Knitting Brings Local Residents to Port Jeff Library

Local residents attended the Knitting Workshop at the on Saturday to learn the art of knitting and relearn their craft.

Knitting instructor Sharon Barnes of Patchogue, who has been knitting for the past 30 years, teaches the popular five session beginner’s course because of her passion for the craft.

“This is my passion, and I found it. I love seeing somebody else get the joy out of it like I get it,” Barnes said. “I learned it in 4-H when I was in fifth grade. My teacher had 10 of us crocheting, knitting, sewing and things like that, and we entered in the state fair. It’s a big deal on the west coast, because I’m originally from Seattle. I was also a fashion design major, so this was right up my alley to be working with yarns, colors and textures.”

There were a total of 12 attendees, including husband and wife, Eric and Jessica Pistorius, who joined the course to learn a new skill together.

“This is our first time with the course. This is the third installment. He’s actually doing better than I am,” Ms. Pistorius said.

Other members attended the workshop to make gifts for family members.

“I’ve been knitting since I was 18. But, I recently started again because of the birth of a granddaughter. So, I’m knitting witty bitty little things. I thought this class would be great, because maybe I would learn something new,” said Linda Vanderbaan. “I took a crocheting course with Sharon, and she was excellent. So, this is the second course I’m taking with her. The creation of hats, mittens, quilts and things like that – it’s just a lot of fun and relaxing.”

While others were knitting veterans who came to the library to get back into their hobby.

“I grew up in Brooklyn, and the girls took a knitting class. I must have been 10 or 11. So, on and off all my life I’ve done knitting and crocheting,” said Phyllis Shapiro-Cash. “I’ve come here twice before, and I’ve started up knitting again. She’s gotten me very enthusiastic about it.”

Before being asked to instruct the workshop at the library, Barnes had experience teaching other knitting classes.

“I started out at AC Moore. They had a few women, and we’d knit three or four days a week and have a session of four hours each. We’d help people with yarn, and we’d show them how to work on projects,” Barnes said. “They dropped that program, but by then Bob Konoski, the program director of Port Jeff Library, got me.”

When Barnes isn’t busy teaching classes throughout Long Island, she is always searching for new knitting shops to explore.

“I always try to find patterns for students that they can do on their own. I go on field trips all the time to different yarn stores,” Barnes said. “I go into the Knitting Cove too [in Port Jefferson]. I’ve bought quite a few things from there.”

But, beyond the scarves and baby booties, there is an entire knitting community with all sexes and ages.

“I go to a lot of knitting festivals, and you wouldn’t believe the crowds that are there and how many men are there – there’s a lot,” Barnes said. “Vogue Knitting just had a festival in the city a few weeks ago, and there were over 3,000 people there.”

Barnes remains enthusiastic about educating people and keeping knitting alive.

“If people only knew what goes on at these festivals – the different people and the yarns,” she said. “I think everyone should be doing it, or else it’s going to eventually die out.”