Our History

The Western Reserve Knitting Guild was founded July 9th, 1984 by Marlyn Ibele and held its first meeting at the Presbyterian Church in Canfield, Ohio. The first meeting's anticipated attendance was 20 but had 47 devoted knitters attend!

In the first official newsletter, Ibele wrote: "In August [1984] we had an outstanding show and tell program. Wasn’t it fun to see what everyone has been doing? We also added more new members – we are growing by leaps and bounds. The National Office in Knoxville is overwhelmed at the size of our group. (I loved their suggestion to meet in a fire hall or library – all sixty of us?!)”

Starting with Issue 2, the newsletter was dubbed The Cablegram. It was hand-typed by a newsletter committee of 9 people. The format has changed slightly over time, but a minimum of six issues are printed every year.

A regular feature of the Guild’s early newsletters was a column entitled “Knit Wits.” This began in the very first issue and included tips and tricks for improving one’s knitting. Knitterly advice and suggestions are still part of the current newsletter, along with local and national Guild news, events, and announcements. 

Those early newsletters offer testimony to our group’s long-standing tradition as a local source for knitting education as well as camaraderie. In the first year, the Guild programs included mini-workshops, with four groups of knitters each working with a leader on different aspects of knitting; a program on holiday ornaments; demonstrations from local yarn shop owners; a video program on finishing; a discussion of mosaic knitting; an “Odds ‘N Ends” sale to raise funds for the guild’s operating expenses; a demonstration on cutting fabric strips for knitting; and a birthday party! 

The group wrote and adopted bylaws, established dues and national membership requirements, and elected officers. By the end of the first year, membership was over sixty-five knitters, a few of whom are still with us today!

Local Guild dues back in 1984 were $10 per year, and members were required to join the national guild, which is still strongly encouraged for members and a requirement for holding office in our chapter today. Dues now are just $20. Our guild is still going strong with over fifty current members. We continue to meet once a month on the second Tuesday (except December), and proudly carry on the traditions started by those first charter members over 40 years ago.

Source: We’re In This Together Guilds and Groups: Western Reserve Knitting Guild Then and Now by Jen Kendall, WRKG President 2015-2017