BY CHRISTINE LYNCH
We live in a world where we rely on technology more than ever. So it is refreshing to unplug when possible, letting us reset the way we interact with daily life. Some people take time to be outdoors and others might turn to indoor activities. A pastime that is growing in popularity, especially with younger age groups, is needleworking. Knitting, crocheting and embroidery are being viewed in a contemporary light. Thanks in part to TikTok, Pinterest and similar sites (technology again) spotlighting ideas, viewers seek new color combos, textures and designs, encouraging them to log off devices for a while and find new creative directions.
By its nature, needlecraft is a solo endeavor. There are many who prefer quiet time while doing a task. But for those who want to be more social, there are several groups in our area that invite the public to join for free. They merely ask that you show up to work on a new project or a work in progress while sitting with others. As needles start clicking, pleasant conversation soon follows. A side bonus is that the more-experienced in the group might share tips for those who’d like some.
Several libraries on Cape Cod host knitting groups, which is yet another community service offered by our fine local libraries. Weekly gatherings also take place at the Falmouth Senior Center and two Cape yarn shops, Black Purls Yarn Shop and Yarn Basket Cape Cod.
LIBRARIES
The Yarn Basket Cape Cod in Mashpee.
The Jonathan Bourne Public Library has two different groups meeting every week. Fiber Friends gathers from 10 AM to noon on Wednesdays, inviting all those interested in knitting, crocheting or other stitching crafts. Then on Thursday evenings, the Thursday Night Knitters welcome all skill levels.
The groups are ongoing, year round and no registration is required. Assistant library director Colleen Cunningham said, “They have been meeting for years now.” She shared that beginners are always welcome to join and “The library will provide yarn, needles and any instructions they might need.” Others bring their own projects to work on. “They’re all really nice, helpful people, she said.”
Cunningham said participants periodically collect their completed projects and hold fundraising events. They donate the proceeds to the Bourne Food Pantry.
The East Falmouth Public Library on East Falmouth Highway also hosts two groups each week. These are casual, drop-in gatherings that were initiated decades back by the assistant director at that time, who was an enthusiastic and talented needleworker. You can join the Sit N’ Stitch group overlooking lovely Mill Pond on Tuesdays from 10 AM to noon.
And on Thursdays from 5 to 7 PM, Why Not Knit Nite welcomes all skill levels. They will help you learn the basics of knitting and crocheting. Choose to work on a personal project or participate in creating hats, scarves and mittens for those in need in our community. For information, call 508-548-6340.
A creative space in the Black Purls Yarn Shop.
The Mashpee Public Library’s Sit and Stitch gathers on Mondays from 1 to 3 PM in the library’s conference room. This is a low-key, drop-in afternoon of conversation while working on your knitting, crocheting, or needlecrafting. Work on your projects or get new ideas in their handy book collection. Questions are encouraged and advice is freely shared by the group.
The Sandwich Public Library has another longstanding knitting group, The Knit Lits, which meets weekly in the library’s Glass Town Room from 6 to 7:30 PM, September through May. They welcome all knitters and offer project assistance to both new and accomplished knitters.
The group takes part in the annual World Wide Knit in Public Day event, held on the library lawn. Started in Paris in 2005, it is now an internationally recognized happening planned for the second Saturday in June.
The West Falmouth Library is home to the Seaside Knitters Group. Meeting on Tuesdays from 1:30 to 3:30 PM and Thursdays from 2 to 4 PM, this group is free and open to the public. All skill levels are welcome to bring an ongoing project or start a new one.
The Woods Hole Public Library hosts the Knitting Group, which meets on Fridays from 3 to 4 PM. They have met faithfully year-round for at least 15 years. No registration is needed and all skill levels are invited to participate.
Though folks generally work on individual projects, the group did work on a joint project several years back. Together they created a colorful treescape for a special Yarn Bombing event at beautiful Highfield Hall. Titled “Technicolor Dream Trees,” artists and community groups knit, crocheted or wove yarn into fantastical decorations for the trees, enlivening Highfield’s grounds for the season. As the library’s website states, “Stop by and knit for a bit!”
OTHER VENUES
For those of you eligible to enroll with the Falmouth Senior Center (open to Falmouth residential taxpayers ages 60 and older), their Needlework Group meets Tuesdays from 10 AM to 12:30 PM. The group is open to anyone doing a yarn craft including knitting, crochet, quilting, needlepoint or embroidery. Participants bring their own supplies and settle in to work and chat. For information, call 508-540-0196.
In Mashpee’s Deer Crossing Plaza, the Yarn Basket Cape Cod has reopened after Elizabeth Byrne Dawes took over ownership from the previous owner, Dorothy Studley. Renovated and accessible, the space displays a large collection of select yarns, needles, pattern books, et cetera. Dawes offers classes and holds events. There are also two weekly Stitch & Share groups “Drop in, no registration needed,” Dawes said. One group meets on Tuesdays from 5 to 6:30 PM. “I made it later in the day for people coming from work,” Dawes said. The other group meets on Thursdays from 1 to 2:30 PM. That time helps people who have to meet children after school, she explained.
Held next door in her studio, Dawes said the participants include those who first joined when Studley ran the shop as well as newer visitors. The room includes an in-house library of pattern books for those who seek some inspiration. Ms. Dawes also provides hot water, a selection of herbal teas and glass mugs. Above all, she wants to offer a social component for people to gather in a relaxed place where they can “hone their skills, pick up some pointers and to stay on top of what’s new in the shop.”
She said she is organizing a Knit Along beginning after Labor Day. This is a coordinated project that she’ll lead. People can purchase the yarns and pattern then create items that will be ready in time for holiday gift giving. For information, send a message to yarnbasketcc@gmail.com.
Black Purls Yarn Shop is located in Sandwich in an 1840s barn along Route 6A. Kandi Zarba designed the inviting interior, keeping the historic charm. The shop has several rooms loaded with high-end craft yarns, creative areas for classes and a cozy fire on wintry days.
During the summer the public is invited to the weekly Wednesday knitting gatherings from 10 AM to noon, which began in 2009 when the shop opened. These are relaxed and informal. “I let them do what they’re comfortable doing,” Zarba said, adding that during the offseason she leads various groups, “each geared differently to the participant’s level.” She also teaches dyeing techniques and other specialized techniques.
This autumn, Zarba said, she looks forward to the fifth annual Yarn Haul, running from September 25 through 28. Eight regional fiber shops participate in the fun, which includes celebratory giveaways and valuable prizes. For complete information, see www. capesouthshoreyarnhaul.com.
Though most groups meet throughout the year, they can be especially inviting during the quieter seasons. Each is welcoming and encouraging, so instead of staying alone at home when doing yarn crafts, find a group to share those darker, colder days.
