Mairead Ryan-Anderson started knitting at age four, at a time when knitting was part of the school curriculum in her homeland of Ireland. A lifetime of knitting later, she connected with other craftspeople who share her dedication and founded the Yarnaholics.
Many members have a similar history with knitting and crocheting.
“Most of us have been doing something with yarn for a long time,” she said.
“I’ve been knitting ever since I was a child, I remember knitting slippers for my brothers when I was little,” explained Mary Russom as she knit a baby blanket for her great-granddaughter. Russom joined Ryan-Anderson’s Yarnaholics club in Poplar Bluff after retiring.
Another retiree, Jackie Yancey, has been knitting since her grandmother taught her when she was five. She loves the dynamic of working on projects in a group and making friends who share her passions.
“It’s fun every two weeks to get together,” Yancey said.
The Yarnaholics club meets every two weeks in the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library and welcomes both longtime and learning crafters. Members can bring any fiber-based project to work on alongside fellow enthusiasts, usually accompanied by lively discussion.
“We’re not exclusive to knitting and crochet, we’ll take anybody — especially if they can tell a good yarn,” Ryan-Anderson joked.
The friendly atmosphere is part of what keeps members coming back, Yancey said. “You become like family.”
Group members stayed in touch during the COVID-19 pandemic when they could not meet. Beyond the much-needed social interaction, their craft provided relief from isolation and stress.
Knitting is soothing outside of global shutdowns, too. Ryan-Anderson finds almost any day is a good day as long as she gets to knit, and vice versa.
“I just have to take up my knitting needles every single day … if I’m not knitting for an hour or two, it’s not a good day,” she said.
All anyone needs to join the Yarnaholics is a pair of knitting needles or a crochet hook, plus a skein of yarn — heavier yarn is better for beginners. Simple patterns are also useful but not required.
Ryan-Anderson frequently hears people say they have no time to take up knitting or crochet.
“There’s tons of time to learn to knit or crochet” she said, adding it is the perfect accompaniment to TV watching and a great distraction while waiting in line. Many Yarnaholics do just that and say occupying their hands prevents boredom.
The constant output of plush goods has to go somewhere, but Russom explained most of them do not sell their work since the public rarely understands the time and effort put into each piece, and that makes pricing an issue. Instead, they give to people they love or donate to charity.
“Craft people are very generous, they’re always knitting for someone else,” Russom said.
Ryan-Anderson has knitted over 100 toys for children in the past year.
“I’ve given stuff to health clinics for kids, cancer centers for kids as well,” she said.
Many recipients are family, particularly children and grandchildren. Yancey still has things her grandma knitted, and those present agreed there was something special about creating something to be passed down.
“It becomes part of your legacy,” Ryan-Anderson explained.
The Yarnaholics meets every other Friday at the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library located at 318 N. Main St. Its next meeting is 2 p.m.-4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15. In accordance with current library rules, all visitors must wear a face mask. More information can be found by contacting Ryan-Anderson at maireadknits.@gmail.com or through the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library website at poplarbluff.org.