Women take ‘mental health day’ at annual Knit In

The office of city councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown held the 18th annual Knit In at City Hall Thursday, where about a hundred crocheters and knitters gathered to create warm clothes for homeless people.

Sakinah Scott, a volunteer for the councilwoman’s office, spent her morning making sure the knitters had enough elbow room and yarn, while wearing a knitted shark hat with eyes. She jumped at the chance to assist people coming together for the greater good.

Lillian Wilburn, a West Philadelphia crocheter, agrees, but she says the benefit is not limited to helping others, because when she picks up her needles, all her troubles melt away.

Many knitters said that knitting is a form of therapy. Danielle Veltri, a first-time Knit In attendee from South Philadelphia, said that knitting helps her keep her sanity, and Joyce Roby-Washington, who suffers from an auto-immune condition, said knitting helps with her dexterity. She thinks about how the homeless in Philadelphia are far too many.

“Grandma” Greta Shanely and Claudia Blaza are recent graduates from St. Joe’s University. They said that they came to the Knit In because they “needed a mental health day.” They said that love can be felt in any gathering of knitters.