Knit Night is a workshop for knitters and crocheters to bring their projects and practice their craft Friday nights at the Bloomington Stitchery.
The event is from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. every Friday and is free and open to knitters and crocheters of all experience levels. Bloomington Stitchery offers professional sewing and custom design services. The business specializes in alterations and tailoring.
About 20 people gathered at the tailor to crochet and knit. Everyone gathered around a large table and chatted among themselves while knitting their own projects.
Karen White helped start the event alongside the owner, Liby Ball. White currently runs Knit Night alongside the Bloomington Stitchery.
White said Knit Night is a workshop for people to bring whatever knitting or crocheting project they may be working on. New people are always welcome, Ball said.
“It doesn’t matter how experienced you are,” White said. “There are people experienced to help those who aren’t.”
Knit Night is a collaborative workshop. White said people often help one another with their projects during the time.
Miranda Merkley, who works at the Bloomington Stitchery, said the crowd is welcoming and inclusive. She said not having many local yarn shops in the area has made the event one of the go to places for people in the knitting community.
Merkley said there is a mix of older people from the community and IU graduates who attend the event. Not many IU students have attended, but those interested are encouraged to. Many LGBTQ people come as well. Merkley said a lot of the stitchery's customers are members of the LGBTQ community.
“This an inclusive space where people come to knit and chat,” Merkley said.
Knit Night is not a class because there are no lesson plans or instructors. Rather, people can bring whatever they want to knit and work with other people to complete their projects.
