On a quiet road in tiny Stockton Springs, Debbie Bergman’s home-based fiber arts center, Purple Fleece, attracts a loyal clientele. They come from the surrounding towns of Searsport, Bucksport and Prospect and from farther afield as well — Camden, Augusta, Lincoln. Summer visitors, too, find their way to her door.
The downstairs of the shop in her converted barn houses an alluring inventory of colorful, hand-colored yarns for knitting and weaving, natural and dyed fleeces for spinning and felting, patterns, dyes and equipment such as knitting needles, spinning wheels and tabletop looms.
But upstairs is where the real action is. That’s where Bergman teaches her classes and one-on-one lessons, helping beginners learn to work with these beautiful materials and guiding more accomplished fiber artists in exploring new tools, techniques and materials.
And upstairs is where, every Saturday afternoon, a group of knitters, weavers and other crafters of varying skill and experience gather on comfortable sofas and chairs to work on their projects, learn from each other and solve the problems of the world.
“This is definitely a support group,” Bergman said. “We knit, we spin, someone may be working on a quilt, and we discuss all sorts of things. There’s only one forbidden topic, and that’s politics.”
The group — currently all women, though men do join from time to time — ranges in age from their mid-30s to mid-70s. A core group of six or seven sometimes swells to 12 or 15. Some learned needlecraft at their grandmothers’ knees and have been knitting or crocheting for a lifetime. Others have only recently found the time and opportunity to learn. And others, recently retired, empty-nesting, or coping with other changes in their lives, have returned to a hobby that is both challenging and soothing, that develops their creativity and results in a steady supply of homey, handcrafted gifts.
In addition to crafting gifts for family and friends, Bergman said group members regularly deliver warm mittens, scarves and hats to the town office, where they are available for anyone who might need them.
Bergman, who is retired from a career as a nurse-midwife, said many of her customers and group members work in helping professions such as health care, teaching and the ministry. “They’re giving of themselves all day long,” she said. “Knitting, spinning and weaving are a way to nourish yourself, even though you may give it all away when you’re done.”
Knit the community
At St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Belfast, knitting has become a passionate ministry of its own, according to facilitator Jillian Liversidge. Knitting, she said, is a form of meditation, promotes a focused relaxation and provides an escape from daily stress.
“At the same time, it’s this ancient, utilitarian art that’s wonderful,” she said. For the enthusiastic knitters at St. Margaret’s, she added, only half joking, “knitting is the core of our very existence.”
In addition to a regular, twice-a-month knitting circle that meets in the church library, the “ Knit the Community” group also organizes two major fundraisers each year. There’s the annual Knit-A-Thon, where sponsored knitters come together for an hour or a whole day of handwork and socialization, raising money for local projects such as Habitat for Humanity and fuel assistance. And there’s the KnitMaine-ia Fashion Show, a charity gala where runway models show off a range of hand-knit, crocheted and felted garments and accessories, some of which are for sale. All proceeds are donated to the New Hope for Women program for victims of domestic violence.
Knitters at St. Margaret’s also donate hats, socks and mittens to local schools and hospitals, as well as to the The Maine Coastal Regional Reentry Center, a residential program that supports incarcerated men as they transition into community living.
“Every knitter has a different cause, and we love to bring it all together,” Liversidge said. The group welcomes members of all ages and abilities, including young children. “It’s about knitting people together, knitting lives together and knitting hearts together. A lot of people who knit would be lost without it.”
‘I’m going to knit anyway’
Every Monday evening and Tuesday afternoon, knitters arrive at the Orono Public Library for an hour or so of crafting and camaraderie. Eight women showed up this past Tuesday, each with her own current project. The small conference room quickly filled with lively conversation as they compared notes and then settled down to work.
Cheryl Spencer, 69, of Old Town was making progress on a project for the Penquis service agency in Bangor, knitting cloud-soft purple hats for newborns. The tiny caps are part of a special campaign to educate new parents about the dangers of shaken baby syndrome, a condition of brain injury or death that results from infants being shaken or handled roughly by inexperienced parents or caregivers.
Last year, Spencer knit 100 caps for the project. So far, she’s knit 75 for this year’s campaign, using a deep purple acrylic yarn accented with lilac and pale green stripes. “I’m going to do it until the yarn runs out,” she said, hefting a bagful of skeins with a practiced hand. “I’d say I’ve got a couple-three dozen more to go.”
Spencer attends knitting groups both in Orono and at the Brewer Public Library, cranking out a considerable inventory. “Last year I knit hats and mittens and Christmas stockings for all my grandkids,” she said. “And out in my car I’ve got a trunk full of afghans for Sarah’s House [a facility in Holden that provides temporary housing and other support services people undergoing cancer treatment].
“Any service project appeals to me,” she said. “I’m going to knit anyway, so I’m really glad to find causes I can knit for.”
Overcoming age-related challenges
A number of studies show that knitting and other forms of handwork are effective at alleviating stress, anxiety and depression. Other research finds that handcrafting stimulates the brain and may slow age-related cognitive decline. Knitting also may be beneficial for maintaining mobility, strength and coordination in people who experience arthritis and other challenges.
But knitting also may prove difficult as we age. The small, repetitive motions of the stitches, long stretches of sitting still and looking downward and the need to focus visually at the same distance over time may cause discomfort for older knitters.
Debbie Bergman at the Purple Fleece suggests that older knitters work in shorter sessions, change position frequently and use larger needles and heavier yarns that are easier to grasp and manipulate. Using different knitting techniques also can help. And finding a comfortable, supported position is essential. “You’ll notice there are lots of pillows around here,” she said, gesturing around her inviting seating area.
Dedicated knitters often find ways to work around their physical difficulties, Bergman said. “I’ve known several people who have had strokes or broken a wrist and can still knit.”
And even for those just learning, the benefits are great.
“I tell people all the time that it’s really important to learn something new every year,” she said. “A new language or a dance step or how to use Excel on your computer — it doesn’t matter what it is, just learn something new.”
