Category: President’s Message

From Our President – February 2026

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Knitters protest ICE presence in Minnesota with red hats, inspired by another historic act of resistance

I grew up close to Minneapolis and still have close ties there. The horrible actions of ICE in this beautiful city have affected me deeply and when I saw this article, I felt like I had to say something. Knitters in Minneapolis are making the “Melt the ICE” hat with proceeds going to immigration aid organizations. I encourage you do purchase this pattern (it’s only $5) and make a hat in support of the citizens who are impacted by the actions of ICE.

Kate Wilson
KANG President
knitatnightguild@gmail.com

 

Editor’s Note: Fiber arts have been a tool of political resistance since the 1760s – before both the American and French Revolutions. Here is a great article from PBS (from 2017) about the history of knitting activism.

We are proud to carry on this tradition and rally support for social change. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to hit reply directly on this newsletter email. – Sparrow

From Our President – January 2026

Posted on by KANGWebmaster

Happy New Year!

I’m looking forward to a good year and hope you are too. Have you decided on any New Year’s resolutions yet? I have a few… all knitting-related.

  1. Finish/frog/throw out all my unfinished projects (five at the moment). I love starting projects but am not so good at finishing them.
  2. Work on getting rid of some of my stash. Look for stash-busting projects. Don’t buy any yarn unless it’s for a specific project that will be started soon.  
  3. Don’t start more than two new projects without finishing one. One can be an easy, brainless, TV-watching pattern; the other, something more complicated.

I’ve been knitting like mad lately, working on a sweater for my husband. He’s gone for a couple of weeks, so I have the house to myself and lots of time to knit! The pattern is called Forester Henley in case you are interested.


Kate Wilson
KANG President
knitatnightguild@gmail.com

From Our President – December 2025

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A belated happy Thanksgiving to all of you. We did it the easy way this year and went to a restaurant for dinner. The only problem with that is that there are no yummy leftovers!

I hope you are all nearly finished with your knitted holiday gifts. I have to admit that I’m way behind. Luckily I don’t have many to make. I’ve finished a cowl and am using the addi knitting machines to make some hats – very quick!

This is very short, but I need to get back to my knitting. Happy Holidays to everyone! 

Kate Wilson
KANG President
knitatnightguild@gmail.com

From Our President – November 2025

Posted on by KANGWebmaster

What a beautiful day! Fall has finally arrived… I grew up in Wisconsin and even after 40+ years in Houston, I have never gotten used to the heat.  I’m always wanting to knit heavy winter sweaters too – the kind that you may be able to wear for two days a year in Houston!

The Quilt Festival was a success – both for the quilters and for KANG. We had almost 30 members working at our yarn winding booth at various times, and we received about $230 in donations from people who stopped by to have yarn wound.

You may have heard that someone gifted the Guild with two addiExpress knitting machines. I have been trying out one of them and was able to make a hat in about an hour and a scarf in about two hours. If you want to borrow a machine for a week or two, let me know.

On the needles: I finished a baby blanket and am now working on a Summer Square top (the second one). It’s a pattern by Hinterm Stein. Many of her patterns have a very unusual construction, but I’ve found that if I just follow the pattern, it always works out!


Kate Wilson
KANG President
knitatnightguild@gmail.com

From Our President – October 2025

Posted on by KANGWebmaster

Yesterday four KANG members (Anne Temple and Joyce Marston from KIK, Daniela Zapico from KNOW, and me from KIND) spent a couple hours at one of the Michaels Craft stores. We talked to customers about the Guild, handed out KANG business cards, displayed some of our finished projects, and spent a lot of time just knitting. Michaels recently bought out Joann’s stock and was trying to promote their craft merchandise. In appreciation for our being there, they gave the Guild a $100 gift card!  

On my needles: This month it’s been “on my hook” as I’m crocheting a baby blanket for one of our nephews and his wife. All my knitting projects have been on hold until I get that done.

