AMHERST – Knit one, pearl two, hold the burlap steady while you pull the wool through - all just a few tips that were given by two clubs at the Twisted Stitchers and Town & Country Thrummers event held at the Four Fathers Library as part of the Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival. Knitters and rug hookers alike were invited out to work on their craft and even give pointers to others who were new to the art.
“We have Twisted Stitchers every month, the second Wednesday of each month, it’s a drop-in stitching meet,” said Denise Corey, deputy chief librarian participating in the meet. “If you’re a knitter, crocheter, a rug hooker, whatever, it’s a time where people hang out, chit-chat and do a craft together because it can get pretty boring doing it at home, by yourself, in front of the TV. And this month, we have the Town & Country Thrummers with us.”
Crafters gathered around the tables set up in the library’s seminar room to work on some of their own crafts and check out the work of others. Corey said some of the crafts are beautiful to look at.
For Marilyn Young, the meet was a time to get some much needed knitting done.
“I like having something to do and it’s fun,” said Young. “Everyone is doing something different which you like to see. One lady one night came and she was hemming her pants.”
Mary Dickeson said it’s a great way for her to come out and make some new friends who share the same crafty interests.
“It’s much better than doing it at home alone,” she said. “I’m a widower and I find the evenings long. I’ve made quite a few friends.”
First-timer Chrystal Everill brought out her knitting, hoping to pick up a few helpful hints from some knitting veterans.
“(Knitting) is much easier than I thought it would be,” she said. “I thought it would be difficult and it’s not so bad. I started my first project and now I’m almost done.”
Yesterday’s festival events included a three-day workshop with Deanne Fitzpatrick, the Art & Fibre Fashion Fusion and a crazy quilts seminar. The Fibre Arts Festival runs all week long.
