Things to do · Arts and crafts
Join a knitting or crochet group
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A knit and natter group is a cup of tea, conversation and a project on your needles, and many meet free in libraries and cafés. Guilds on both sides of the Atlantic run local branches, teach beginners and share free how-to guides.
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What it's really like
A typical library group is two hours of knitting, a cuppa and conversation: Staffordshire's Norton Canes library describes its Friday afternoon knit and natter as free, as long as you bring your own knitting. The Knitting & Crochet Guild, a UK charity run by volunteers, has branches that meet regularly and points to local knit and natter groups too.
Getting started costs little. AARP's guide says all you need is yarn and a pair of needles, and that the idea knitting is hard is wrong. The Craft Yarn Council's Learning Center and the Guild's downloadable Start to Crochet guide teach the first stitches.
Knitting or crochet?
| Knitting | Crochet | |
|---|---|---|
| Tools | A pair of needles | One hook; a basic set covers most projects |
| How stitches work | Stitches pass from one needle to the other | No transferring of stitches between tools |
| Who it suits | People who want more tools and more complex designs | Beginners who want convenience; called slightly more accessible |
The comparison is from a Martha Stewart guide. Joining a guild is optional: the Crochet Guild of America is $35 a year digital or $40 traditional, and US guilds such as The Knitting Guild Association have local chapters across the country.
How to start
- Ask your library about a knit and natter group, or find a branch through the Knitting & Crochet Guild (UK) or a guild chapter (US).
- Pick up a pair of needles or a crochet hook and some yarn, or learn from a free guide first.
- Bring a simple project to the group and ask for help with the next step.
Where to go
- Knitting & Crochet Guild: branches, groups and learning UK
- Craft Yarn Council: knit and crochet guilds and groups US
- Crochet Guild of America: join and find a chapter US
We opened these links on 7 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. A habit needs a fixed slot in the week more than a plan, so the planner gives it one and checks in gently.
Questions people ask
Where can I find a knitting group near me?
Ask your library, many of which run free knit and natter groups, or use the Knitting & Crochet Guild's list of branches in the UK and guild chapters in the US.
Is crochet easier than knitting?
One guide suggests crochet for beginners who want convenience and versatility, calling it slightly more accessible, because you use one hook and do not pass stitches between tools.
What do I need to start knitting?
Yarn and a pair of needles. AARP's guide says you can use expensive or inexpensive materials.
Are knitting groups free?
Many are. Library knit and natter groups are often free: you just bring your own knitting.
Where this comes from: Knitting & Crochet Guild, Sharing; Knitting & Crochet Guild, home page; Knitting & Crochet Guild, Learn to crochet; Staffordshire County Council, Norton Canes library knit and natter; Craft Yarn Council, Guilds and groups; Craft Yarn Council, Learning Center; Crochet Guild of America, Join CGOA; AARP, How to get started knitting (2019); Martha Stewart (via Yahoo Life), Knitting versus crocheting (2019). Opened 7 November 2026.
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