How to Start a Knitting Circle

Starting a knitting circle is a great way to work on your solo projects and be social at the same time. It's also a great way to get people together to work on a common project. Starting a knitting circle takes a little time and preparation, but a good knitting circle will produce more than baby blankets and Christmas sweaters. A group of people who knit together often form lifelong friendships. Here's how to start a knitting circle in your area.

1. Find a group of people who love to knit.

To start a knitting circle, you need to find a core group of people who are committed to the idea of setting aside time to knit socially. If you only know one or two other knitters, or you're starting from scratch, post ad at yarn store. Many yarn stores host their own classes, and their regulars are exactly the kind of knitters you'll need in your group.

2. Set a time and place.

When you start a knitting circle, it makes sense to host at your house. But if you don't want to always be stuck with host duties, consider rotating among members' houses. You may even be able to convince a yarn store to let you use their space.

The next thing to decide when you start a knitting circle is how often you can reasonably meet on a regular basis and how long you'd like to devote to knitting. For example, do you want to meet once a week for two hours, or would you rather meet twice a month for four hours? Whatever you decide, you should set a consistent day and duration for knitting circle members who may not be able to make it every time but want to keep in the loop.

3. Come up with a common project.

When you start a knitting circle, you and your friends will probably want to work on solo projects. Nothing brings a group closer faster, though, than sharing a common goal. If you are starting a knitting circle with people you've just met or casual acquaintances, having a project that you work on together can give you something to talk about and something to bond over.

Make a group afghan where each square says something about the member who created it, or choose a charity to knit for. Whatever you decide, plan to spend a certain amount of your knitting time working on your shared activity.

4. Be prepared to share.

You and the other members of the knitting circle you start should be prepared to share everything from companionship to snacks. Dish out gossip, advice, leftover yarn, and tips from your grandmother. In return, you'll receive all that and more.