The Knotty Knitters: A Local Knitting Group for Everyone

I can’t think of a more wholesome place that exists on our side of town than the Mount Washington library on Monday nights. Every Monday from 6pm-8pm, a group of women (plus one occasional gentleman) congregate in the children’s book section to socialize and engage in the one common thing that brought them all together in the first place: knitting.

I’d like to introduce you to the Knotty Knitters. Meet Donna, Karen, Lori, Diana, Valerie, Michelle, Christine, Lexi, Laura, and Shannon.

Donna founded the Knotty Knitters back in 2010. Originally, the group started as a temporary knitting class taught by Donna, and they met at the library once per month. But after very quickly noticing the positive relationships that formed, and the enrichment that developed, Donna wanted to expand the group. So, she and Lori worked out a deal with the library to meet indefinitely, and more frequently, thus upgrading the group from the class it started out as, to the social club it is today.

There were bumps in the road, of course. In fact, there was a year and a half bump in the road due to COVID-19. When the library was forced to close earlier in the day due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Knitters had to be resourceful. To continue meeting, they found other places to congregate, like member’s homes, Panera Bread, and when the weather was nice, the outdoor pavilion at Guardian Angels Church, where Donna used to teach. Boy, does this sound familiar.

Wellness

There are about 44 active members currently, and on average, 10-15 Knitters will show up on any given Monday.

There were ten Knitters present during my interview. It was interesting to watch them talk and knit at the same time. Their hands seemed almost independent of their minds, as their fingers worked in complexity while they talked.

I’m told knitting is quite therapeutic, both physically and mentally. The Knitters described a zen-like wavelength that washes over them as they knit; a wavelength that perhaps explains the autonomy of their hands in relation to their minds.

One member said knitting relaxes her, and another said it’s her therapy. I was told one member knits giant squares only to unravel them and start over because the knitting relieves her arthritis. If you compound all these therapeutic advantages with the social cohesion members enjoy, the wellness factor is quite impressive.

Donna even makes a spiritual connection.

“I don’t get to see my grandchildren very often since they live out of state,” Donna said, “so when I’m knitting something for them, and I know that I can’t hug them or kiss them as much as I want to, I just use that time to pray for them.”

Friendship

“We’re all so different,” Christine added. “We all come from different backgrounds, different retirement statuses, different levels of education, and have other hobbies. We all get along, but are so different at the same time. We’re a random collection of people with one thing in common.”

With the exception of Michelle, who perhaps jokingly claimed her wine group takes precedence, the other knitters consider Monday nights at the library a priority. Shannon said she makes plans around her Knitter sessions, and Donna said something that really summed up the overall commitment:

“This is one of the highlights of my week,” Donna said. “I truly look forward to coming here with my tribe.”

A little over a year ago, one member, Gail, died of ovarian cancer. As a gift, each member knitted a square, and then they linked them all together to make a blanket for Gail’s family. They used hues of blue, brown, and orange to resemble the beach at sunset because of Gail’s fondness for the ocean. I’m told it went over quite well with her family.

Many of the Knotty Knitter projects go to various charities in the area, including the American Heart Association, Christ Hospital’s NICU for babies, and veteran groups, to name a few. In fact, they seem to give away everything they make. As we spoke, Michelle was working on a blanket for a baby boy, and Shannon was making a blanket for her brother who is currently undergoing training at the Air Force. Lori discussed the myriad of hats she made for the cooks at Latitudes where she works, and Diana was crafting a hat for an anti-bullying group.

Are you Knit Worthy?

Now, the Knitters don’t just give their creations to anyone — they have to be “knit worthy.” It’s a term I heard a lot while I was there.

“We’ve found out from painful experiences,” Donna said, “that you make something that took a lot of time and effort, and you gave it to someone, and they just toss it aside because they don’t understand the value of it.”

Depending on the scope of the project and materials, some items could cost hundreds of dollars and take 40-60 hours of work to produce. If the knitters have even the slightest inclination that someone will not be appreciative of that, then they will not consider them knit worthy. I sensed a little feistiness among them on this topic, and who could blame them?

Of all the members, only one is a man. “He’s amazing,” one of the ladies said. I’m told his projects come together rapidly, and he’s known for his intricate, complex patterns. He seems to be a bit of a celebrity in the group, but was not present the day of my interview. I’m told there have been conflicts with his schedule since he took up bridge recently.

Advocacy

And then there is Paul Burch, the Mount Washington branch library manager, who Donna calls their advocate. They say his support and accommodations to the group are instrumental, and for the first time it dawned on me the impact a library manager can have on a community. Perhaps there is a future story there…

I decided to call the library to talk to Paul a few days later. He had nothing but nice things to say about the Knitters, and expressed how relieved he was when COVID-19 restrictions ended, so the group could return to his library.

I also was informed of an older blind woman who only came to one meeting. She was escorted by her son. They recalled how she counted rows with her fingers since she couldn’t see; something that impressed and fascinated the group to the point that they wish she would return to the group some day. If you know who she is, let her know they miss her.

You can find the Knotty Knitters on Facebook, here, or you can just show up at the Mount Washington library on Monday nights between 6pm-8pm. All levels of experience are welcome, even newbies who just want to learn. They’d be more than happy to get you started.

And if you come on the right Monday, you might even hear the music of a harpist who plays inside the library. Yes, you heard me — a harpist plays music from a harp while the Knitters knit in the children’s book section of the Mount Washington library. It almost seems fictional, like a scene out of a fairy tale, or something from days past. But I assure you, it’s real, and local, and you can be a part of it if you want to.

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