New generation knitting to relieve stress

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- It was a girls night out -- a bring your own yarn kind of party.

"We have provided a place for lots of people to come and learn and have a good time," Shirley Snow, co-owner of Knit One Smock Too, said.

After a busy day at work, Knit One Smock Too in Winston-Salem has become a place for so many to unwind through knitting, crocheting, and other forms of needlework.

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"It's very relaxing. It's stress relieving and then you have the camaraderie of the other women that are here with you in the evening," Christie Bongel said.

Bongel's grandmother taught her to crochet when she was 8 years old, but she dropped it for a while.

"It wasn't cool to do when you were in high school," she said.

She picked it up again in college.

After moving to the area from Wisconsin, she found Knit One Smock Too.

Bongel says it has been a great outlet from the demands of her job in the medical field.

"There are a ton of young knitters and crocheters. Several of my co-workers who are younger than I am are crocheting and quilting," she said.

A recent survey by The Craft Yarn Council estimates that 53 percent of people surveyed ages 18 to 34 crochet or knit daily.

The women in the group represent all ages, but shop owners have noticed a fair amount of women in their 20s and 30s.

"In the smocking [class], we have lots of young mothers who do that," co-owner Martha Neely said.

"It's not just women. It's not just the elderly. It's young people and young men," Sandi Layell said.

Layell has been going to the Winston-Salem shop for 17 years.

Her son, a sophomore in college, knits to relax.

"And he's a big guy. He's like 6' 2", 200 pounds and he'll take his knitting everywhere. He has sparked interest among some of his peers to do the same thing," she said.

The classes and workshops are not just for adults.

Knit One Smock Too also has programs for children.

The youngest age is usually around 8 years old.

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