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Austintown library hosts monthly Sit ‘n Stitch program
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Neighbors | Tim Cleveland.Austintown library supervisor Linda Kucalaba worked on her practice "sampler" stitch project. Kucalaba described herself as a beginner who was working up to starting a project such as a scarf.
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Neighbors | Tim Cleveland.Austintown library supervisor Linda Kucalaba displayed the two "samplers" she was working on to practice her stitching technique.
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Neighbors | Tim Cleveland.Austintown library supervisor Linda Kucalaba put out books on stitching, crocheting and knitting before the start of the Sit 'n Stitch event.
By TIM CLEVELAND
Since it started in September, the Austintown library’s Sit ‘n Stitch program has given area residents a chance to gather, work on their needle work projects, and meet new people who share the same interest.
“What we wanted to do, we wanted to offer a time when people who are working with their crafts, something that they can carry over with them, have a place to come and meet new people and share ideas and crafting tips and make it a place where you can make friends and join together,” said Austintown library supervisor Linda Kucalaba, who led the event.
The event takes place the second Friday of every month. Kucalaba said while the first couple events had two to three people participate, November’s and December’s events failed to have anyone show up.
“It’s like with all our other programs here, as the word gets out and people know about it that’s when the attendance starts to improve,” she said.
For the most recent Sit ‘n Stitch on Dec. 12, Kucalaba pulled several books from the shelves dealing with knitting, crocheting and embroidery for people to check out.
“We’d just like this to be a popular place to get together and for people to do their needle work,” she said. “The idea is we all learn from each other. A lot of people just want to gather together, especially seniors, in the mornings. This gives us a place to come and share our work.”
Kucalaba said she didn’t have much experience with needle work. She said she was working on two practice projects that she called “samplers,” so she could better learn the stitches and hopefully soon start working on a scarf. She was using red and green yarn for the holiday season.
“I’m just a beginner when it comes to crochet,” she said. “I’m hoping when the other ladies come they can give me tips and maybe that will help to improve my skills.”
Kucalaba encouraged anyone with an interest in needle work to come to the Austintown library for the Sit ‘n Stitch event.
“If somebody has a project, bring your current project,” she said. “Maybe, if you have a project you didn’t want, you could bring that. It’s a learning experience. I’m hoping to learn from the more seasoned people who do needle work.
“The library is a great place for people to gather and make new friends. Those who like to do needle work, this is a perfect place to come because we’d all be sharing the enjoyment of working together on the pieces that we’re working on.”