Twisted Stitchers Get Crafty at the Brighton Library

Pat Rogers has been crocheting everything from blankets to mittens for the past 60 years, so it was natural for her to take over running the "People Who Knit" program from the about five years ago.

The group meets at the library on the second and fourth Monday of the month to knit, crochet, cross-stitch or embroider. And eventually, they became known as the "Twisted Stitchers" rather than "People Who Knit."

The name change was important because people were thinking you could only knit with the group, Rogers said.

Rogers also teaches crocheting outside of the group, on her own time.

"I don't think any of these arts should just die out," she said. "There's crafts I'm sure that were known a thousand years ago that nobody knows how to do today. I think that anybody who wants to learn how to knit or crochet, or needs help with their knitting or crocheting should be able to get that help without having to pay for it. I think anyone who knows how to crochet, and crochet well, should share it with other people -- the ones who want to learn, of course."

Attendance at each meeting varies, according to Rogers.

Genoa Township resident Karen Brender was only attending her second meeting on Oct. 24. She met Rogers at a subdivision garage sale and heard about the group. Now, Rogers is teaching her to crochet.

"I've done some knitting and I've always wanted to learn to crochet -- there's neat patterns out there I haven't seen in knitting -- but I never found a teacher," Brender said. "I met Pat and it was a no-brainer."

Brighton resident Sharon Ross is also fairly new to the group.

"These women are wonderful," she said. "I was a newcomer and on my first day, they made me feel like a friend. I felt so welcome -- like I was already a part of the group."

The Twisted Stitchers meet next on Monday night at 6 p.m. and again on Nov. 28 at the same time.