Want to spin a yarn? Would you like to weave a tale? Or are you simply looking for ‘purls’ of wisdom? All these, and more can be found at the St. Albert Public Library’s Knit-Lit club, which meets Wednesday evenings, summer and winter at 7 p.m. in the circle of chairs next to the library’s pocket-book section.
Knit-Lit’s members refer to their group as a club, and it is in the sense that they hold regular meetings, but there are no registration fees and in fact, no registration at all. On any given Wednesday there may be a circle of four or 15 people. No one knows who will show, but chances are the chairs will be filled at this drop-in affair that began a decade ago. If new folks show up, the circle is widened and new chairs are grabbed from the library’s study cubicles and brought in to make every knitter comfortable.
“We are all ages and come from all different backgrounds but many of us have found, even though we might not have been friends otherwise, the group is here for us,” said Kathy Heberling, who is one of Knit-Lit’s original members.
Knitting is the main group activity, but at last week’s meeting, some were crocheting as well as weaving. Vanessa Bjerreskov was busy pumping her foot on a small portable spinning wheel.
“I’m spinning right now because I hurt my wrist. Spinning is easier on my wrist,” said Bjerreskov, who is also an original member.
Every member has a different skill level and on this particular evening, three newcomers dropped by for information or help about projects they were knitting. They also came for the social atmosphere and camaraderie.
“I’ve always knitted but this is my first night,” said Dalice Kelln. “I moved here from Gatineau and I hoped to meet people.”
Allison Ferguson was also a newcomer. A university student, Ferguson learned to knit last summer. She finds that letting the wool pass through her fingers is soothing and relaxing but she also wants to learn how to do more complicated work. She quickly found that Jeanne Chabot could help.
“I learned to knit before I learned to read because my mother thought that was more important,” Chabot said, adding that she grew up on a farm and learned how to look after sheep too as well as to spin their wool.
As experienced as her knitting may be, Chabot is a regular Knit-Lit visitor.
“I was at the library one night and saw this group and couldn’t believe it. I love the atmosphere. We talk about everything from where to get wool, to ideas, to inspiration. Mostly we talk about fibre arts but the conversation can go anywhere,” Chabot said.
Indeed, between the dozen knitters in attendance, there were several conversations at once and all the while library patrons stood nearby thumbing through the books.
Bjerreskov reminded some long-time members about a small no-no that happened because of a discussion about how to clean feces from wool fleece.
“We said the ‘S’ word and a patron complained that we were swearing. But we were talking about manure,” she said laughing, as she added, “We have to respect the fact this is a library.” she said.
Another time the group discussed rather intimate breast surgery and the discussion continued for some time even though there was a man nearby looking for a book.
“He didn’t leave. So I guess it wasn’t a problem,” Bjerreskov said.
The lone male member of Knit-Lit, Don Moreau has been dropping in for the weekly knitting sessions since the group was founded. Even when the girl talk starts, Moreau presses on with his knitting. He laughs often at the women’s various foibles, and when he needs it, they help him with his knitting skills. Mostly he makes dishcloths, though with some help from group members he made a blanket for a new grandchild.
“I have MS and this helps with the dexterity of my fingers,” he said, adding that he once watched an old John Wayne movie where one of the main characters passed the time by knitting.
“The guy knitted socks because he said they kept his feet warm. Knitting made him self-sufficient,” Moreau said.
If you knit, or want to learn how to knit, or simply want to learn how to be self-sufficient, drop by and visit the Knit-Lit group Wednesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. just to the right of the main entrance at St. Albert Public Library. If you also want a book, there’s a huge knitting collection upstairs.
“Some of the library staff are knitters and there are lots of knitting books,” Bjerreskov said.
