San Diego North Coast Knitters Guild
Minutes of the General Meeting
Tuesday, May 5, 2026,12:30 p.m.
Encinitas Community Center, 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive, Encinitas, CA 92024
124 Attendees
President Mary Barranger called the meeting to order at 12:31 p.m. She made some general housekeeping announcements, noting the new orientation of the meeting room (facing the two HD monitors).
Program Chair Theresa Kotanchek introduced this month’s speaker, Irina Anikeeva, a prolific knitwear designer and Guild member. Her presentation led the audience through the creative process of designing the 22 patterns in her current book, Solace, Stitches of Comfort.
After the presentation, Theresa reviewed Irina’s workshops noting they were almost full. The rest of the 2026 programs were highlighted:
- June 2 is our annual stash sale from 11:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- July 7, the Holidays in July Party, is an opportunity for members to interact with one another and perhaps plan for holiday knitting. Four local hand-dyers will have pop-up shops and there will be a winding station available. There will also be door prizes throughout the 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. event.
- The August 4 speaker is Lisa Ross who will hold four workshops on the next two days.
- On September 8 Jamie Lomax, known for her Doodle designs, will present and hold two workshops the next day.
- October 6 features Jennifer Berg and November 17 (note the departure from our usual first Tuesday) will have Xandy Peters as our knitting expert.
Theresa noted that the 2027 schedule is almost set but won’t be revealed until later this year.
Jeanie Miliken briefed the members about the upcoming Stash Sale, which is open to the public. She requested that all members spread the word and bring friends.
- Lots of yarns are of retail quality, priced at 2/3 off the prices paid at stores. These yarns will be on tables around the outer edges of the meeting room. The round tables in the middle of the room will have our usual stash sale options.
- There will be sweater quantities available, so attendees are encouraged to bring patterns to facilitate their yarn selections.
- Attendees are requested not to set aside yarns they are not sure they are going to purchase, keeping the yarn available to others.
- Prices marked on all items will remain in effect for the duration of the sale. There will not be any additional price cuts. Some leftover yarns will be available to pre-registered philanthropy groups. Other yarns will be put back into storage for future events.
- Note that people claiming yarn for philanthropy purposes will need to provide Colleen Lukoff (Philanthropy Chair) an account of what organizations received and what items were created with the Guild-supplied yarn.
- Laura Brubaker will be in charge of the sale on the day of the event.
Sydnie Wauson, Webmaster, provided an overview of the website transition slated for mid-July. Prior to the turnover, members will receive tools and training to help them navigate the new platform. There will be a password-protected members-only section allowing members to track their purchases of membership, workshops, and retreats. They will also be able to edit their personal account information at any time,
Sydnie then emceed Show and Share.
President Mary Barranger adjourned the meeting at 1:53 p.m.
Attendees then had the opportunity to examine Irina Anikeeva’s sample projects.
Submitted,
Tania Marshall, Secretary
May 13, 2026
