Written by Gina Wyrick
Three years ago, I, like many of you, found myself feeling restless amid the isolation of the pandemic.
I was an avid puzzler, and suddenly the shelves were empty, although I had my own stash. My mother, who crocheted often when I was younger alongside my aunt, expressed that she wanted to “learn again,” having left the hobby in the past. Yet she couldn’t find any hooks in the local stores.
If there’s one thing I know how to do, it’s utilize my Amazon account. I bought us both a set, thinking we could work together.
Like any good millennial, I pulled up YouTube and taught myself basic stitches. It was frustrating and confusing, and yet the sense of accomplishment I felt after making my first little square rivaled even my favorite 2,000-piece Star Wars puzzle.
Shortly after my first foray into crochet, fate had other ideas and my appendix burst, effectively ending my days of bending over the coffee table for hours at a time looking for puzzle pieces. I began my first blanket for myself, a baby blanket for a co-worker, and I haven’t stopped since.
After a few months I had my first order, a couple mentors and an online community of thousands to seek advice from, but something was missing, something I think we all missed in one way or another during lockdowns and social distancing: human connection.
As the “librarian’s wife” — associate library director/facility manager Nate Wyrick is my husband — I had been searching for my place at Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Musical Hall. I taught an Instant Pot class once upon a time, but I am rather underqualified to teach anyone to cook anything.
Throughout my hundreds of hours of stitching and living inside my head, I recalled a former co-worker sharing stories of her cross-stitching circle, and I floated the idea to Nate to start my own fiber arts group in our community. Sure enough, during the pandemic many of these groups disbanded for one reason or another, and I wanted to make a new home for those looking for fiber friends.
With the help of the library director, a plan was formed and a date was made for our first meeting on Feb. 28. The library shared the meeting information on its website and Facebook, and I shared to several local Carnegie community groups.
As any good partner would do, my husband warned me that new programs usually generate two or three people, and that is considered a success. However, the community stunned me, and we had 20 individuals register. Cue the panic: I was not prepared for 20 strangers.
Fifteen ladies arrived promptly for the inaugural meeting, I laid out my ground rules: Keep it kind and keep it crafty. I then shared my story of how and when I learned my craft, and around the room each member did, as well. I found that many people learned from a family member or took up crafting to honor an ancestor’s legacy.
What surprised me the most? The variety the ladies brought to the table: several cross stitchers, people who sew, crocheters, knitters and even a bobbin lace maker. Since then, we’ve welcomed several embroiderers, a punch needle expert and a rag rug genius.
Several faces in the crowd were familiar from my past: the cross stitch co-worker, the library’s accountant, a desk clerk for Carnegie and Scott libraries, and the mother of a good friend who has also become a dear friend to me. Each participant I hadn’t previously met shared sentiments of longing for a group like ours, and I was humbled. Another demographic present included the recently retired, looking for a community and camaraderie to fill their days.
For the first five meetings, I didn’t complete a single stitch as I got to know everyone on a deeper level, to welcome them to the library and create a home for them that I, myself, found eight years ago when I started visiting.
Our group has become so much more than sitting around a table with yarn, needle, thread, etc. Earlier this year, one of our routine attendees was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
She attended Bonny Diver’s Hair Peace Charities and was given a blanket that everyone prayed over to take to her chemo treatments, but it was the last one and the former donor could no longer provide them. She came to the next meeting with her “chemo cozy,” as we later designated them, and asked for those willing and able to make blankets if they could. “No pressure, it would just be nice.” Lo and behold, four months later five blankets have been passed along.
Discussions ranging from books to movies to family tales of old are shared, laughs are had, and projects are usually worked on. If you are interested in joining us, please email me at blanketsbybeanpgh@gmail.com. If you or anyone you know would like to learn how to crochet, knit, cross stitch or more, please email and we will set you up with a mentor during our meetings.
Our next meeting is Aug. 24 from 5-7pm, we’d love to have you! You can also look for future meetings on the Library’s website and Facebook page.