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Getting the knack of knitting
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Karen Saunders, assistant supervisor of children’s work, teaches Megan Banks, 16, of Boardman how to use a knitting machine at the Boardman branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County. The demonstration was part of the library’s “Show What You Know” program.
By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK
BOARDMAN
A knitting machine can make short work of a project.
A library program aimed to show participants just that. As part of the “Show What You Know” program at the Boardman branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, adults and teens were able to see a knitting machine in action, give it a try, and learn how to hand-embellish scarves made on one.
“This seems pretty interesting,” Megan Banks of Boardman said. “We’ve never heard of it before, so we thought we might as well give it a shot.”
The 16-year-old attended with her mother, Kathy Banks. Neither is a knitter.
“I do like crafting,” Megan added. “So I think this will be a nice starting experience, especially for kids my age.”
Each participant was given a scarf made on the knitting machine. Instructor Karen Saunders showed them how to use a blunt, large-eye yarn needle to weave yarn or ribbon through the scarf to embellish it. Kathy used a variegated yarn on her blue scarf, while Megan wove pink ribbon through her gray scarf. They were able to take them home at the end of the session.
Saunders also showed them how the knitting machine worked, as well as explaining that there are different types of machines available.
After her demonstration, participants were able to try the machine for themselves.
Megan was the first to give it a go.
“I think that it was very educational,” she said. “It’s a new experience, if nothing else. I think this is something I’d definitely like to try again.”
It wasn’t hard, she said, but would take some time to get the hang of it.
It does take practice, Saunders said.
“It’s cool,” Kathy said. “I think if you really knew what you were doing, you could knit a whole afghan in no time.”
More “Show What You Know” programs are scheduled at the library. A crochet class will take place Oct. 10, a gift-wrap class Nov. 14, and a cross-stitch ornament class Dec. 12.