Guest Speaker: Sayward Schoonmaker

"First Love, New Love: Knitting Marriage and Art." 

Artist Sayward Schoonmaker will share the process of designing and knitting her wedding dress, her conceptual and material relationship to knitting, and how the technique contributes to her art practice. 

Sayward Schoonmaker is an artist, writer, and arts administrator. Her work has been exhibited nationally, including Weinberg/Newton Gallery,  Adds Donna Gallery, the Hyde Collection, and the Brattleboro Museum. 

Sayward works across textiles, video, participatory performance, and text to explore and redefine how we build beliefs, feel connected to people and places, and understand loving. She is the author of one poetry chapbook, 3259 (Dancing Girl Press). Sayward is currently the artistic director of Stone Quarry Art Park, an outdoor contemporary arts space located in central New York State. 

Sayward's maternal grandmother, Dora Welch, taught her to knit when she was 10 years old. 

 This is going to be fantastic. You won't want to miss it.

The board of directors will be formulating plans for the 2026-2027 program year.  Please contact knittingcentralny@gmail.com if there is a technique or topic that you would like to see addressed!

The festival will be held June 6-7, 2026. The 2026 festival will again be at The Herkimer County Fairgrounds.  Just a short 60 min drive from downtown Syracuse, the fairgrounds are accessible, and indoor spaces will be more protected in case of rain.  Don't miss it! Learn more at https://cnyfiberarts.org/ 
OUR GUILD WILL BE HOSTING AN EDUCATIONAL BOOTH! Email knittingcentralny@gmail.com if you are interested in volunteering!