Each Tuesday night,knitters of all ages gather at Compatto Yarn Salon on Wilshire Boulevard to learn a thing or two about knitting socks.
In the months since Compatto opened its knitting boutique, the store has attracted a strong following, with many customers attending classes several nights a week.
Though it’s technically a sock-knitting class, the gatherings are friendly and casual as the women laugh and knit alongside a spread of cheese and crackers.
The members of this “club,” as some of the women call it, are avid fans of knitting, with some spending up to $200 on a project. They love and appreciate the different colors and materials. They “ooh” and “ahh” as they feel the soft cashmere yarn.
Some even call fancy yarn their “crack.” Lorna Tansey, 49, picked up knitting while a student at UCLA. She recently picked up her knitting needles again after nearly two decades.
“A co-worker of mine mentioned Alpaca yarn and I thought ‘must knit,’” Tansey said.
What she loves about knitting is the fact that she has creative control over what she knits, and the result is usually less expensive and a much better quality than a comparable product found in a store.
Sitting across from Tansey was Eileen Eichenberger, 54, of West Los Angeles, who has been knitting for about one and a half years. Already skilled in other handicrafts, it didn’t take Eichenberger long to advance to socks and more complicated knitting projects.
“Knitting gives me something to do if I’m watching television or waiting for an appointment,” Eichenberger said as she knit a pair of socks. “I love the camaraderie and learning a new craft.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 8, 2007. Read the original PDF.