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Knitting Club Banned from Library for Being Too Loud

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no knittingThis sort of sounds like a story that would come from The Onion, but it’s true, far as I can tell: the Knit and Natter group in Cramlington, Northumberland, has been banned from meeting in the city’s new library because they take up too much room and are too loud.

The group of up to 30 women has to find a new home by the end of September. Organizers say they were never told they were too loud at the old library, and they’ve done good things while meeting there including knitting a Christmas tree for the library in 2011.

What do you think? Are knitters too loud to meet in a library, or are county councilors going too far?

[Photo, which has nothing to do with this story at all, from Flikr via Buzzfeed.]

Looking for more Christmas themed Knitting patterns? Check out some of our favorite Knitting patterns on Etsy and

These Christmas Knitting Pattern Books on Amazon

 

Comments

  1. Well, knitting needles are dangerous – they could poke out someone’s eye. Same way books are so dangerous because you could get a papercut…
    I went to a facility once where I wasn’t allowed to take in my knitting needles (size 20’s!!!) because I might use them to take drugs.
    I think the world has gone mad sometimes!

  2. Knitters may be too loud but they’ve been there a while so why ban them now? Maybe they can find a community room that will let them get together.

  3. What they didn’t like the clicking noise by all those knitting needles? That is really dumb call there.

  4. Many areas in the UK are facing libraries closing as councils try and cut costs………So craft clubs, childrens groups and mothers groups meeting in them enables a community library fit into the social life of its area.
    If a group stays in the library all day long it could be a nuisance for other users yes, but for goodness sake, meetings are what, a couple of hours?
    Leave them alone Northumberland Council!!

  5. We can’t really judge how disruptive they might be without being there. I must say, though, that we have a couple of rather small libraries in our area. When they put on any sort of lecture or kids program, they can’t help but present it to the whole library. There’s no escaping it. I guess the librarians figure drawing people into the library for an activity trumps the inconvenience to other patrons. Our big local library, fortunately, has both flexible community rooms for activities like knitting, and a quiet reading room for those who really need quiet. Oddly, they sometimes let a community group use it. Libraries are, first and foremost, for reading.
    I like the phrase “knit and natter” better than “stitch and bitch.” And my curiosity was piqued by the activity in aid of breastfeeding. Hard to picture.

Have you read?

Free Knitted Crown Pattern for Kids and Adults: A Sweet Handmade Dress-Up Idea

There’s something wonderfully charming about a knitted crown. It’s playful, useful for the dress-up basket, and just the sort of small project that gives a leftover ball of yarn a proper purpose. Much better than letting it roll around the cupboard for another three years.

This free knitted crown pattern for kids and adults combines a simple garter-stitch band with shaped triangular points. The mustard-gold colour gives it that storybook crown look, although pink, purple or woodland green would be equally lovely.

A Manageable Next Step for Beginner Knitters

The construction is the appealing part of this design. Everything is knitted flat, so you won’t need double-pointed needles or experience joining stitches in the round.

You knit the band first, then work each crown point separately over a group of 12 stitches. Paired decreases gradually narrow each triangle, giving you a small, repeatable section to concentrate on.

I’d describe this as a confident beginner knitting project. You’ll need to know how to knit, work two types of decreases, hold unused stitches and sew a simple seam. There are several yarn tails to weave in, so a little patience with finishing will help.

Three Sizes With Room to Personalise

The pattern includes three sizes, with seven, eight or nine crown points. Choose by the wearer’s head measurement rather than age, and check your gauge carefully. Yarn stretch will make a noticeable difference to the fit.

For birthdays, an embroidered initial would be a sweet finishing touch. Contrasting yarn diamonds could suggest little jewels without adding hard embellishments.

What to Know Before Casting On

This is a soft knitted crown, so expect gentle points rather than a rigid costume accessory. A springy wool or wool-blend yarn should give the shaping more support than a very drapey yarn.

The stitch calculations have been checked, but the design has not yet been sample-knitted. The accompanying image is an illustrative mockup, so the finished texture and proportions may vary with your yarn and tension.

For a small handmade birthday accessory or a cheerful addition to the dress-up box, this is an appealing idea. And if an adult needs a matching crown for supervising the royal household, the larger size has that covered too.