The West Paris Public Library invites the community to attend a three-part knit and crochet class with Donna Marshall on Sept. 9, 16 and 23 from 1-2:30 p.m. File photo
WEST PARIS — The West Paris Public Library invites the community to join resident and fiber artist Donna Marshall for a three-session class on knit and crochet basics. Classes run in September on the ninth, 16th and 23rd, Saturdays between 1-2:30 p.m.
Marshall grew up watching her own mother knit and crochet but found it difficult to learn from her, as she is right-handed and her mother was left-handed. She built on her skills with the help of home economics classes in school and has really embraced it in recent years.
She said she and friend Elaine Emery, who serves on the library’s advisory board, had discussions on ways to make arts and crafts more accessible to community members and decided the time is right for an introductory knitting class. A few years ago Marshall led an upcycle crochet class at the library.
“My goal with crochet at one point was to repurpose plastic bags into items such as purses, rugs, place mats, & beverage kuzzies to keep plastic out of the waste stream a little longer,” she said. “A lot of people thought my purses were cute. I did teach a class a few years ago at the library how to create plastic yarn & crochet it.
“I still do a little of it. But, making yarn from bread bags & grocery bags to create these items is very time consuming.”
In addition to fiber arts, Marshall also enjoys drawing and inscribing.
“I have experimented with water color & colored pencil but always went back to pencil & paper,” she said. “I also worked for a monument company etching scenes on black polished granite memorial stones. I also did pet monuments for awhile on black granite tiles.”
The library’s director, Brenda Gould, sees it not just as a place to grab a book to read but to gather for events that strengthen community. In addition to musical performances, an adult poetry and history series, seasonal reading recommendations and kids’ story hours, after-school programs provide a safe place for students to spend time and develop new interests.
Marshal is happy to help extend West Paris Public Library’s reach.
“I think we need more events offered in our communities,” she said. “I worry about crafts such as this disappearing. I feel we’re very lucky to have our public library space as a place to pass on these skills.”
Marshall’s class on knit/crochet basics will run for three Saturdays starting on Sept. 9, with each session focused on the process to complete a finished project. The program is free, but participants should bring their own set of needles (size eight-10) and a skein of four-ply yarn.
Please call Gould at 207-674-2004 or email her at librarian@westparislibrary.org for more information.
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