Rancho Murieta Kiwanis

Knitting Club

On any Wednesday you can visit the Kiwanis Knitting Club at Cosumnes River Elementary School (CRES). There are 17 in the club conducted by Bronwyn Anthony and Pamela Haines.

Interview by The Kiwanis Kronicle (KK): Bronwyn, why do you do this?

Pamela Haines and I both enjoy teaching youngsters to learn a hobby which they can enjoy for a lifetime.

• It is a ‘low tech’ activity, very portable, relaxing, and relatively inexpensive.
• “It provides children with an opportunity to give to others with their first project which is making a preemie hat for babies in a Special Care Nursery at Sutter Memorial Hospital.
• Young knitters are using a variety of hand looms (rudimentary “knitting machines” which work on the principle of winding yarn around pegs and lifting bottom loops over top loops) knitting spools and they will also learn to use knitting needles.
• “Children learn to see a project through from start to finish, practice hand-eye coordination, patience, perseverance and problem-solving”.

KK: “How long have you been doing this?”

• “We started our first Kiwanis sponsored Knitting club at CRES in the spring of 2006. We took a break last year due to school construction.”

KK: “What satisfaction do you see the students getting from that project?”

• “The children really enjoy using their hands to make hats and scarves and belts, purses and other items such as pom-poms pocket toys with knitted cord. One girl is sharing what she’s learned in Knitting Club with her mother.
• Pamela and I enjoy so much seeing the delight and pride in children’s eyes as they try and then succeed in learning this new skill.”