April 26, 2024

Lighthouse Knitting Guild inspires creativity and camaraderie among participants

By Kaysa Jalbert

There’s a simple remedy to end a search for the perfect plum-colored-sweater or a beanie-style hat that will fit right - learn how to knit it yourself.

The Lighthouse Knitting Guild of Maine meets on the first
Saturday of each month from 12:30 to 3 p.m. at the 
Windham Raymond Adult Education Building located 
behind Windham High School. Anyone interested in
knitting or learning how to knit is encouraged to attend.
COURTESY PHOTO   
It may be intimidating to take on a new skill and flaunt your own creations around town, but the Lighthouse Knitting Guild of Maine focuses on educating members and providing a supportive community for all creators to grow skills, creativity, and confidence in the art of knitting.

The Lighthouse Knitting Guild of Maine, LKGM, is the local Maine chapter for the national organization of The Knitting Guild of America, TKGA, a global non-profit organization helping knitters at all levels improve their art and skills through education.

"As a guild, our members focus not only on sharing the art and skill of knitting with each other, but also with our communities,” says Jan Long-Connelly, Vice President of Communications for LKGM. “Many of us demonstrate our knitting work at events like the annual Cumberland Fair to help raise awareness around the benefits of knitting. Since we most often meet on the Windham High School campus, it seemed like a natural fit for our group to participate in the Windham High School Knitting Club. Several of our members actively assist with teaching knitting skills to the students, mentoring them through various knitting projects, and helping with obtaining needed supply donations.”

The Guild typically meets the first Saturday of each month from 12:30 to 3 p.m. at the Windham Raymond Adult Education Building located behind the Windham High School. Any meeting location changes, meeting topics or special events are always posted on the group’s website and Facebook page.

Members come from a variety of locations throughout Maine. Many live in the Windham area but membership spans from Woolwich down to the New Hampshire border.

“A big focus of the Guild is educating members,” said Long-Connelly. “Skilled members share their knowledge by presenting classes in such techniques as brioche, steeking, and mosaic knitting.”

Annually, the guild has a nationally known designer offer either a virtual or an in-person class. In the past Bristol Ivy and Kate Atherly have provided classes in Windham. The LKGM’s in-person class with Elizabeth Smith, originally scheduled for April 6, was postponed from that date because of the storm that caused power outages and travel concerns for its members. The Guild will be announcing the new date for Smith’s presentation soon.

Guild Member benefits include attending monthly guild meetings to meet and learn from other experienced knitters and the opportunity to admire their individual work. Members may participate in Knit-A-Longs with moderators to support as you learn a new skill either at in-person meetings or online using Ravelry, a free online site for knitters, crocheters, and fiber artists where members can also access the Guild’s lending library.

Members also get early registration or reduced fees to guild-sponsored workshops by popular designers and gifted teachers. They also offer opportunities to fill or trim stash at the annual Spring Yarn Swap or wind your own cake using a yarn swift and ball winder available at meetings. Opportunities are available to participate in many charity knitting programs both locally and abroad, offering various knitted goods to those in need.

The Lighthouse Knitting Guild will hold its next meeting from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Saturday May 4 at the Windham Raymond Adult Education Building.

The Maine chapter was founded in 2015 by a group of friends who loved kitting and began to meet regularly forming a local kitting guild and shortly thereafter joined the national organization by using the model established by The Knitting Guild Association.

The Knitting Guild Association is the only national non-profit organization that focuses specifically on kitting. A membership costs $35 a year and includes benefits from newsletters and magazines to online educational meetings.

Anyone interested in joining the guild and have additional questions, contact the Guild at lighthouse.knitters.maine@gmail.com.

For more information visit www.lighthouseknitguildmaine.com <

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