Needlework Guild of Minnesota

Our Beginning

Needlework as a pastime experienced a renaissance in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Women had both the time (most didn’t have careers) and the money (a consequence of post-war prosperity) to pursue their creative instincts.

Minnesota was not immune to this nationwide trend. The Needlework Association of Minnesota was formed by Marnie Hensel and Mary Dayton in order to put on a money-raising exhibition in the fall of 1971 in support of the Minnetonka Center of Arts and Education.

More than 400 individuals entered their needlework in that show, a level of participation that motivated the organizers to collect names and addresses of those interested creating a permanent needlework group.

A provisional cabinet led by Georgiana Kane guided the Association during its formative period from fall of 1971 to May 1972. The group officially began with the first organizational and annual meeting in May 1972, and with the adoption of its bylaws in 1973, became the Needlework Guild of Minnesota. There were approximately 50 charter members.

Since its inception, the Guild’s focus has been to create a supportive environment in which members help other members broaden their technical skills and their knowledge of needlework. The ~200 men and women who belong live in a dozen or more states. In 2022 we celebrate our 50th anniversary and look forward to many more years of fellowship as we pursue excellence in the art of needlework.