Clark County's First Annual Knit-In!

Caring Caps Logo
Design By: Hannah Leedy

On October 20^th, 2012, Clark County’s first annual Knit-In took place at the Clark County Public, or CCPL – and you missed out if you weren’t there. It was located in library’s small conference room, and was scheduled to be from 10 AM to 2 PM. People as young as six months old, to those far beyond showed up with eager hands and hearts. Some came to engage in a favorite hobby, and some to learn a new one. Regardless of their experiences and skill-levels with knitting and crocheting, everybody there wanted to knit or crochet so they could use their skill to help others. Lasting an hour past its predicted run-time, the Knit-In continued as we all got lost in the food, clicking hooks and needles, and connecting words being shared. We laughed, munched muffins, cookies, and brownies, and excitedly progressed on our projects. Many people stopped by and contributed to the event, each in their own fashion. One woman told us that she didn’t want to learn loom-knitting – she wanted “to be one of those grandmas sittin’ on the front porch, clickin’ away with her needles and yellin’ at the kids to STOP!” She couldn’t stay for lessons that day, but gave us her contact information, and left with a desire to learn something new. A donation for supplies was made, and one of the CCPL staff popped in on us to see what was really going on. Within a few minutes, she was laughing and smiling with the rest of us.

Yet, far more powerful than hours of knitting and crocheting were the words exchanged; stories of past struggles, tales of blissful friendships, and, most of all, varied accounts that motivated these people to help others swirled about the room. These people are the proof that when one person sees or hears about another person who is struggling, they do not wish to sit idly by; they want to help.

Caring Caps is still continuing its original mission, and, for those who want to help, there are still plenty of opportunities. You can contact me to schedule a knitting or crocheting class, donate to the project, either monetarily, or by purchasing supplies for someone who cannot afford them by their own means; create and donate a handmade-gift independently; request a list of needed items for the Clark County Homeless Coalition and Clark County Community Services; or donate food, clothing, toys, or other needed items. Most of all, though, we must each take it upon ourselves to absorb the realities of those in our community who are entrenched in need and struggle, and to, then, find our own ways to improve their situations.