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Saturday is World Wide Knit in Public Day, an event celebrated Saturday with a “knit in” at the farmers market, Second and Main streets, in Winona, and at the farmers market and Ewetopia Fiber Shop in Viroqua, Wis.
It was started in 2005 by Danielle Landes, a knitting enthusiast in Australia who wanted to make the hobby a little less solitary. It’s grown from 25 events in the first year to almost 200 last year. Knitters in China, England, France, Ireland, Norway, South Africa, Sweden and countries throughout the world have observed the day.
Blandine Berthelot held the event last year at the Blue Heron Coffeehouse, and about 15 knitters showed up. This year, she’s hosting it at the farmers market. Crocheters, cross-stitchers and crafters are also invited.
Berthelot, 46, has been knitting for about 40 years.
“I should be better by now,” Berthelot said.
Her grandmother taught her to knit while growing up in France. She’s in several area knitting groups. Her friends and family tease her that if she’s working on something for herself, it’s not going to turn out.
“It turns into a show-and-tell of things that are completely unwearable,” Berthelot said.
She once made a blue sweater with a knit belt that ended up being so long, the belt touched the floor.
“They always tell you the important thing is gauge, but I just go for it,” she said.
“There’s something really comforting about the yarn,” Berthelot said. “Being in Minnesota, it’s nice to be knitting something fluffy and warm in winter.”
She doesn’t knit as much in the summer and likes making clothes for kids the best.
“I find it very relaxing. It’s kind of a meditation thing,” Berthelot said.
Kathryn Ashley is hosting the Viroqua event at her Ewetopia Fiber Shop and at the Viroqua Farmers Market. Ashley, 23, has been knitting for about 15 years. She knits almost every day. For the past year, she’s been knitting her own wedding dress. Yes, a wedding dress.
“I always figured if I did get married, I would make my own,” Ashley said.
She’s getting married in September and will wear the silk and lace dress she created using a skirt and corset pattern for a guide. So far, she’s put in more than 100 hours and used 2,500 yards of lace-weight yarn, costing her about $150.
Both Berthelot and Ashley agree that sometimes knitting can be a bit too solitary.
“It’s always so much more fun to knit with a group and see what other people are working on,” Ashley said. “You get more inspiration.”
If you go
What: World Wide Knit in Public Day
When: Saturday
Where: Farmers market, Second and Main streets, Winona, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; farmers market and Ewetopia Fiber Shop, Viroqua, Wis., from 9 a.m. to noon
Web site: www.wwkipday.com
Contact Käri Knutson at kknutson@winonadailynews.com or (507) 453-3523.
