Itch to Stitch (And Chat And Crochet And Hook A Rug)

Perhaps four years ago, long time knitter and part-time staffer at the Henry Carter Hull Library Carol Walter posted a sign at the library advertising a knitting group.

Basically, the sign read “anybody’s who’s interested, come on in.” The group started out meeting one Tuesday a month, then went to two Tuesdays a month, and now meets every Tuesday from 6:30pm until 8pm in the library conference room. 

"Itch to Stitch" couldn’t be more flexible and informal, and it’s the perfect place for anyone from the novice to the expert knitter.

“We were all strangers when we started but now we’re all friends,” says Walter.

“Sometimes there are five people there and sometimes there are 15. You never know who’s going to be available to turn up. Anybody with any free time is always welcome to come,” she adds.

The group is ideal even for those with no knitting experience because everyone from the novice to the experienced can be tapped for advice.

Says Walter, “We have one novice who’s knocking all of our socks off. She’s so talented. She just started a year ago and there isn’t anything she can’t do. She’s a great teacher at this point.”

Walter feels many people believe one needs to know how to knit to go to a knitting group.

“That’s absolutely not the case," she says and adds, "We love to have everybody there."

There are some who knit at home and get stuck on a set of instructions, so they’ll stop by just one time to get help on a particular step. The group may not see them again, but as Walter says, “that’s what we’re there for – if you can, great, and if you can’t, no pressure.”

Itch to Stitch, however, isn’t only about knitting. There are crocheters, and Walter does rug hooking half of the time.

“It’s for anybody who just wants to get out of the house. That’s what we should call it – 'Free Me Now' or something like that,” she quips.

While the gist is knitting and other yarn hobbies, Itch to Stitch is “really more for social than anything else.”

And, it’s a no-stress atmosphere. “There’s no need to sign up, no pressure to perform, and no pressure to attend. We just like to show up and catch up with each other,” says Walter.

Walter believes this informal arrangement is what keeps the group going. She explains, “We have people who come to us who belong to other groups but they tend to fold over time because if their schedules change, they don’t get there. Keeping it at the same time and day but informal seems to work for us.”

The group meets year-round.  On average there are six people.

“You never know who they’re going to be. I love it when there are 10, 15 people there. That, to me, is the bomb,” she says.

“It’s a social outlet that doesn’t cost you anything. We’re all on the same page and I just love it. We’ll keep it going as long as three people show up,” she said.

If anybody would like to learn to knit, the group would be glad to teach. Generally, the first piece a newbie knitter tackles is a scarf. To get started, says Walter, “You come to the library with a skein of worsted weight yarn and a pair of size 8 needles and we’ll get you going.”

Walter works at the library and is on the Board of Selectmen. She says, “It’s just a complete change of pace from everything that I do, and I think that’s why everybody’s there.”

Eight or nine years ago she noticed a real resurgence in interest.

“It’s a hobby that stays with you forever. If you’re sitting in front of the TV, you don’t have to feel unproductive – you’re doing something. To me, that’s huge.”

If you have any questions, please contact Carol Walter at 860.669.2588 or by email at carol@hchlibrary.org