Youth can get crafty at new Stitch Club forming at Bucyrus Public Library

Galion Public Library is staring a Youth Stitch Club for children and teenagers.

The first meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23. Meetings will be held every fourth Tuesday of the month.

Youth Services librarian Alexis Ferguson said she, being a crafter herself and having seen other libraries initiate such groups, came up with the idea for Galion to help younger people develop their talents.

“I know that kids also love to do this kind of things,” Ferguson said.

She said although the group is intended for children of all ages, it is primarily geared toward the participants ages 5-18.

The activities will include knitting, sawing, quilting and other fiber arts and crafts. Participants at any skill level are welcome to work on projects or just attend to learn how to make certain crafts.

“If they do not know how to do something we will help teach them” the library posted on its Facebook page.

Participants working on specific projects are expected to take their own supplies. The library will have some supplies for those coming to learn certain crafts. Library supplies will include fabric, needles, crochet hooks, yarn and others.

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Meetings are planned to last for about 1 1/2 hours. The library is planning for five to 10 participants, and will be able to welcome more if needed. The club is free.

In addition to learning new skills and interacting with other people their age with similar interests, Ferguson said the youth will get a chance to learn about cultural context in which different crafts are used, and the stories associated with them.

“For instance, quilts were used to send the messages during the time of the Underground Railroad,” Ferguson said. “You’ve also got other cultures that may use pottery or other kinds of art forms for messages or to tell stories.”

She said children can learn about their family history through crafts as well by, for example, finding out if their grandparents did any of the crafts or how people in the past procured certain items, such as clothes.

“So, they are learning quite a bit just by learning a craft,” Ferguson said.

This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Galion Public Library launching Youth Stitch Club in January