JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. —

FAST FACTS:

Most popular first knitting/crochet project: the scarf

— Finely decorated cotton socks have been found in Egyptian tombs dating from the end of the first millennium AD — possibly the oldest example of true knitting on two sticks, similar to what is performed today. (Wikipedia)

— Stars who knit: Julia Roberts, Uma Thurman, Vanna White (also crochets), Cameron Diaz, Sarah Jessica Parker, Daryl Hannah, Hilary Swank, and Julianna Margulies.

— Stars who crochet: Debra Messing, Bette Midler, Rosie Perez, Raven-Symone, Carolyn Rhea, Jane Seymour (also knits), Meryl Streep, Martha Stewart (reputedly learned while in jail), Catherine Zeta-Jones, football player Rosie Greer.

— According to the Craft Yarn Council, young women ages 25-34 (6.5 million) have fueled knitting and crochet yarn sales across the country since 2004, followed by the 18-and-under set (5.7 million). Matrons ages 55-64 (7.8 million) round out the pack, following in third place. Overall, approximately 53 million US women are knitting or crocheting. Thirteen percent do both.

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“As ye sew, so shall ye rip.” It's the motto of knitters, crocheters, and felters throughout the land. “Ripping” is when you undo the knitting you've just completed, in order to go back and correct a mistake.

“Knitting is a very forgiving hobby,” explains Rhonda James, of New Albany, Ind., an avid participant of The Grinny Possum's knitting circles. Men and women of all ages gather in increasing numbers at the popular shop, as well as in coffee houses, tea shops, churches, and other venues to chat, knit together, and compare projects.

Ann Merriman owns the popular Jeffersonville yarn store “A lot of people like knitting because you can just go back and do it again if you do mess up.” With so many people of all ages sporting hand-knitted scarves and hats lately, it's evident there's definitely something addictive about this hobby. “It becomes ethereal-there's just so much love in it,” Merriman says.

THE HOOK BRINGS YOU BACK

Kala Farineau, 14, is free to work on her textile projects during her school time at Community Montessori in New Albany. Bypassing needles altogether and going straight for the hook, she crochets a combination of environmentalism and creativity together, turning old grocery bags into purses. Along with a few fellow students, she's received a grant to make more of the bags, which will be sold to benefit charity.

Kaitlin Fondren, 15, is on the project as well. “We've made business cards and a letterhead,” she explains. Fondren has been knitting since she was about eight years old-so long that she can't recall what originally attracted her to the hobby. “I know I got a knitting kit for my birthday,” she says, before trailing off.

Wait a second, isn't knitting just something that grandmas do?

Fondren laughs and looks to her classmate and long-time friend, Sadie Gaudet, 13. “Sadie taught me how.”

“I learned from my grandmother, when I was three years old,” she says. As of this writing, Sadie's been knitting for a full decade.

Is it an expensive hobby? “If you don't mind untangling some yarn, you can find a lot of supplies at yard sales, very cheap,” says Fondren.

“Some people use bamboo skewers to knit with,” says Gaudet. “Like, you would cook with, on the grill.”

So what is it that draws teenagers to try out a variety of knitting projects? “If you're going to give someone something, it's so much better to make it yourself,” Fondren explains. “Sure, you could just go and buy it, but it's not the same.”

Upon demand, all three of the girls and a fourth classmate, Erika Finkle, 14, bring forth skeins of yarn and needles. These girls are packing their warm, fuzzy hobby wherever they go.

STITCH 'N' WISH

But just exactly how many people are secretly toting around skeins of yard these days? According to retailers, lots. Yarn sales have increased over recent years, attracting women and men of all ages to try out the famously stress-relieving hobby. Informal get-togethers as tamely named as “fiber exchanges,” as benevolently minded as “prayer shawl ministries,” and even the raucously themed (think: what rhymes with “stitch”?) are all over local calendars and Web sites.

Unless you've been in an alterknit universe, yourself, you're surrounded by knitters, crocheters, textile artisans known as felters, and even spinners. What's that, you've got a wooly memory? Need a little needling? Not only are people still spinning their own wool, but you can purchase bags of unspun cashmere if you'd like, and your very own wheel.

“Cashmere, alpaca, or wool-they all feel good,” says Merriman, whose shirt bears the image of a spinning wheel.

