Guest Speaker Mary Jeanne Packer, Battenkill Fibers Spinning and Carding Mill
Saturday, April 11, 1:00–4:00 PM
Check-in begins at 12:30 PM
New York Society for Ethical Culture (Social Hall)
2 West 64th Street at Central Park West
Mary Jeanne Packer founded Battenkill Fibers in Greenwich, NY, in 2009 to provide custom carding and spinning services for farmers and to manufacture yarn for wholesale and retail markets. Today, using refurbished traditional machinery, the mill produces 100 pounds daily of artisanal-quality, worsted and semi-worsted yarn—both natural and dyed.
In addition, Mary Jeanne is a co-founder of the non-profit Hudson Valley Textile Project (HVTP), where she serves as treasurer and executive director. She oversees the organization’s Clean Fleece NY wool-scouring facility and Northeast Fiber Exchange (NEFX) wool warehouse among many other titles and accreditations across the industry.
A frequent speaker on topics related to sustainable textile supply chains, Mary Jeanne also teaches knitting and punch-needle workshops and, through her company Battenkill Textile Tours, leads knitting- and fiber-related tours in the US and abroad.
Presentation: Reviving America's Sustainable Wool Industry One Farm, One Mill, and One Knitter at a Time
Mary Jeanne will share her insider’s perspective on how local fiber processing is rebuilding America’s wool industry from the ground up. Discover the journey from pasture to yarn: the farmers raising sheep and alpacas, the challenges of custom milling, and how small mills and fiber farms are creating a sustainable regional alternative to imported yarn. Learn why every skein you purchase is a vote for the future of American wool. Whether you’re curious about where your yarn comes from or passionate about supporting local agriculture, this talk will transform how you think about the fiber in your hands.
Members Share the Talent Preview
After the meeting, chat with the BAKG members who will be teaching at the upcoming Members Share the Talent event. Don’t miss this opportunity to check out the workshops that interest you, so that you are ready to sign up when registration opens. (Members Share the Talent will take place on May 9. Watch your inbox for registration information.)
Show and Tell
All knitted projects are welcome at Show and Tell. We can’t wait to see what you created since our last meeting. As always, only one Show and Tell item per meeting, please.
Bring a Guest
Guests are welcome! A guest’s first visit is free. Subsequent visits are $10, which may be applied to annual dues if paid on the meeting day.
Charity Table
Drop off the knitting you have done for charity since last we met. Or sit and knit at our Charity Knitting table with Charity Chair Barbara Beckley.
BAKG general meetings, workshops, or other BAKG-sponsored events, whether in person or virtual, may be photographed and/or recorded by audio and/or video. By your in-person or virtual participation at these meetings, you consent to the photography and/or recording and to the use of your image and/or recording in print and social media.