A Niche Within to Stich at Memorial Library

“I’m not making any more sushi,” Pat exclaims about a display being planned to promote their group to the public.  Jessica has already made a cup of coffee for the project.   No, this is not a display advertising a cooking class, but the Memorial Library Knitting Circle planning a display of crocheted “food” objects.

An informal group meeting weekly in Memorial Library’s community room, the Knitting Circle actually does all sorts of individual and joint handicraft projects.  Currently working on stylish pull-overs, core members Jessica and Catherine make apparel or baby gifts. Marla knits but also spins– with her son giving a spinning demonstration for the club once. Michelle, who collects antique linens, mainly crochets and embroiders, including a vintage tablecloth she found.  Eight year-old Janice and 10 year-old Sharon are knitting beginner headbands and dad-scarves, anxious to learn the skill after Janice watched her Korean grandma knitting. Just some of the attendees in this group attracting women, men, children and teens at all skill-levels.

“It’s not a class, we don’t teach, but we will give unsolicited advice,” the group jokes about the Saturday morning get-together.  “Mainly we talk a lot.”  Newcomers are warmly enveloped within the Club in minutes. Like an old fashioned coffee klatch, the conversation moves quickly — from new recipes, new stores to exhibitions, books and families.

Pat shows off some new yarn from a California alpaca whose name is “Coaster” and three women decide to embark on a project suitable to single balls of alpaca yarn.  The low-key group is a chance to kick back weekly and have a ball with a bunch of amusing people.  “About the only real organization we have is that Pat brings the sign,” Jessica explains.  Meanwhile Pat has moved on to describe that her MIT nephew can’t wear her Dr.  Who scarf on his bike (13 foot scarf gets caught in the spokes) so now she’s knitting a shorter one based on a 13th century Fibonacci math sequence.

Find friendship, fun ideas and a cozy little community at Memorial LAPL branch library.  More a “Niche to Stich” than the infamous “Stitch ‘n Bitch.”