Wednesday, May 28, 2003
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Wednesday, May 28, 2003 |
School knitting club knits more than yarnYou could say that students, parents, teachers and staff members of Rising Starr Middle are a close-knit group. On any given Wednesday afternoon after school, about 15 people, a half and half mix of students and adults, gather in the media center for about an hour to take part in a knitting group that was organized at the beginning of the academic year by Principal Len Patton. Patton, who is an avid knitter, took the group of beginner knitters and turned them into pros in a matter of months. She started by teaching the participants how to knit a simple square. Now the members have developed skills that have enabled them to create a multitude of items such as blankets, throws, sweaters, hats, scarves and mittens. "When my daughter came home and asked me if she could join this knitting club, I was thrilled. My grandmothers taught me to knit a long time ago but I had forgotten most of it. I thought it was great that she was going to be learning what is becoming a lost art. I immediately called Ms. Patton to see if I could join, too," said Lisa Eichelberger, who comes almost every Wednesday to knit with her daughter, Tera. Members of the club are doing more than merely knitting clothing and other items; they are knitting relationships as well. During the hour they spend together each week, they not only swap knitting ideas and techniques, but they also have fun catching up on the latest news and happenings in each other's lives. Eichelberger says she looks forward to something that she and her daughter can do together while going over the day's events. Patton, who is just finishing her first year as principal of the school, says one of her main goals of forming the group was to help her get better aquatinted with students and parents. "This gives us a time to come together in a relaxed environment to get know each other. We just sit around and chat as we knit," said Patton. Patton had formed a similar group at Fayette Middle while she was an assistant principal but says this is the most participation that she has ever had. As word spread about the group, several students from the adjacent Starr's Mill High joined the club. In fact, the group has been so popular at Rising Starr that parents are already contacting Patton about signing up for next year. "This is something that I will definitely continue. I am looking forward to next year's group with even more people participating. The more the better; I can't wait," said Patton.
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