To manoeuvre a set of needles to make something warm and fashionable is something only old ladies do – ladies with thick glasses, sitting in rocking chairs with lots of time, and yarn, on their hands.
If that’s what you think, Elizabeth Fallone would like to set you straight.
Fallone, who runs Eliza’s Buttons and Yarn on Bayview Drive in Barrie, is one of the more vocal spokespersons for World Wide Knit in Public Day, set for Saturday, June 10, and revels in the term “World Wide”.
“Knit in Public Day is really about showing the general public that knitting can be a community activity. We have a knit night every week at the store and attract all types of knitters; women, men, young, old, beginners, advanced. It’s a time and place for everyone to get social and share their knitting, and maybe even learn something new.”
The celebration of yarn has been held annually since 2005, and gives its practitioners – regardless of experience – a chance to catch up on leftover projects and clear the way for starting something new.
Fallone enthuses about the variety of projects knitters bring.
“Some like large projects like sweaters or Afghans; some like making toys and doing fiddly work. Knitters fall into two categories: process knitters -- those who like the process of knitting (though) what they’re knitting isn’t of much concern – and project knitters they who want the end result, and will do what it takes to get that.”
Fallone also stresses the social aspect of Knit in Public Day, and all kinds of topics come up – “family, politics, recipes -- you name it, it’s been discussed.”
And the best part of the day is seeing the diversity among the knitters. “They span gender, social, economic and all lines. People who would never get together otherwise are drawn to each other over the love of knitting and creating.”
World Wide Knit in Public Day is being held Saturday, June 10, all over the globe, including Eliza’s Buttons and Yarn, located at 250 Bayview Dr., Unit 2 in Barrie. To learn about a venue near you, click here.
The final word – a word of encouragement -- goes to Fallone.
“If you are not a knitter, you should try it. The origin of the word ‘knit’ is to tie with a knot, to bind. World Wide Knit in Public Day binds all knitters together for a day around the world.”
