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TWISTS & TURNS
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Dorothy Voitus teaches Joe Marino some of the fine points of knitting during a class recently at the Boardman branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County.
By Sean Barron
BOARDMAN
Joe Marino had an enjoyable time refreshing himself on the basics of knitting, even if his experience had a few twists and turns.
“I’m planning to make a scarf, but I’m trying to get the basics down,” the Youngstown man said during last week’s “Show What You Know” gathering at the Boardman branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, 7680 Glenwood Ave.
The one-hour class gave several adults the opportunity to use hooks, needles and yarn to learn the basic principles of knitting. They also got familiarized with a variety of techniques for beginners.
Marino, who brought a large ball of dark-yellow acrylic yarn, said he dabbled in knitting several years ago and decided to give the activity another try.
The library’s newsletter about the program piqued his interest, Marino continued.
Participants got the hang of and practiced techniques such as “binding off,” which is taking stitches off needles so they don’t unravel; “yarn over,” bringing the yarn over a needle between two stitches on a row just before working back to the pattern on the next row; and “cast-ons,” which require steps such as making a slip knot, wrapping the yarn’s tail end around the thumb and making a loop before inserting the needle into the loop, removing the thumb and pulling the tail to the desired tightness.
One person who is quite familiar with the fine art of these and other moves is Dorothy Voitus of Boardman, one of the instructors.
Voitus, whose mother and grandmother taught her to crochet and knit about 60 years ago, brought several dish cloths and scarves she had made. She also had on hand a pin cushion to hold needles and pencils.
For roughly 30 years, Voitus worked in two banks and raised a family, both of which got her away from knitting, she recalled. After her children were grown, however, she returned to the craft, Voitus continued, adding that she’s also a member of the local Western Reserve Knitting Guild.
For the past 20 years, Voitus said, she’s also attended many conventions regarding knitting and crocheting, all of which were sponsored by Knitter’s Magazine, she noted, adding that she used to knit sweaters and enjoys buying various materials related to the craft.
“You get me near a yarn shop and I’m in trouble,” she said with laughter.
Working on a light-green scarf and assisting Voitus with the class was Karen Saunders, a children’s librarian at the Boardman branch.
Saunders said she has a passion for machine knitting, and that she befriended Voitus after having met her at a convention.