History of The Guild
1996
Guild Founded
North Coast Knitters Guild founded by Colleen Davis & Phyllis Bates. The Guild’s first meeting took place on September 25, 1996, at the home of Phyllis Bates.
Guild Founder
Guild Founder
1997
First General Meeting
The Guild’s first official meeting took place in January 1997, marking the adoption of the name North Coast Knitters. By the end of that year, membership had grown to 23 members.
1998
Election of the Guild's First Officers
By the end of 1998, the Guild had elected its first officers.
2000
First Holiday Luncheon and Fashion Show
On December 5, 2000, the guild held its first Holiday Luncheon and Fashion Show, marking the beginning of what would become a cherished annual tradition celebrating members’ creativity and community.
2005
Introduction of Organizational Roles
By 2005, the Guild had grown significantly, prompting the creation of new leadership roles, including Program Chairs and Newsletter Editors.
Member-driven initiatives such as Sub-Groups—including The Critter Knitters and Charity Knitters—gave members opportunities to connect around shared interests.
Expanded educational programs, member teaching days, and charity drives further strengthened the Guild’s mission and sense of community.
As the Guild continues to evolve, it remains grounded in the welcoming, creative spirit established by its founding members.
2009
Expanding our Identity
2009 marked an important milestone for the guild. We changed our name to San Diego North Coast Knitters Guild to better reflect the geographic diversity of our growing membership. That same year, we created our first official logo, establishing a stronger and more unified identity. In November 2009, we also launched our Guild Library, expanding educational resources and support for our members.
2017
20th Anniversary Celebration
We celebrated our 20th anniversary in January 2017 with a special ceremony honoring founding members. A proclamation from the City of Encinitas recognized our community contributions.
Karen Des Jardins, Encinitas Councilwomen Tasha Boerner, Phyllis Bates, Colleen Davis and Liz Knapp
2018
The Guild on the move
In September 2018, we moved our monthly meetings from the San Dieguito Methodist Church to Temple Solel in Encinitas to accommodate growing attendance.
2019
Evolution of the Newsletter
- 1997: The Guild’s first newsletter debuted as a one-page handout.
- 1998–2015: It expanded into a multi-page publication, carefully assembled and mailed
to members, featuring meeting recaps, member projects, and upcoming events. - 2015–2019: The newsletter moved to a digital PDF format, emailed to members.
- 2019–Present: The monthly News Blast email launched, delivering timely updates,
guest speaker highlights, and easy access to our growing website resources.
2001
Inaugural Retreat
The first retreat took place from October 19–21, 2001, at the La Casa de Marina Retreat Center, offering panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean.
2020
Adapting to the Pandemic
Our last in-person meeting was in March 2020. Despite the pandemic, we quickly adapted:
Switched to Zoom for monthly meetings
Held virtual workshops and “Show & Share” events
Launched online knitting galleries and resources
This flexibility ensured our community stayed connected and inspired.
2021
Strategic Shift to virtual Engagement
As in-person events remained limited, we focused on enriching virtual programs, including international guest speakers. We also launched a website revamp and embraced hybrid events. Member participation remained strong and resilient.
2022
25th Anniversary Celebration
In 2022, we kicked off our 25th Anniversary Celebration with a tribute to founders Phyllis Bates and Colleen Davis. It marked a moment of reflection and gratitude for our Guild’s incredible journey.
2025
A Thriving Community of 250+ Members
Today, we are a thriving community of more than 250 members, proudly welcoming knitters from across California and beyond.
