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City of Wollongong

Library program proves there’s no such thing as too much yarn

Monday 2 November 2020

One of the first things Maureen Aspinall did upon emigrating to Australia was seek out her local library. Now a library regular, Maureen has become a keen member of the Knit, Stitch, Yarn group that meets every Wednesday morning at Wollongong Library.

Knit, Stitch, Yarn is a popular Wollongong City Libraries program that brings together people of all ages who share a love of knitting, crocheting, sewing and having a yarn.

Meeting once a week, every week since mid-2018, the group spends their time working on personal projects. They also make rugs, vests, beanies and gloves for the Wollongong Homeless Hub as well as babywear for families of newborn babies at the Wollongong Hospital.

For Maureen, moving from England to Australia in 2018 was a challenge as living in a new country meant starting over and leaving all her friends behind.

“When I moved to Australia, I was in my 80s, so I didn’t have the same opportunities to meet people at work or at playgroups, like I did when I was younger and my children were little,” said Maureen.

“When I arrived here in Wollongong, I called the library to find out more about a Meet and Greet they were holding as part of the Seniors Festival and the lady told me about a knitting and sewing group I could join. I like to crochet so I came along and found everyone more than welcoming. I have made some really wonderful friendships here.”

Although the past couple of months have made regular meetings difficult, Knit, Stitch, Yarn members continued to stay in touch and keep knitting throughout COVID-19. Group members regularly chatted over the phone and met as two separate, smaller groups at local cafes where they could maintain a safe physical distance.

The good news is that now pandemic restrictions have eased, Wollongong Library is excited to welcome the group back to their regular space where there is room for everyone to spread out.

Wollongong City Acting Lord Mayor Councillor Tania Brown said that Knit, Stitch, Yarn was a fantastic way of introducing community members to like-minded people.

“Social isolation is a big problem for many people. Knit, Stitch, Yarn was created by Library Staff out of a desire to offer an informal meeting space for our community members who would normally knit or crochet at home.

“There are so many more things that happen in Libraries today than just simply borrowing books! We offer a wide range of services and programs to suit people of all ages. Knit, Stitch, Yarn is not just a craft group, it’s a social group for people who are keen to get out of the house and make new friends.”

Knit, Stitch, Yarn is a group for people of all ages and knitting or crocheting abilities. There’s no pre-requisite skill level needed to join the group as members are always happy to teach newbies the ropes.

For Cassie Kennedy, who comes along every week, joining Knit, Stitch, Yarn has given her confidence. “The first time I came, I was nervous about being judged because of my disability, but they all respect me, and I respect them and now I have more confidence in myself.”

“We are really good, close friends and we all respect each other. If you have a disability, no disability, are young or old - everyone is welcome,” said Cassie.

Want to join Knit, Stitch, Yarn? It’s free to join and there’s no need to book. Come along to Wollongong Library with the craft project you’re working on and join in.

Knit, Stitch, Yarn meet 9.45am – 12noon every Wednesday at Wollongong Library, 41 Burelli Street.

What’s more, Wollongong Library is also getting ready to launch a new Tuesday evening sewing program called Club Sew and Sew! This new program will kick-off soon, so keep an eye on the Library website and Facebook page to stay up to date with the latest information.


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