How does someone get so involved with a hobby that she has to open her own store to support it? “I learned to knit when I was a child, but didn't do it again until I restored an old spinning wheel I had at home,” Merriman explains. “I wanted to learn how to use this thing I had-so I started spinning.” Merriman's Jeffersonville storefront has been open for three years, and the walls are filled with colorful skeins in varying textures.

“Look at this one,” says James. “It's made out of seashells. It's got chitin in it, anyway.” She rubs the yarn against her forearm. “It's so soft. Imagine wearing that on your skin.” It seems that working with fibers brings out a positive emotional response in people-in a day and age when machine-knit goods are readily available and quite cheap, there must be something innately satisfying to working with yarns.

When Gail Peterson of Clarksville noticed how much fun a friend of hers has had working with yarn, she learned to knit, herself. “We're making hats for the soldiers in Iraq,” she says. “Here's a poem we're sending along with them.”

You fight for freedom

For people like me

In a place where most

Never want to be

So, I am knitting you a hat while saying this prayer ...

God, keep them safe, keep them warm, and let them know I really care

Quickly bring them home again,

To those who love them, Amen.

Whether for fun, military morale, or personal use, lots of people are learning how to knit online by watching free videos.

“You learn better one-on-one, though, than you can with videos,” says Peterson.

“Eventually you need to use double-point needles, other things,” explains Merriman. “It's better to have someone show you.”

DUDE KNITS LIKE A LADY

Warm, fuzzy yarn? Knitting circles? Surely this is a chick-only thing, right? Wrong. Numbers may be soft on how many men are truly knitting, but they've got their own Facebook.com group, and menwhoknit.com is thriving. Even some professional athletes are known to have done crochet or needlepoint.

“My 10-year-old grandson has some needles and yarn, and I didn't think he was really interested, but one day when I was at his house knitting, he pulled out his own supplies and knitted with me,” Peterson says.

“Men can be really good at it,” says Merriman. “They've got good manual dexterity.”

“And you never meet a stranger,” says James. “You could be waiting somewhere, and you see someone knitting-you've got something in common.”

And seeing other people's projects makes knitters want to try their own hand at it-before long, does one end up with a horde of fancy yarn?

“Oh, you don't horde it. It's a stash, not a horde,” James says, shaking her head. “It might take eight or nine skeins to make a sweater, one or two to make socks-so you can buy less yarn and do smaller projects. It is addictive, though. The possibilities are endless. I call it 'something creative for people who don't have an obvious talent.' It's nice to have an area with all your knitting stuff in it. It's so comforting to just sit inside and knit.”

“Some people bring their knitting to work, to de-stress,” explains Peterson. “There was a lady, she'd get upset at her boss, and she'd pull out her knitting and knit a few rows, and then go back to work. It was something she could control, and it made her feel better.”

“It really makes you stop what you're doing, tune in, slow down,” says James. “You get such a sense of satisfaction when the work is done. Two sticks and a string make a miracle for your soul!”



Leslea M. Harmon writes for The Evening News in Jeffersonville, Ind. . She can be reached at Leslea.harmon@gmail.com.





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Knitting resources

— Knittinghelp.com, Knittingatnoon.com, Helloknitty.com - three of many Web sites that provide free knitting tutorials.

— Knitty.com - widely-loved knitting Web site

— Crochetme.com - the knitty.com of the crochet community

— Purlbee.com - reviews of knitting books and projects

— Punkknits.com - book, Web site, blog, video podcast

— Knithappens.com - only for those with a sense of humor

— Whatnottoknit.wordpress.com - in case you were considering knitting sleeves for your candles, or a sock monkey prom dress. If that's to your liking, you'll enjoy Whatnottocrochet.wordpress.com.

— Craftster.org - textile projects and beyond

— Wwkipday.com - World Wide Knit in Public Day

— Knittingforcharity.org - donating your knitted items to families in need

— Etsy.com - if it gets to be too much, there's no shame in buying someone else's handmade knit items! Lots of neat felted artwork here, as well.

Learn to Knit Kit:

• Yarn

• Knitting needles

• Basic pattern or instructions

• A little time and patience

• One friend to turn to for advice

Learn to crochet kit:

• Yarn

• Crochet hook

• Basic pattern or instructions

• Even less time and patience than knitting

• Friend/advice optional

Find all supplies in a bundle, or individually. Friend sold separately!