Results of the Membership Survey are in!
by Karen des Jardins
The Membership Survey was conducted from November 15 to December 15, 2016 as part of the Guild’s 20th anniversary celebration. A link to the on-line survey was included in the December Newsletter and posted on the homepage of the Guild’s website. We had a great response! One third of our membership, 104 members, responded. Thanks to all who participated. Here are the questions and the answers we received:
Who first taught you to knit?
70% of us learned from a family member or friend
12% learned in a class or from a local yarn store
10% learned from a book or a booklet
2% learned online
6% were self-taught!
Reason why we come to Guild meetings (in order of importance):
Inspiration
Meet other knitters
World class speakers
Educational
Fun!
How long have we been Guild members?
Most of us: 2 – 5 years (42 responses)
Many of us: 1 year or less (24) or 6 to 9 years! (24)
‘Old timers’: 10 years or more (14 )
Knitting in Public: How many groups do you knit with on a weekly basis?
29 members said ‘none’
68 members knit in 1 or 2 groups weekly
6 replied they knit with 3 or 4 groups a week
No one admitted to more!
What is your preferred Style of Knitting?
53 members: English (throw)
42 members: Continental (pick)
6 members replied “other” like Portuguese knitting
Knitting in the Round: What is your preferred style to knit in the round if a circular needle is unavailable?
Top answer: Double pointed needles
Next: Magic Loop
Next: Two circular needles
Fun Facts!
- 60% of us have attended a knitting conference and
- 10% have been on a knitting cruise
- 24% have received a knitting award!
- 40% of us have designed a pattern
- 25% have served as an officer of our guild
- 11% have been a featured Speaker
- 15% have led or hosted a Members Teaching Members
- 33% of us bought yarn and hid it. Shhhhh!
One excerpt from “other comments”
“Attending meetings has become a part of my whole knitting world. For me, ‘knitting’ is not just the physical act of knitting; it encompasses the community, the outreach, the educational skills, and the above reasons.”
What types of unusual places have we knit?
At the Beach, of course! Also…..a train, on a plane, on a bus, the subway, on a ship, while shopping, in a resort, on a ferry, while biking, at a retreat.
…in England, Scotland, Queensland, Australia, Indonesia, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Patagonia, Chile, Cortina, Torino, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Belize, Bavaria, Germany, Alcatraz, Santiago, Idaho, Zermatt, Loch Ness, Naples, Italy, the Olympics, Istanbul and even rafting the Colorado River.
…in church, at the hospital, at the dentist, the courthouse, at the gym, on a treadmill, in a monastery, at the grocery store, in a sauna, camping, in a bar!
…waiting in line, at the casino, at a festival, a wedding, a funeral, at the ballpark, a hockey game, in the airport, the toilet, and… in bed.
What else do we do? Lots of things!
· Spinning, weaving, gardening, yoga, beadwork, cooking, needlepoint, and reading.
· We spend time on Ravelry, we exercise, walk, blog, quilt, crochet, embroidery and nap!
· Our hobbies include Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, genealogy, painting, sewing, floral arranging and cooking, of course.
· Some of us are artists, some tap-dance, some dye yarn. Our talents include musical performances both vocal and instrumental.
· We love sailing and travel and jewelry, too.
· A few like English hand-smocking, like to create a fairy garden or are political advocates/activists. Many of us volunteer for a great number of diverse groups.
· And, some of just like to make ice cream!
