Closely Knit is the perfect name for a group that gathers twice a month at the Milanof-Schock Library. Not only do the group members work on yarn projects such as knitting and crocheting, but they also spend time bonding.
"We really enjoy ourselves here," said Sue Gantz, a longtime member of the group. "It's a couple of hours out and a chance to get away from it all to talk, to laugh and to just enjoy each other's company."
Closely Knit meets from 1 to 3 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of the month at the library, 1184 Anderson Ferry Road, Mount Joy.
"Whoever wants to come can come, and we knit, we crochet, we talk and we share ideas about our projects," Gantz stated. "If somebody has extra yarn that they can't use, we'll put it out on the table and whoever needs yarn can have it. Everybody does their own thing in terms of what they're making, but we support each other."
Group members exchange advice and tips on projects and help each other through fiber challenges. "If somebody comes in with something they are stuck on or they have a question about, there is always somebody there to help them," Gantz noted.
Gantz, who started crocheting at age 19 and then learned how to knit soon after, joined the group after her retirement in 2012. She said about 10 women routinely join each session, and new members are always welcome.
One of her favorite parts of Closely Knit is seeing what the others are working on, she said. "We always like to have a show-and-tell and see what everyone's doing," she explained. "At our last meeting, we had a lady working on hats for her granddaughters. Somebody's currently working on a shawl. ... A lot of the women make sweaters or other things to wear."
For her part, Gantz said she enjoys making prayer shawls and baby blankets. "Very seldom do I make anything for myself," she remarked, adding that she loves to accept donated yarn, which can be left at the library for the group. Her projects have also included baby booties to include in memory boxes for patients at Women & Babies Hospital in Lancaster who have lost infants.
Gantz encourages anyone with an interest in knitting or crocheting to come out to a meeting of Closely Knit. "If you have yarn and you have a project in mind and you have needles or a crochet hook, there will be somebody there that will help you get started," she stated. "Come and join us."
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