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By SUZANNE LACKEY
Shaw News Service
Kane County Chronicle
Thursday, June 23rd, 2005
A passion for knitting needles and a ball of yarn brought together knitters
old and young together Wednesday on the old Kane County Courthouse lawn.
More than 60 knitters came out for the Knitout to sit with other knitters,
talk and enjoy the warm weather. The new event was part of Geneva's annual
Swedish Days festival, which continues through Sunday.
Geneva resident Mollie McDonald, 7, spent her time making a bright pink belt
for a friend's birthday present. She said she has been knitting for six months
and would be able to finish the project in a couple of hours.
"I like when I'm done because I can look at it and wear it," McDonald said.
After finishing, McDonald said she wanted to "go on the rides."
Newcomer to the festival, Vera Littlejohn, 79, said shopping in downtown
Geneva was on her list of things to do during the festival after she finished at
the knitting event.
Littlejohn moved to Elburn in November and said she was excited to hear about
both Geneva's Swedish heritage and the six-day festival the town has to
celebrate that history.
This is the 56th year that Geneva's downtown is filled with food, music and
carnival rides. More than 250,000 visitors and residents are expected to attend
the festival.
Littlejohn comes from a Swedish family and was happy to see the Swedish flags
flying on Main Street. She said she was impressed with the size and length of
the festival and plans to brag about it to some of her Swedish friends living in
Texas and California.
"This Knitout is a lovely idea," Littlejohn said.
"I just wanted to get together with other knitters," Littlejohn said. "It's
just a valuable thing to do with out getting too physical."
Lesley Edmondson, owner of Wool and Company, which sponsored the event, said
the goal of the event was for the knitters to enjoy themselves and meet other
knitters.
Besides socializing and knitting, the event had prizes and games including a
fastest knitter and fastest crocheter contest, Edmondson said.
"Knitting is really of interest to all kinds of people and all ages, so it's
just fun for us all to get together and knit," Edmondson said.
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