New Novi Knitting Group Clicks at Library

Over the years, knitting circles have drawn women of all ages together for conversation, community, camaraderie and, of course, the click of knitting needles. Today’s knitting circles include men, women and children.

According to librarian, Mary Storch, the recently started the Knit 2gether Knitting Circle based on the popularity of knitting and handicraft books at the library and desire to gather together members of the community with a common interest. Participants meet weekly to share ideas, patterns, and stories and to utilize the many resources of the library.

“Most people find the repetition of knitting to be calming and a great way to de-stress…We want the community to see the library as a destination for information and social interaction and a great place to get to know their neighbors and starting up a knitting circle seemed like a great fit,” Storch said. 

The current members bring their own materials and enjoy uninterrupted time focusing on their various projects. Seasoned knitter and admitted “knitaholic”, Linda Potts, who belongs to several knitting circles, chatted and worked diligently on a yellow charity hat for children with cancer as lifelong knitter, Helene Kaczmar, flipped through books searching for felted mitten patterns.

Wearing a knitted sweater of her own creation, Kaczmar reminisced about being taught knitting, crocheting, and sewing in school while growing up in Europe and spoke of the importance of choosing the right yarn for the project noting, “The music is in the yarn.”

Beth Dwaihy-Barr focused on a pair of cheerful patterned socks while assisting a fellow knitter with her project. She contributed to the conversation promoting the multitasking nature of knitting by adding, “I learned to speak Italian by listening to Books on CD while watching tv and knitting.”

The Knit 2gether Knitting Circle meets on Thursdays from 10 – 11:30 am in room 202 at the Novi Public Library, 45255 W. 10 Mile Road, in Novi. The informal group is free and welcomes adults of all ages and abilities who enjoy knitting, crocheting, cross stitch, or other forms of piecework to join them. This is a drop in group and registration is not required. For more information, contact Mary Storch at 248.349.0720 or visit the library’s website at www.novilibrary.org.