The rhythmic click of needles and quiet conversation fills the Oglethorpe County Library on the last Friday of each month as a small but dedicated group gathers to share their craft.
Hooked on a Good Yarn, the county’s new fiber arts group, is still in its early stages, but its goal is simple: to bring people together through the shared craft of knitting, crocheting and sewing.
Launched by branch manager Katherine Ratcliffe, Hooked on a Good Yarn is a group where both beginners and experienced crafters can learn from one another, building friendships through shared creativity.
“Most of the other branches of the Athens Regional Library System, the other 10 branches, most of them have fiber craft groups,” Ratcliffe said. “And so I thought there is a need because almost every other place, people really enjoy gathering at the library to knit and crochet together.”
For some, Hooked on a Good Yarn feels like coming full circle. Longtime fiber artist Lamara Martin sees the group as a welcome revival of a cherished tradition.
Before the pandemic, she was part of The Woolverines, a fiber craft group that met at the library.
“We had a large number of people come at first, wanting to learn,” Martin said. “We had two different ways of doing it right, and we would give them books, I gave them needles and yarn, and they’d come once or twice.”
While veteran crafters carry on the tradition, younger members are shaping the group’s future.
Caitlin King was new to Hooked on a Good Yarn when she attended with her dad, but sewing has always been second nature to her. The 20-year-old self-taught sewer has been making dolls and plush toys since she was 12, determined to create what she couldn’t find in stores.
“I had certain toys in my mind that I wanted to find, but I could never quite find,” King said. “So I basically said, ‘All right, I’ll make it myself’ because I couldn’t find anything that actually fit what I envisioned I had wanted.”
Preferring the precision of hand-sewn details over machine stitching, King has experimented with various fabrics, from polar fleece to minky plush, continuously refining her technique.
She has even considered selling her work on Etsy or starting a YouTube channel to share sewing tutorials.
Originally from Athens, King is a familiar face in the county, having volunteered with her dad for the library’s summer reading program. Now, she hopes to become a regular at Hooked on a Good Yarn, not just to socialize, but to share her skills and help others develop their own.
Building a following
Ratcliffe started Hooked on a Good Yarn last fall, inspired by her own love of knitting and the hope of finding others who share an appreciation for fiber arts.
Since its launch, attendance has been modest but promising. At the most recent gathering on Feb. 28, seven members took their seats, some returning, others just getting started.
As word spreads, Ratcliffe remains optimistic that the group will grow and become a regular fixture in the county.
“A lot of these community events, you know, you really just kind of put them on the schedule, and then people start coming after a few months,” she said. “People like the idea, but they have to kind of get it on their schedule, get it in their minds, so I think it will take off.”
The group’s informal, welcoming atmosphere makes it easy for anyone to join. Even those who arrive empty-handed can start crafting, as Ratcliffe ensures materials are always available.
“I think (attendees) should expect to laugh, enjoy themselves,” Ratcliffe said. “And like I said, you can just come because you’re curious, and we’ll teach you the basics; we’ll put a knitting needle in your hand and get you started on the path.”
As the group continues to weave itself into Oglethorpe County, Ratcliffe hopes to introduce special projects and collaborations, inviting members to teach at the library’s summer reading program or connect with other fiber craft groups.
“I think that anything that allows people to come together in the same room of different ages, skill sets, backgrounds, I think that's a really wonderful thing,” Ratcliffe said. “And, you know, something that we need more than ever because it’s just not the same on the computer, on the phone.”