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MORALE FIBER
Western Reserve Knitting Guild lifts spirits with multiple projects
By Lissa Bell
The Western Reserve Knitting Guild, chartered in 1984 as the very first knitting guild to be chartered by The Knitting Guild of America, recently met at Fair Park in Canfield during Breast Cancer Awareness month to turn in scarves knitted for area cancer patients.
According to founding member Marlyn Ibele, the scarves for cancer patients is a fairly new event for the guild. Members voted on the best scarves and three winners received shawl pins and scissors marked “Knitter’s Fantasy,” which is an upcoming event to be hosted by The Warren Knitting Guild.
According to Ibele, the cost of attendance includes two classes, lunch, a style show and entrance to the market, which will have approximately 25 yarn vendors.
Ibele said the event is hosted by a different guild every April.
In addition to meeting once a month, the women also dress teddy bears for battered and abused children and knit hats for the “Caps for Kids” program to be donated to Head Start in Mahoning and Columbiana counties.
Ibele said the guild got the yarn for the scarves last September and will be delivering the completed scarves to Anna’s Closet in Poland for the “Glow Girls,” a local organization for cancer patients who meet at Hospice House.
The knitting guild has 60 members, some from out of town. Ibele said there are usually 35-40 members in attendance at monthly meetings.
Although the group does not meet in December, they will be gathering for a Christmas dinner and ornament exchange.
According to Ibele, the Western Reserve Knitting Guild was founded in honor of Sue Baker, former owner of Knitting Korner, who was diagnosed with cancer and died shortly after the guild was formed.
“I don’t know if she ever knew,” said Ibele, who began teaching classes and working in the shop long before it moved to its 224 location.
Ibele recently attended the national convention in Manchester, N.H., where the guild was honored as the founding guild.
Members of the Western Reserve Knitting Guild include knitters of all levels, from beginners to professionals who share new ideas and projects that they have been working on.
“No matter how long you’ve been knitting, there is always something new,” said Ibele.