Courthouse Knitters
May12, 2022

“I like eating the snacks!” said fifth grader, Maggie Patrick, about the Tuesday afterschool
knitting group she’s been attending at the Historic Salem Courthouse. Her twin sister, Lauren, says it
is exciting to learn something new each time. Since October, four enthusiastic beginning knitters
have been crossing the road from Salem School to join four experienced knitters (well, one does
crochet) headed up by Salem resident, Priscilla Cutler. They knit, nibble, talk and learn together for
about an hour each week. On Tuesday, May 10, they enjoyed an end of the year celebration,
complete with certificates, their moms, brand new skeins of yarn and, of course, delicious
refreshments.
Priscilla started knitting with her grandmother when she was five years old. She joined the
knitting group at the library when she moved to Salem two years ago. Volunteering is not new to
her. She and her husband, Gerry, have traveled extensively assisting with disaster relief through
Samaritan’s Purse. When she agreed to start a knitting group for kids, she invited her library
knitting buddies, Debbie DeSacia, Sherry Messier and Kathy Waite to help. They’ve taught the girls
the basic stitches, how to read patterns and helped them finish several projects. The young knitters
have taken to their new craft so much that they all plan to return next year to help coach the new
class of beginners. Anna Foster said she is surprised at how much she has learned and she thinks it
would be fun if they taught their teachers at school how to knit!
The fifth graders’ moms received congratulations too. The knitting coaches were very
impressed by how supportive the group has been of each other, how well they worked together and
how quickly they caught on to knitting. Each girl liked something different about learning to knit.
Savannah Kenyon said casting on is her favorite part. Starting something new is always an
adventure and this group is ready for any challenge.
The Historic Salem Courthouse hosts a variety of opportunities for children in addition to the
afterschool knitting group. For instance, Girls on the Run, an empowerment and exercise program,
is in full swing now and the highly popular Lunch, Learn & Play camp will return this summer.
Photo below: Celebrating Knitting together at The Historic Salem Courthouse
Back row from left: Priscilla Cutler, Debbie DeSacia, Anna Foster, Savannah Kenyon, Kathy
Waite
Front row from left: Lauren Patrick, Maggie Patrick
Not shown: Sherry Messier