Members of the Sunderland Knitting Circle meeting at the Sunderland Public Library are Kathy Keroack and Faith White, both of Sunderland. STAFF PHOTOS / PAUL FRANZ
Following detailed in instructions at The Sunderland Knitting Circle that meets at the Sunderland Public Library.
Members of the Sunderland Knitting Circle meet at the Sunderland Public Library on Mondays from 10 a.m. to noon. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ
Members of the Sunderland Knitting Circle meeting at the Sunderland Public Library are, from left, Kathy Keroack of Sunderland, Faith White of Sunderland and Mary Reilly of Montague. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ
The Sunderland Knitting Circle meets at the Sunderland Public Library on Mondays from 10 a.m. to noon. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ
The Sunderland Knitting Circle that meets at the Sunderland Public Library. From left are Anna Viadero of Montague, Gretchen May of South Deerfield, Carol Ryan of Sunderland, and Laura Williams of Sunderland. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ
Abbie Carr and her mother Laula Carr in Northfield Library. STAFF PHOTO/BELLA LEVAVI
Armide Jean crocheting a blanket in Orange. STAFF PHOTO/BELLA LEVAVI
From left, Rusty Shaw, Denise Sorese and Nancy Davis teaching each other a crochet stitch. STAFF PHOTO/BELLA LEVAVI
Marolyn Odeh and Char Russell preparing yarn for knitting in Northfield. STAFF PHOTO/BELLA LEVAVI
Pam Poggio crocheting doyleys in Deerfield. STAFF PHOTO/BELLA LEVAVI
Judy Hebble and Kathie Coutu showing off their projects to each other. STAFF PHOTO/BELLA LEVAVI
Melissa Perot and Janet Uden working on their crafts next to each other. STAFF PHOTO/BELLA LEVAVI
Walking into the basement of the Northfield Library on a Tuesday night, you will hear a large group of women telling stories, laughing and sharing baked goods. In each of the women’s hands: a pair of knitting needles and their latest project. While this boisterous social gathering may sound unusual for a library, six groups exactly like this one are meeting in libraries across the county.
“It’s like a support group,” Debbie Arch said, knitting gear in hand. “While we are knitting, we are problem solving.”
“This is much more than just a knitting group,” Kathie Coutu added while finishing up her stitch.
The library groups across the region started for a variety of reasons, but all have a similar function: bringing women together. Each group cares for the actual crafting, more or less, to a varying degree.
The Northfield group started when mother-daughter duo Abbie and Paula Carr wanted an activity to do together outside of the house. Many others decided to join since its inception in 2019. Now the group discusses a wide variety of topics weekly including feminism, racism, dating, cooking, Netflix, and much more, all while the members work on their crafts together.
For the more serious knitters, Liz Sorenson started hosting a knitting circle at Tilton Library in Deerfield after she closed her yarn store, Sheep & Shawl, during the early days of the pandemic. While she continues to sell her inventory on Etsy, the knitting group provides her with the socializing she misses from having the store.
The Orange knitting group, which consists of mostly crocheters, was started by their librarian Rusty Shaw. She runs two programs weekly, one during the day and one at night, fulfilling everyone’s crafting needs and building community along the way.
Every month the Orange group learns a new stitch. From blankets to baskets to fingerless mittens, they improve their skills monthly, together as a group. And it’s not the only time members of this particular group socialize: many double-dip in activities offered by the library and participate in Wheeler’s walking program as well.
It is not uncommon for social groups to move from location to location, especially as the pandemic changed how all people function on a daily basis, but these knitting groups certainly don’t stay in the libraries that host them.
When Shaw is on vacation from working at the library, her group will meet at the Orange Wendy’s or McDonald's to continue with their fiber crafts.
The Northfield group was not always in Northfield. They started at the Greenfield Library and migrated to Abbie Carr’s grandfather’s garage, they then moved again to Beacon Field, until they finally settled in their location at Dickenson Memorial Library.
The groups also attract people from far beyond the borders of each town. People from as far as Keene, New Hampshire, and Easthampton attend the knitting groups.
While many of the women are retired, the groups also attract serval young people to their ranks. The Northfield group had one member who came weekly in high school until she went off to college; in Orange a 10- and 7-year-old attend regularly.
The groups also get involved in charity and community outreach work. In Deerfield, Janet Uden knits afghan baby blankets to donate to the Bay State Franklin gift shop. In Northfield, the group is planning later this year to “yarn-bomb” signposts, mailboxes and benches around the library in honor of the library’s 125-year anniversary.
Everyone has their own reason for joining the groups, but everyone benefits from knitting and being part of a social group.
Melissa Perot in Deerfield explained she was an occupational therapist, and hand work was always part of her practice. She said crafting helps her alleviate anxiety and depression.
“This is a zen activity by myself, and a social activity in this setting,” Hillary Woodcock, of Deerfield, said about knitting in various settings.
Many people in the Deerfield group spoke of being inspired by the Fibershed movement, a movement that seeks to have people make their own garments from local materials, and the rich weaving scene of the area.
“This space is great,” Sorenson said. “We learn from each other and get advice.”
Buckland hosts a group Saturdays at 10 a.m., Deerfield hosts Tuesdays at 10 a.m., Northfield hosts Tuesdays at 6 p.m., Orange hosts Wednesdays at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., Sunderland hosts Mondays at 10 a.m., and Wendell hosts the second and fourth Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
Bella Levavi can be reached at blevavi@recorder.com or 413-930-4579.
GREENFIELD — Police responded to Greenfield High School for a potential threat made by phone shortly before 11:30 a.m. Tuesday and quickly deemed...
BOSTON — Residents all over Massachusetts are scheduled to absorb a significant decrease in food assistance aid in just over two weeks, with more...
Seventh GradeHigh Honors: Landon Marlin Bass, Makayla Jade Beauchemin, Lucas Gabriel Briand, William Angus Buck, Logan Wayne Dow, Leticia Hurtado...
Civil engineer presents Northfield maps NORTHFIELD — Civil engineer Sarah Campbell, an Erving resident, will share a variety of maps that show how...