By mary Ellen Zangara, Special Writer
The newly formed Crochet Club and Knitting, Too has become very popular over the first six months of the club’s existence. The club is rapidly growing with more and more crocheters and knitters joining.
Catherine Spinola, the founder of the club, is very happy about the growth.
”I think the club has progressed well. With almost 40 members by e-mail, women from all over are now involved with the club, even though only 15 may come to meetings at anytime,” she said. “Unfortunately we can only meet once a month right now, but I am hoping to expand the club to two days per month so there is more availability for club members to attend meetings.”
The club meets at the Manville Public Library on a specified date each month. It has been basically by word of mouth, friends of friends and other methods that the interested people are coming together, according to Ms. Spinola.
”Through newsletters, e-mail and online advertisement, I feel the club is growing and will expand even more throughout the year. All club members enjoy the hobby and everyone that attends looks forward to the next meeting. We all share the joy of knit and crochet and help each other and teach each other new techniques, stitches and knowledge of the craft,” she said
” Everyone in the club has something to share. Whether they are just learning with new ideas or masters at the craft, club members are sharing what they have created as well as learning even more themselves. I am glad to have brought friends, family, coworkers and the communities together to share a common interest of knit and crochet.”
”I do bring things for everybody, like little kits and stuff that I give to them and I need to know how many people are coming,” Ms. Spinola said. “I want to bring patterns and I want to bring enough for everybody. This is a way for us to all get out and share all our ideas and projects. I am hoping it takes off so we can get out of the house a little bit and work on stuff that we like to do.
”Bring your hook, needles and some yarn and become a part of a circle of friends that appreciate the art of crochet and knitting.”
Joy Honkisz came for the very first meeting and looks forward to attending every monthly gathering.
”I love it, I love it. It is a learning experience and you have a sense of accomplishment every time you finish a project and it comes out right,” she said. “I am making an afghan which is taking forever and I learned how to make a large men’s knit hat within a week. So far this is the easiest and the quickest product I have ever made and I learned this all in the six months. Each month there is always a new pattern and a new adventure.”
Ms. Spinola is very excited about an upcoming event for the club.
”Our “Our club, the Crochet Club and Knitting too..!! was invited to display our craft in September of this year, so I hope everyone will make a trip to the library to see what the members have created. We really have many talented people in our club and I hope that everyone will come out and see the beautiful items that will be on display,” she said.
If you would like to join the Crochet Club and Knitting too the next meeting is Wednesday, April 27 from 6:15 to 8 p.m. promptly. Usually registration is required by the 15th of the month and a signup sheet is at the Manville Public Library or send e-mail to Ms. Spinola at [email protected].

