GBKG FAQs
Greater Boston Knitting Guild — Frequently Asked Questions
About the Guild
What is the Greater Boston Knitting Guild? GBKG is a volunteer- run community of knitters, crocheters, and fiber lovers. Our tagline is “Boston and Beyond, a Fiber Arts Community” — members range from complete beginners to experts, and we currently have members in 26 U.S. states plus Portugal, Canada, and Australia.
Do I have to live in Boston to join? No. While we’re rooted in the Greater Boston area, our virtual programming means members participate from all over the country and abroad.
How long has the Guild been around? Since 1993. Our first community outreach project, The Love Sweater, was designed by a member and knit by others to benefit the Children’s AIDS Program — and we’ve kept going ever since.
Membership
What membership options are available? Two: a Personal Membership and a Business Membership, each $45 for one year. We also offer Gift Memberships — a one-year personal membership you can give to a friend.
What do I get with a Personal Membership? - Access to members- only virtual knitting groups and Knit-A-Longs - Occasional in-person meet-ups in the Greater Boston area - Talks and workshops from well- known designers and teachers - Member pricing on workshops - Participation in community outreach projects - Monthly Show & Tell - Discounts at several member businesses
What does a Business Membership include? A listing in our business directory, the ability to promote your offerings to our membership, and opportunities to present to the Guild.
How do I sign up, renew, or give a gift membership? Visit the Join Us page, which has detailed step-by-step instructions for joining, rejoining, or purchasing a gift membership. If you’re already a member, sign in to manage or renew your account.
How long does membership last? One year from the date of purchase, for both Personal and Business Memberships.
Meetings, Speakers & Workshops
When are meetings held? Virtual monthly meetings run September through June on the 3rd Thursday of the month and feature speakers from around the world. Please note: The content of our meetings Presenters is their sole intellectual property and is not recorded unless noted.
Who are some past speakers? Guests have included Carol Feller, Kate Atherley, Shirley Paden, Bristol Ivy, Deborah Newton, Yumiko Alexander,Stephen West, Sarah Schira, Faina Goberstein, Woolly Wormhead, Xandy Peters and many others.
Are there workshops too? Yes — virtual workshops covering a wide range of skills and levels, with member pricing.
What are the Monday Night Knit-A-Longs? Virtual, members-only knitting sessions held on Monday evenings — a chance to knit together, chat, and get to know other members.
What’s “Out of the Blue”? An occasional special event the Guild hosts outside the regular meeting schedule.
Where can I see the full events calendar? Check the Events page for upcoming speakers, workshops, and the current season’s schedule.
Community Outreach (“Knitting for Good”)
What is the Community Outreach program? Since 1993, GBKG members have donated handmade items to people in need across the Greater Boston area. In 2020 alone, the Guild donated 2,791 knitted items.
What kinds of items are needed? Currently: infant hats, and for ages 2–18, scarves, hats, cowls, and mittens.
Who receives the donations? Organizations including Women’s Lunch Place, the Mass. Coalition for Refugees and Immigrants (MIRA), the Italian Home for Children, My Brother’s Keeper, Reach Beyond Domestic Violence, United Way, and Room to Grow. Prayer/comfort shawls go to Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Do I need to be a Guild member to contribute? No — anyone can contribute knitted or crocheted items through our partner yarn shops.
Where do I drop off finished items? At one of six partner yarn stores: Tight Knit (Roslindale), Another Yarn (Burlington), Stitch House (Dorchester), Mind’s Eye Yarns (Arlington), Knit, Tuck and Purl (Lexington), and Plymouth Harbor Knits (Plymouth). GBKG handles distribution from there.
Can I donate yarn instead of finished items? The Guild itself can’t accept yarn donations, but there’s a list of local organizations that do — see the Yarn Donation page.
Where do I find patterns for outreach items? Free patterns are available on Ravelry.com — a great place to start if you want to dig through your stash and make a hat.
Who do I contact with questions about the outreach program?
communityoutreachgeneral@gbkg.org
Show & Tell
What is Show & Tell? A monthly opportunity for members to share their finished projects and works-in-progress with the Guild. Past submissions are archived on the site by year.
Communication
How does the Guild keep members updated? Through the website plus several social/communication platforms — see the Communication page for the full list.
Where can I find the Guild on social media? Facebook and Instagram.
How do I contact the Guild directly? Use the contact form on the homepage, or: gbkginfo@gbkg.org
Have a question that’s not answered here? Contact: helpdesk@gbkg.otg