So you want to start a MenKnit group?

Well, that's one of the reasons we started this website.
There a many different ways to proceed. What follows are some suggestions from our
experience of starting a MenKnit DC group here in Washington, DC. Apologies if you're a seasoned group-organizer and this seems all "duh" and elementary, but we're all starting at different places and it's always good to share everything that's worked for you. If you have suggestions after reading through this, let us know by email.

First of all know that the greatest thing you need is patience. In many cases, regardless of where you are, it may take some time for word to get out and for guys to gather and knit. So, don't be disheartened if your first knitting meets only have two or three guys show up. Heck, there are some evenings when there's only been one of us. But that's been okay. We've steadily grown and the interest level is high.
So, now that you know you need some patience, here some advice.

You may want to print this page out.

Set a Time & Place | Listing On MenKnit.net | Getting the Word Out
What Happens at a Men's Knit?

Set a Place & Time

Place
You need to find a local place to hold your knitting group. If you're flying solo the first couple of times, we'd suggest a coffee shop that's:

• accessible (consider mass-transit if you're in a large city)
• that's large enough (although that might not be an issue at first)
• that has tables where you can sit around and knit while you talk
  

You may want to ask the store manager if its okay for a group to meet there. In many cases the store doesn't really care, because it brings more people into the coffee shop. We have found coffee shops are more than happy to host us (and the group should reciprocate by being good patrons).

Another place to consider holding a men's knit group is at your local yarn shop. This all depends of course on how you feel about your local shop. Is it welcoming to male knitters. Some are. Some are not. The major downside to holding it at a yarn shop is there are no beverages and food for folks to have while they're knitting.

Overall, the place you choose should be comfortable.

Time
Find a regular time to "convene" your Men Knit groups. The key here is regularity.
For example, in DC we meet the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. This way people can see it on a flyer or on the website and remember "second and fourth wednesday." It may take a few weeks for them to remember but they will eventually. Later on when you have more people show up, you can take a poll to see if other regular dates work for folks. But don't get in the habit of changing time and place. The worst thing you want to do is have someone make the effort to go to a Men's Knit and find they've switched all of a sudden.

Listing on MenKnit.net
You can certainly have a provisional knitting group listed on the menknit.net site.
That's one of the main reason's we started the site. Just let us know by email.

Email
What we like to do with groups listed on MenKnit.net is set up an email forward for your group. For example, if you're starting a group in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, we could set up an email like tuscaloosa@menknit.net
Messages sent to this email would be forwarded to your real email.

This way you have some privacy in the matter. Also if you change email accounts or someone else from your group later takes on the task of being group contact its easy enough to change the forward and the contact email remains the same. Also, having menknit.net in the email is a memorable device for folks to remember in case they forget in the future. They can just hop on over and check out the group page for the information.

These are pretty easy to set up and we are happy to do this. Just let us know by email.

{While we're on the subject of emails.... As you get emails from people interested in the group SAVE THEIR EMAILS. I save them as a separate email list to use later to send out blind-copy reminders about upcoming Men Knit Nights. And remember to send them out a few days before the date.}

Getting the Word Out
Flyers
Your flyers should have the basics like the name of the group and meeting times and places.
Its a good idea to include small "tear-off" pieces at the bottom with contact information and the group time and place. For an example of such a poster, check out an early DC version here. (Oh yeah, it doesn't hurt to mention crochet somewhere on your flyer).

Make sure you post one at the coffee shop you're meeting at. This is especially easy if they have a bulletin board, like most do. Be sure to keep a few copies of the flyer folded in your knitting bag. We end up putting up a new copy of the flyer each time we meet because the small pieces have been torn off at the bottom (and we usually put up two flyers!)

Logos
We'd be delighted if you want to use any of our logos. We've conveniently placed them all here.
You can print them out and do some fancy cutting and pasting to make your own posters.

Another recommendation is to make a poster with all the pertinent information except for the meeting place. The reason for this second poster is that it allows you to post it in other coffee shops or businesses that might be against posting flyers for events in other businesses (believe me it happens). You can send the person to this website for more information or your menknit.net email (see above).
This may get your flyer posted in a lot more places.

Other ways to get the word out...
You might also explore getting the word out on any local knitting list-serve (explore yahoogroups and see if there's a local knitting list-serve -- there are quite a few across the country). Also, Craig's List and MeetUp.com are good online resources to post group meetings.

Of course don't forget to let us know about your group and meeting time and we'll post it on our groups page.

Many community papers have free listings for community groups.

And lastly, don't forget your local yarn shop!! Chances are all male knitters in your area visit a few yarn shops in your area. By and large, if they're not insane, store owners should be delighted to post a flyer about a men's knitting group that will result in more knitters and more $$ales of yarn and supplies for them. Just makes sense all around.

What's Supposed to Happen at a Men's Knit?

This is really the easiest part.
When the group meets its casual and conversational.
Its not like its a meeting you have to *run* or anything.

Don't feel like you need to plan anything beyond getting the word out.

Its just an opportunity for folks to come out and meet other male knitters.
Just be there to be hospitable and welcome folks when they arrive.

"Do You Teach Knitting?"
You may be approached by email (or in person) about teaching someone to knit.
How you proceed with this is all up to you and your comfort level.
By and large when we get this question we direct folks to this website and the Learn pages. A number of online and published resources exist that teach the basics to knitters and they've been collected there.

The key is to be welcoming but don't overextend yourself more than you're comfortable.
By and large people understand they need to visit a shop and buy some yarn and needles and a book, before they show up. But in the off chance someone shows up empty handed, you can give them pointers on where to go and how to begin.

Getting to Know Each Other
At some point people can go around and say their names and talk about what they're working on. You can trade tips on yarn or troubleshoot projects or kvetch about politics, history what have you. It can also be a good opportunities to share about shops you've been to, or groovy sites you've found on the web (like menknit.net heh heh )

You may want to pass around a sheet of paper to get folks' emails so you can send out meeting reminders. Or its easy enough to set up a yahoo email group to send out reminders about the menknit nights. But that can come later. It all depends on what the group is into and up for.

Revisit Place and Time
The group may want to discuss if the meeting time and location works for everyone. After you have a number of folks you may want to decide if the time and location should change of if there's interest in meeting more than once or twice or month (or more!)

Hope these suggestions help to get the (yarn) ball rolling.

We love your feedback. Let us know how these suggestions worked. Or if you know of something to add to this page email us.

Our logo and roving artwork on the MenKnit website is based on the work of Grafton Fibers.
We invite you to visit their website to see their amazing fiberwork and needles
at www.graftonfibers.com