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Circle helps keep knitters busy on projects
Jessica Horvath of The Knitting Circle uses knitting needles while participating with the group on Tuesday, May 15, 2012, at the Eisenhower Public Library in Harwood Heights. Horvath lives in Chicago and works at the library. | Buzz Orr~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: July 1, 2012 11:35AM
Several women meet each month at the Eisenhower Public Library in Harwood Heights to knit and crochet, helping each other when they’re stuck on a project and showing off any new tricks they have learned.
“It’s really nice to get to know people over a cup of coffee and knitting needles. It’s very relaxing,” said Stacy Wittmann, of Chicago, a knitter who works at the library as head of reference services and helped organize the Knitting Circle.
The group started in 2010 on a project to knit scarves for the National World War II Museum to give to veterans. Since then the group started meeting regularly and has knitted more than 200 scarves for veterans. They’ve also knitted 167 hats for the Halos of Hope charity which gives hats to patients going through chemotherapy.
Currently the group is working on a project to make an Afghan blanket to sell as a fundraiser for the library.
“There are several reasons why people knit. Some people love the end product. Some people love the process. Some people really love the feel of the wool while working. Some people love the social aspect of knitting,” Wittmann said.
Two sessions of the Knitting Circle are held each month at the library. The next evening session — held the first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. — will be June 5.
The next afternoon session — held the third Tuesday of the month at the 2:30 p.m. — will be June 19.
— Ryan Pagelow
