and for a gift exchange I was going to. The ombre and self-striping yarns produce such a pretty
product, and in short order!

—Sarah Kerridge

Thanks to one and all for your continued support and contributions to our charity knitting projects. Your efforts are very much appreciated. Please continue to knit items for our various charities.

There are several projects to choose from, or try one of each. Last call for 2025 will be at the November 6 meeting. Bring all knitted charity items to that meeting. If you are not able to come to the meeting, call Geri 703-599-9626 or Sue 503-968-9740 to arrange for a pick up.

We are still knitting hats for the food bank to be delivered just before Thanksgiving.

We are also knitting fingerless mitts in brown, black and grey for the nuns who take such good care of us at the retreats. They will be for Christmas gifts.

We continue to knit items for the Veterans hospital on an ongoing basis. They like fingerless mitts, scarves and hats in washable yarn as well as shawls that are size large and do not have a long V in the back. The longer shawls get caught in wheelchairs. These also need to be made of washable yarn.

If you have an idea for other charity knitting projects please let us know. We are always on the lookout for new things to knit!!

Stay tuned for a surprise project announcement in the New Year. In the mean time~

Happy Knitting from Geri and Sue

Please continue to make soap sacks and/or donate soap to Velda Madison. Collecting soap and soap sacks is a continuous initiative and the donations to various organizations happen year round. The receivers of these sacks are thrilled to have them.

Thank you for your support!

—Velda Madison

Yarn Heart

Education

Upcoming Classes at Hook and Needle

✦ Next Steps Knitting - Classic Ribbed Hat - May 30
✦ Beginner Knit Class - June 6
✦ Beginner Crochet - June 7
✦ Mosaic Crochet Mug Rug - June 20
✦ Cuff-Down Socks - June 20 and June 27
✦ Beginner Embroidery - June 27
✦ Kids Crochet - June 28

To see full list of upcoming classes and register see: https:// www.hookandneedlefiber.com/shop/classes/14

Knitterly Reads

Two recent additions to the Fort Vancouver Regional Library collection fit nicely with the season:
The cooler temperatures of fall are ideal weather for a bit of wool knitting...be it sweaters, hats, cowls, or - in this case - socks. The great thing about socks are they are a small canvas for experimenting with or perfecting knitting techniques and skills. In Joyful Colorwork Socks by Charlotte Stone (Page Street Publishing, 2024), knitters get patterns that highlight stranded colorwork in delightfully whimsical ways. The 25 unique designs are organized by interest area such as pets, hobbies, holidays, and celebrations. Socks for a dog or cat lover? Check. Botanical or garden-related designs? Check. How about a pair of cupcake-inspired socks for an upcoming special birthday? Again, check. Patterns instructions are all clearly written and colorfully illustrated in easy-to-read charts. Introductory sections include how to choose and substitute yarns and color combinations, tips and tricks to avoid second sock syndrome, and how to design a customized colorwork sock of your very own.

Halloween is just past and Christmas is on it’s way...what better time to begin a project from Tim Burton’sThe Nightmare Before Christmas: The Official Knitting Guide to Halloween Town andChristmas Town? Edited by Tanis Gray (Insight Editions, 2023), this collection of 28 designs runs the gamut from ‘terrifying toys’ to ‘horrifying home decor,’ with costumes and everyday apparel in-between. Like the Addams Family theme song goes, the projects are creepy and kooky, mysterious and spooky, but altogether ... fun, unique, and iconic. Here can be found a 10” tall classic Jack Skellington figure and his Santa counterpart, an Oogie Boogie Cowl, and a Nightmare Before Christmas throw. Projects range from beginner-level to more advanced and combine a number of techniques such as lace, cables, intarsia, and mosaic. Instructions are written, with charts as appropriate to the design. It is, as the editor writes, “a chillingly delightful collection of cozy knits with an eerie twist."

—Linda Frederiksen

Mosaic Knitting Workshop - Ashleigh Wempe (David & Charles, 2023).

It looks complicated but after learning the basic technique, it’s something that any advanced beginner can master quickly. Color work patterns are created by using one color for two rows while slipping some stitches then switching to a second color and slipping specific stitches in those rows.

The result is intricate-looking geometric designs that can be worked flat or in the round. Unlike fair isle and intarsia techniques there are no floats to carry or bobbins to manage. After going over the basics of mosaic knitting, the author dives into 13 small to medium-sized projects. Get a taste of mosaic knitting with a coffee cup coaster or cozy then expand to cowls, shawls, and blankets. Unlike many pattern books, the samples are made up with affordable Lion Brand yarns rather than expensive and often difficult to find fibers. Charts are large and easy to read. A perfect starter kit for those new to the technique.

Knit Modern Scani Sweaters
- Marita Clementz (David & Charles, 2025).

This new book highlights 12 visually striking knitting patterns from a Swedish designer. All are made with Scandinavian yarns that have both a cozy and warm look and feel. The designs, which are a modern take on traditional Nordic knits, are primarily top-down, raglan sleeve pullovers in crew or turtle necks and short and long sleeves. And, it’s the patterns that are the stars here, The big bright, colorful, abstract floral motifs and geometric designs in interesting and alternative color ways are reminiscent of the well-known brand, Marimekko. Unisex sizing is inclusive from extra small to extra large adult and most of the knits are in DK (light worsted) weight. The
attractive and appealing designs designs also feature short rows and Ladderback jacquard or yarn floats techniques. For more advanced knitters.

Submitted by Julie Patterson

Used with permission and with thanks to KnitPicks

Volunteers

Knit Club at Riverview Elementary

Thanks to FVKG and their members for the support of our Knit Club at Riverview Elementary School. Thanks to Pam, Sue, Cheryl, Rita for knitting sample animals with simple patterns for the kids to knit.

Thanks to all the folks that have donated knitting needles, yarn, bags and notions. The Fifth Graders at Riverview are doing great. We have about 14 kids in the Knit Club. Some are finishing fingerless mitts and the kitten above, while others are just starting. Rita, Nina, Lomoar, Leslie, Pam, Patty and Molly are teaching them.

One of the challenges we face with the fifth graders is that we only have one school year to teach them as much as we can. We teach at lunch / recess 11:40–12:15) on Wednesdays and Fridays, so we only get about 20-25 minutes of knit time. But they work hard when they are at Knit Club.

We would like to start a Fourth Grade Knit Club at Riverview on Thursdays at 11:25-12:00. Then we would have 2 school years to teach them, and we might get them further into learning all there is about knitting. Would any of you be willing to help teach the Fourth Graders? If so Please email Rita at copphous@comcast.net or text Rita at 360-608-6989.

THANKS!
~ Submitted by Rita Coppernoll

Webmistress: Patricia Freedman
Email: webmistress@ftvancouverknittersguild.org