January 14, 2005

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Palo Alto Online

A close-knit group

by Carol Blitzer

Eight women gathered around a long table at Stanford University at noon on a recent Wednesday.

Strewn across the table were a dozen scarves, rich in multi-colors and textures. The pattern was a sampler with a variegated-color ruffle knitted between the limes, oranges and pinks.

The KnitWits were in full gear. The group, which consists of knitters who work in many departments, meets on the first and third Wednesday, and every Thursday, at several sites on campus. They usually bring works in progress, turning to each other for advice on technique, color or resources.

Many are novices; some have knitted (or crocheted) for a lifetime.

The idea for the group began in Marianne Marx's office. Marx used to belong to a Stanford knitting group, based in the Electrical Engineering department, but it died out after a while. Although she describes herself as a serious knitter who knitted at meetings, bridge games or in the car, Marx gave it up because of increasing arthritis in her hands.

But the scarf craze -- which is mainly done on very large knitting needles -- brought her back into the fold. "I've been knitting longer than they've been alive," she said, admitting that in the old days her nickname was "Madame Lafarge."

Holding up her gnarled hands, she added, "I've been knitting with these for 72 years. I don't need them for another 72 years." Today, she finds knitting therapeutic, and she sticks mainly to scarves and ponchos.

Lourdes Ventura was having lunch at the Center for Integrated Studies one day, when she saw her friend Fely Barrera, wearing a bright, gorgeous scarf. With some tutelage, she was inspired to learn how to make one herself.

"I was so frustrated. I had huge knitting needles, which were slippery," Ventura said, acknowledging that as a beginner she had chosen very difficult yarn to work with. "I bought this fuzzy yarn. It was hard for beginners because I couldn't see. One of the women grabbed it and finished it."

Ventura has been instrumental in spreading the word, creating a Web site and organizing a quarterly yarn exchange. In early December members were asked to bring 60 2-yard swatches of fall colors, enough to make one scarf. About eight of the 40 members participated.

She's also created a book of poncho patterns, which she is marketing at local yarn stores.

Chris Queen had never knitted until March 2004 when she was encouraged to join the group. "I'm now knitting like a crazy woman. I can't wait to get home at night. I eat dinner and knit," she said, adding that sometimes she gets up at 5 a.m. to finish a piece.

"I'm not a small movement person, but knitting slows me down. I'm happy when I'm knitting. I'm too busy making scarves at home to go the mall," Queen said. This year she even created 11 scarves for her sister, who is a middle-school principal, to give to her staff as gifts.

"It's addictive," added Ventura. "Christina's scarves are amazing. She plays around with so many options that others may not wish to attempt yet."

If they are tempted, Queen is there to cheer them on -- or disclose how she came up with her latest creations. There's the three narrow strips of contrasting yarns that are actually knit as three separate pieces, then braided. She sewed a large button about a foot from each end.

Or the one with a row of beaded fringe, hand-sewn at each end.

Or, the one done on a diagonal, with alternating smooth and fuzzy yarns.

Since May, the group has grown from five to 40-plus. By August, a second site at the School of Education was added. About 10 show up at each meeting. They share more than their ideas.

Susan Phillips Moskowitz, an experienced knitter who also has a yarn business on the side (www.mrsmoskowitz.com), demonstrated increasing stitches at a recent meeting.

"We have different ranges of experience," Ventura said, noting that one knitter took three years to complete a sweater that looked like an Impressionistic landscape.

Sometimes non-knitters bring challenges to the group as well, such as the crocheter who couldn't decipher a pattern. Marx, who can do both, taught Queen how to add a crocheted touch to a simple scarf.

New members are joining all the time -- there's no fee and no time commitment. "Gina and I were outside knitting," Queen said, and "someone asked to touch my scarf. She confessed she knits too so we gave her our e-mail and told her about the group."

Likewise, whenever Ventura, who works in student services, sees people knit in meetings, for example, she tells them about the group.

In addition to knitting scarves and ponchos, Kristina Solheim, the site coordinator for the School of Education group, has organized a hat project. Many in the group have volunteered to knit chemo caps for patients undergoing chemotherapy. The instructions come with guidelines -- use softer yarns, without wool content, washed and machine dried with no fabric softeners.

The group often shares resources, such as the best place to buy yarn, or how to find free hat patterns on the Internet. And a number modeled for Ventura's poncho pattern book.

What it all comes down to is weaving friendships. The hats and scarves are just window dressing.

Assistant editor Carol Blitzer can be reached at cblitzer@paweekly.com.

What: KnitWits Where: Stanford University, Center for Integrated Systems, 420 Via Palou Mall, Conference Room 101 When: 1st Wednesday, noon to 1 p.m.

Where: Center for Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity, Main Quad, Bldg. 240, Room 207 When: 3rd Wednesday, noon to 1 p.m.

Where: School of Education, Cubberley, MacConnell Lounge, Room 139 When: Every Thursday, noon to 1 p.m. Info: http://www.stanford.edu/~si77lk/Knitwit/knitwit.html.

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