Kate Wilson
KANG President
knitatnightguild@gmail.com

From Our President – September 2025

Posted on by KANGWebmaster

Here we are into hurricane season and so far, everything looks peaceful. Keep all your fingers and toes crossed that it stays that way. I’ll be leaving for Wisconsin in a couple weeks for my 60th class reunion. The weather there at this time of year is usually beautiful although it’s a little early for the leaves to be turning.

If you haven’t heard already, Merribee Needlearts is closing on September 13. From now until then, they have a 40-70% discount on all their yarns.

The Houston Quilt Festival is coming up October 9-12. We have a lot of members who have volunteered to work at the yarn winding booth in return for free admission to the festival. If you missed signing up this year, keep it in mind for next year!

The KIND chapter is changing their meeting location from Bayland Community Center to the Fonteno Senior Center at 6600 Bissonnet. It’s only about two blocks from the old location.

I have a couple tops on the needles, both of which I’ve made before. And I’ve added a chicklet to my growing collection of emotional support chickens. 

Kate Wilson
KANG President
knitatnightguild@gmail.com

From Our President – August 2025

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We are ready to turn over management of the Guild to a new set of officers at the handover meeting on August 2. Thanks to all of you who volunteered to be officers for the coming year as well as those of you who were officers this past year. The Guild would not exist without you! Check the column to the right for a list of all new officers.

I’ve been busy knitting this month. I finished another Emotional Support Chicken (Henrietta) to keep my first one company; a Marisol top which I love – it fits perfectly; and mattress stitching together blanket squares for the KIND chapter. The blankets will go to Project Linus.

Our next board meeting will be August 19. All the board meetings are held on Zoom and any members are welcome to attend – contact Lauren at kangwebmaster@gmail.com for a link to the Zoom call if you are interested.

Kate Wilson
KANG President
knitatnightguild@gmail.com

From Our President – July 2025

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We have new officers! With a unanimous vote from the chapters, the following people will take over as new officers on August 1:

KANG Secretary – Jayne Jones (SoCK)

KANG Treasurer – Deanne Nirider (SoCK)

Charity Chairpersons – Linda Currie (KIK) and Nancy Smith (KNOW)

Workshop Chairpersons – Nancy Polychronopoulis (KNOW) and Ann Cole (KNOW)

Thanks to all of them for volunteering!

Kate Wilson
KANG President
knitatnightguild@gmail.com

From Our President – June 2025

Posted on by KANGWebmaster

It’s June 1 – the start of hurricane season. Think positive – knitting requires no power! It’s also time to elect new officers for the upcoming year. At your chapter meetings this month, you will be asked to vote on the following nominees:

  • KANG Secretary – Jayne Jones (SoCK)
  • KANG Treasurer – Deanne Nirider (SoCK)
  • Charity Chairpersons – Linda Currie (KIK) and Nancy Smith (KNOW)
  • Workshop Chairpersons – Nancy Polychronopoulis (KNOW) and Ann Cole (KNOW)

I’ve been knitting non-stop for the last month and have finished and blocked both a Spindrift scarf and a Kyler shawl. Remind me not to make another shawl that big – blocking it was a pain in the ***! (but it’s beautiful!)

Kate Wilson
KANG President
knitatnightguild@gmail.com

From Our President – May 2025

Posted on by KANGWebmaster

The nominating committee has been hard at work looking for candidates for next year’s officers and committee heads. The only position still open is the chair(s) of the Workshop committee. If you are interested in this position, please contact me or let your chapter president know. The Workshops chair focuses on putting together day and/or weekend events for the Guild. This can include bringing in teachers/instructors, putting together a “learn to -” workshop, etc). Two people can easily share this position and have a committee to assist them. 

After making my Emotional Support Chicken at the retreat in March, I decided to start on gnomes. Sarah Schira who wrote “The Gnomes of Grimblewood” book had a mystery KAL in April where we knit Professor Fungi (sort of a combination of a mushroom and a gnome!). Maybe next month I’ll have a gnome from her book finished… or another chicken!

Kate Wilson
KANG President
knitatnightguild@gmail.com