Students show knack for knitting

Edward Englehart and Dillon Farrar weave comments about yarn quality and needle size into their discussion of the day's events at school as if they've been doing it for years.

The two 13-year-olds occasionally glance down at the clicking needles in their hands to check the progress of the day's projects: a scarf for Englehart and a bracelet/bookmark for Farrar.

Englehart and Farrar are surrounded by about 70 other Jackson Middle School students, boys and girls alike, who have gathered in the library after school for the same purpose: knitting.

When English teacher Ellen Lukens suggested knitting as a possible after-school program in 2003, other teachers were doubtful it would fly with 12- and 13-year-olds.

So far, it's done more than fly, it's soared.

In recent years, the popularity of knitting has grown across the country, especially among young men. Englehart said he was dragged to the knitting club by his younger sister, but soon discovered how much he enjoyed it.

Farrar started knitting with the future in mind.

"I figured when I'm old and in a nursing home I can do this," he said.

So far, the boys have made scarves for family members and Farrar is teaching his mother to knit.

Though the club has been meeting all year, new knitters frequently join. A recent newcomer was seventh-grader Kaitlyn Thompson, whose interest was piqued after watching friends knit before school.

Thompson began by learning to "cast on," forming a series of loops around one needle. It wasn't as easy as it looked, Thompson soon discovered.

Classmate Trista Guthrie, who has been knitting since the beginning of the year, walked her through the initial steps and showed her how to fix mistakes.

"In knitting, knots fix everything," Guthrie explained.

The students have made scores of scarves, hats and other items for family members and themselves. But they've also participated in service projects, like knitting scarves to auction off for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Right now, the students are working on wool blankets for animals at the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri.

"If you work really hard at it, it's great because you feel like you've accomplished something," Guthrie said.

cclark@semissourian.com

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