FEATURE Knitting Away the Winter At a time when the dark and cold can do a number on a person's well-being, knitting groups have myriad benefits.

In winter, there's perhaps nothing warmer than nestling in with a lap full of wool, which makes this season a flurry of fun for knitters and crocheters. At a time when the dark and cold can do a number on a person's well-being, these creative outlets have myriad benefits. &emsp;"Knitting and crocheting are good for the mind," says Laura Clayton, founder and owner of Knitty Gritty Yarn Shop in Peterborough's Depot Square. &emsp;Settled amongst classic New Hampshire shops, like an antique store and clothing boutique, Knitty Gritty is a sweet spot for area creatives. They love to browse the walls of soft, colorful yarn, needles in various styles, felting projects sprinkled about, and other bits and bobs. In winter, the shop is a happening place. &emsp; &emsp;"More people knit in the darker months," Clayton explains. &emsp;The mental work of it — such as deciphering patterns and tracking where you are in a project — keeps the mind sharp. &emsp;For the body, Clayton notes, "It keeps the hands and wrists limber. Many occupational therapists will send people our way when arthritis sets in or hand and wrist injuries have happened." &emsp;Beyond the tangibles, she points out that knitting and crocheting are just plain good for the soul: "When you complete a project, there is such satisfaction, especially if it has been difficult or new." &emsp;Fingerless gloves are a quick, fun challenge many enthusiasts have picked up this season. Another pattern that's in vogue is the Sophie Scarf from PetiteKnit. The description reads, "The Sophie Scarf is worked back and forth in one piece, from tip to tip in garter stitch with built-in i-cord edges. The smaller size Sophie Scarf reaches around the neck once, while the larger size can wrap around the neck twice." &emsp;The result is a stylish, almost vintage-looking piece that can be made with many types of yarn and complemented with personal touches like whimsical pom-poms on the ends. &emsp;"It seems like every day a customer comes in to get yarn for a new project, and I think, 'I want to make that too!'" Clayton says with a laugh. &emsp;Part of what she loves is how inspired people get by one another and how knitting can bring people together. Year-round, she has witnessed increasing interest, especially from younger generations who are craving projects away from their phones and more personal connections. &emsp;Knitty Gritty offers social groups Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 10 a.m. and Tuesday nights at 5 p.m., as well as one-on-one, in-person classes. &emsp;"It's a great way to meet people, and it's inexpensive to start," Clayton says. &emsp;Newbies can expect to pay $25 for lessons and $25 to $30 for materials. (Half that initial investment will be reusable — needles or hooks.) &emsp;"I opened my shop wanting it to be a friendly place for people to gather; everyone is always welcome," Clayton says. &emsp;She's looking forward to making new friends this winter as the projects come pouring in. Sipping and stitching For friends, new and old, knitting and crocheting provide an easy excuse to spend time in one another's company. At libraries around the Monadnock Region and beyond, groups like "Sip and Stitch" are a social staple for many locals. &emsp;In Richmond, the public library has hosted a Saturday morning knitting group for about seven years. It's a town that no longer has a general store or day-to-day gathering place. But the library has become the heartbeat, thanks to librarian Wendy O'Brien and dedicated patrons who enjoy spending time there. &emsp;For experienced maker and knitting group regular Sandee Auvil, "The camaraderie is wonderful! I enjoy knitting together as a type of support group." &emsp;In fact, it's become such an important part of her life, she admits, "I felt at a loss during the pandemic when we could not gather and were confined at home." &emsp;Soon, the group decided to meet (whenever the weather allowed) in the town's outdoor pavilion, and then they all masked indoors until it wasn't needed anymore. &emsp;"The ladies who attend have become good friends, and we have also branched out into other groups, such as Mahjong and a monthly book club," Auvil describes. These connections, especially in the winter, create a reason to get out of the house and be there for each other. "We are like family," she says. &emsp;Auvil highly recommends starting one of these groups in a town near you. All you need is a few knitters or anyone interested in fiber arts. Suddenly, you have a great little group coming together. It also creates a wonderful space to learn new patterns from other people, ask questions, and get support with tricky projects. &emsp;"We even have a couple of ladies who just come to hang out," Auvil says. Take a spin to a spinnery While traveling just a few minutes to the library is ideal when snow is on the ground, it can also be fun to take a field trip on a fine winter day. Highly recommended for knitters and crocheters is Green Mountain Spinnery in nearby Putney, Vermont. &emsp;The small but mighty, worker-owned yarn shop has plenty of surprises for those who make the trip. And many do, particularly during the colder months. &emsp;"I think if you're not an outdoor sports enthusiast, it's a great time of year to get cozy, sit inside in front of a fire and knit," says Kate Salomon from the Spinnery. &emsp;To find the perfect wool for your project, Green Mountain Spinnery has a store full of options. Salomon finds that "more and more people are interested in finding something unusual." They're stepping away from the typical fibers found at box stores and seeking more natural fibers. &emsp;"They tend to get really excited when they find us because we specialize in rustic, natural fibers, and we spin all the yarn that we make here," she describes. &emsp;For more than 30 years, Green Mountain Spinnery's goals have been "to create yarns of the highest quality, to help sustain regional sheep farming, and to develop environmentally sound ways to process natural fibers." &emsp;What new patrons often find unexpected is the small footprint of the shop itself, which must leave room for an entire yarn mill, as well. &emsp;"Visitors can see through the windows on our production floor," Salomon says. "There's a lot going on here behind the scenes." &emsp;Whenever possible, the Spinnery's team offers free tours, showing off the yarn-making process. &emsp;"In some ways, because it's all antique machinery, it's sort of like taking a trip through time," Salomon describes. "You're getting a chance to see how yarn was made 50 or 100 years ago." &emsp;It's absolutely worth a mid-winter visit simply to touch the sweetly soft yarns and witness the care that goes into each skein.