SAXTONS RIVER — On Dec. 6, 2006, Susan Bourne of Saxtons River offered and facilitated the first gathering of KnittingTogether at the Rockingham Free Public Library in Bellows Falls.
Her goals was simple: offer knitters of all levels a time and place where they could meet freely each week for a few hours to knit hats, mittens, scarves, and sweaters for local children and families.
After two years at the public library, KnittingTogether moved its weekly sessions to the Saxtons River Inn in Saxtons River, where they have been sitting and knitting together since then on Wednesdays from 1-3 p.m.
Also around that time, Bourne began graduate school and asked Mary Guild if she would kindly handle active facilitation and distribution for KnittingTogether. For the next two years, Guild did just that and kept KnittingTogether humming, right up until her death this fall.
Now, after four years of KnittingTogether, group members share all aspects of knitting, sorting, storing, and distributing items made throughout the year for gifting to local children when the weather turns cold and another Vermont winter sets in.
As with any volunteer group, members come and go for various reasons, but - as witnessed by this month's four-year anniversary - the personal dedication of each member carries on.
KnittingTogether welcomes new members each week and will show (or remind) folks how to cast on, knit up, and bind off. The group wishes to thank Caroline Naberezny, Donna Golec, Felicia Cuming, JoAnne Russo, Susan Bourne, and other knitters who continue to bring their willing hearts and hands to KnittingTogether as they join in this effort to help warm local community children.
For information or to offer time and/or yarn, contact Bourne at [email protected].