Phillip Island’s knitting club meets every Monday at 1pm at the Berninneit building, 91–97 Thompson Avenue, Cowes. The group began in 2016 when Elenor started hosting a small group of knitters at her home. It later moved to the library, with some of the original members still attending today. Primarily a community group, members work on their own projects while sharing techniques, helping newcomers and enjoying each other’s company.
Unlike a formal knitting class, the group is self-run, allowing members to work at their own pace in an informal setting.
Isabel described the social side as an important part of the group, providing members with a support network where they feel comfortable teaching and helping one another. She said members also encourage each other to try different knitting techniques and share what they have learned.
“It’s good to have a good gossip,” Isabel said.
Members said the group also supported their mental wellbeing, providing a comfortable environment where they could open up, share a laugh and spend time with others.
The conversations form part of the weekly routine, with members able to work on their projects while catching up with one another.
Lee said the friendships formed through the group brought together people from all backgrounds.
“We all have separate experiences with work and life, but we all share knitting as a form of friendship and connection,” she said.
For some, the group offers more than friendship and provides an escape from everyday life.
“It’s more than social, it’s an escape,” Elenor said.
Eleanor said she knits six or seven times a week, but attending the group gives her a place to relax with others and enjoy the sense of community.
“It’s somewhere we can come and feel comfortable, work on a project and have a few laughs,” Lee said.
Members knit for various reasons, whether as a hobby, for their children or to make items for people in need. Eleanor is currently working on a sweater, one of the many personal projects members bring along to work on during the group’s weekly meetings.
Eleanor said some members also knit for their mental wellbeing, with the process of knitting providing a way to relax.
“The outcome is not as important as the process,” Eleanor said.
Isabel said the importance of the group was hard to define, with each member taking something different from the experience.
“It’s something we can’t define, it means many things,” she said.
Club members stated newcomers aren’t required to commit to the group and are welcome to simply come along and give it a try.
“I encourage everyone, at least to give it a shot” Elenor said. Whether people come for the knitting, conversation or simply to spend time with others on a Monday afternoon, the group offers a place to meet people, connect and enjoy each other’s company while working on projects.
