Upcoming news & events

There's a lot to anticipate as we wrap up 2023! 

2018 Destash meeting

Now - We are currently accepting nominations for 2024 officers.  We do have a full ballot, currently all roles have only a single candidate.  The nomination form also allows you to indicate your interests for 2024 events.  Click here to nominate someone or volunteer/express your interests for 2024.

October 14 - 2nd Saturday meeting will feature Joy & Gloria sharing information about their recent experience w/Moogly and a trip to Ireland.  We'll also be voting for officers (more details below in previousj post).

October 28 - 4th Saturday meetup at MOA

November 4 - Fall Fiber Festival in Hopkins, MN - Sign up to demonstrate here (paid members only).

November 11 - Veteran's Day - no 2nd Saturday meeting due to library closures.

November 18 - DESTASH - one of just a handful of events that is for paying members only.  This is our annual member celebration and one of the best attended events. If you aren't familiar with the destash, ask any member who has participated - it's absolutely great!  Note - this is not the 2nd Saturday, due to Veteran's Day we will be holding the event on the 3rd Saturday of November.

November 25 - 4th Saturday meetup at HarMar.  We'll want to hear from members - is there enough interest to hold a meetup the day after Black Friday?

December 9 - 2nd Saturday meeting, featuring Moogly.   Paid members only will be able to attend either in-person as usual or remotely, if unable to attend in person.

December 23 - No 4th Saturday meetup due to Christmas holiday.

December 30th - 5th Saturday meetup at MOA.  

January 13 - TBD. Typically, January's meeting is for paid members only as we include education and offer the option to attend in-person as usual or remotely.  

Fall is in the air

I love fall. As a child with an October birthday, the start of the school year always seemed more like a marker of a new year than January 1. I start to feel the excitement of the upcoming holidays, enjoy the cooler weather and let's face it fall in Minnesota & Wisconsin is gorgeous!  

For CTC, the fall means starting to plan for the next year. October is when we typically hold our elections. We will be voting on the primary board roles (President, President-Elect or Vice-President, Secretary, Treasure & Education Chair) and looking for volunteers to help plan our 2024 calendar.  

Most of our current board is willing to run again for their 2023 roles, but everyone is welcome (even encouraged) to nominate candidates. You can use this link here to nominate yourself or another member.  The one critical role that we do not have any nominees for is the Education Chair.  As a non-profit organization that has education as a core part of our mission, the Education Chair is an important role, however, it doesn't have to be a burdensome one. There are many members involved in planning the schedule of activities, lessons and events each year and the Education Chair's role is to guide that planning, not to be the sole source of education. 

In addition to the board roles, there are various coordinators that participate on the board and all members of CTC are always welcome at the board meetings (held in odd-numbered months after the 2nd Saturday meeting), Coordinators for the blog, social media, newsletter, charity and additional areas of focus are also positions available to members.  We're looking for a Community Events Coordinator, and I would love to have assistance with the blog.  *Update: We're also looking for assistance with our social media (Facebook, Instagram & Ravelry) and 4th Saturday Meetups. 

Sept 2023 Lunch & Lock Cruise

Celebrating the Minnesota State Fair!

For the first time, Crochet Twin Cities spent 3 days demonstrating in the Creative Arts building at the State Fair. We started at the fair in 2015, filling a single day on behalf of the Textile Center – A National Center for Fiber Art (textilecentermn.org), in 2016 we added a second day and sponsorship of the CTC ribbon award. We yarn bombed Dan Patch (topiary horse) in 2017 and have even hosted a State Fair judge at one of our meetings where she explained the criteria used in judging.   Members have been submitting items for judging, winning ribbons and supporting each other through the entry process every year since (well, except for that one year, when there was no fair). 

The Crochet Twin Cities ribbon has been awarded 6 times for excellence creating a crochet garment in of three classes: 265-Shell, sleeveless vest, 266-Sweater, pullover, adult or 267-Sweater, cardigan, adult.  While CTC sponsors the ribbon and the winner is awarded a free year's membership in Crochet Twin Cities, the State Fair judges select the ribbon recipient.  This year is the first time since 2019 that the winner wasn't Marissa.  This year's award went to Irina from Maple Grove, we'll be reaching out to introduce CTC to Irina and invite her to join us at meetings and meetups.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, the level of skill and talent we have never fails to amaze me!  Congratulations to all of our members who submitted items for judging.  I will apologize right now for anyone that I miss.  I was able to get pictures of ribbon winners for: Carla, Gloria, Joy, Lorraine, and Marissa.  If you have any photos of your entries, your time demonstrating or other members at the fair, please send them to us at ctclist@gmail.com so that we can acknowledge your efforts!  Marissa took ribbons from StevenBe and Three Kittens in addition to a third-place ribbon on a pullover, several first place ribbons and a sweepstakes. Lorraine won blue ribbons for her entries in class 241-Afghan, 1 piece, 1 color, infant/toddler sweater & 3-piece sets. Lorraine also received second and third place ribbons.  Gloria's adorable avocado family received a 2nd place ribbon. Carla and Joy were awarded third-place ribbons.  I'm looking forward to seeing and hearing about them.

Our meeting next weekend is on the river again, and we'll be at the HarMar Barnes & Noble cafe for the meet-up.  Until then, happy hooking!  Theresa