Knit and natter

A woolly hat maybe? Or if you're into knitting socks, they are easily transportable.

I've only been to one knitting group and didn't like it at all (sorry, don't mean to put you off). It wasn't cliquey but the members were a little snobby about 'ordinary' knitters like me, who use whatever yarn is on offer at the local shop. Noses were turned up at anyone daring to use anything which wasn't fresh from the sheep's back.

I shall be interested to see how you get on though, as I know from my knitting magazines that there are many groups and, as you say, they are probably all different. Depends on what you're looking for I guess.

Does your local U3A have a craft group? I joined one, it is very popular not everyone knits and people knit with all kinds of yarn from cheap to homespun alpaca yarn. You could start with making squares for charity just to get into the swing of it again - always a worthy cause and no-one is going to criticise you for that.
One very old member is knitting tiny hats for premature babies, others are doing the most intricate embroidery (wonderful stuff) but all seem extremely nice and friendly.

People bring in yarn they no longer want, patterns and all kinds of craft things and magazines (a good way of decluttering too).

A friend and I went to a Knit & Natter group only once. It was in the café of a department store and all the other members were sitting at tables of 2 or 4 and busily gossiping with each other. There weren't any empty seats where we could join one of those tables so the two of us sat at a table for four, hoping a couple of later arrivals might come and join us. One woman did come over and briefly speak to us but before we'd got beyond opening courtesies, she suddenly said, "oh, here's my friend," as she waved to another person coming in and the two of them went and sat at a table for two some distance away.
I tried to chat to the woman in front of me in the queue at the counter when I went to get a couple of teas but she just outright ignored me. Charitably, I thought maybe she was deaf ....
Never went back!

Oh dear! It's every other week so I'll find something simple and try it at least once to see how it is. Nothing ventured.....Don't think they have knitting/craft at U3A but will check it out.

My experience was at a U3A knit and natter group. Very cliquey and the established members didn't really want to get to know newbies. In fact I found the whole U3A like that. It was a very big U3A, about 1000 members. I've since found a much smaller one I'm hoping to join with a more friendly knit and natter group.

Our Knit and Natter group meets every Wednesday in our local library. It's usually the same group of seven or eight ladies. We are of mixed ages, but mostly retired. I don't knit but crochet instead, and one of the ladies does embroidery. One of the ladies is making squares for a blanket so you don't have to take anything elaborate. Go, join in and enjoy the gossip??.

We all take something really easy and do the complicated bits at home as we do so much nattering that we end up making loads of mistakes!
We are a group of about 8 regulars who meet once a week in a wool and fabric shop. We are very friendly to newcomers.

The only knit and natter group I have been to was on one of our cruises.They had it on sea days in one of the bars overlooking the sea.I just took some little hats I was knitting for charity and I knew the pattern off by heart.The emphasis was on the natter and it was a really good way of getting to know fellow passengers.

Greenfinch I did that as well! I crocheted a pink lightweight blanket for a new grandaughter on p and o aurora( i think)

storynanny it must be a P&O thing as I was on the Oriana (I think!)

I went to the knit and knatter group at our local library 3 times before I gave up. I'd wanted to knit and chat, to offer support to people less able to read a pattern than I am and to have some support from the expert knitters. One woman designated herself group leader, insisted we were to knit squares for the local prem baby unit. Week 3 I arrived late having been to the vet with our aged and dying dog. The same woman proceeded to tell me she couldn't "be like you, I'm so much more soft hearted, I couldn't consider putting my dog to sleep". It transpired her soft heartedness meant she'd never had a dog because of the possibilities I was enduring with our much loved old dog.
I'm rather ashamed to say I took my knitting bag home after that and didn't return. Some friends go to a knit and knatter at their local, one evening each week. they have a cracking time and their knitting is improving.

I joined two Knit and Chat groups when I moved to London. One met at the library and one at a local department store but now both meet at the library since the dept store closed.
Both groups were, and are, very friendly and welcoming . I have made several good friends and we do a variety of projects ranging from the ambitious to simple squares for a premature baby unit. Most of us buy our wool from the Internet or the local pound shop .
We also attend any craft exhibitions as a group and just enjoy the outings. If you don't like one group just try another.

I go to a knit and natter group chelseababy. We meet once a month in a local pub. We started off as a group of 5 or 6 but there are about a dozen of us now. Some of us are very experienced knitters and others are just learning and looking for guidance. If one of us is struggling with a pattern, we all try to help sort it out if we can. We're not bothered if you want to knit, crochet, sew or just sit and natter; the more the merrier. I hope you give it a try!

I have recently joined a knitting group held every week at a local farm shop/cafe. Everyone is very friendly and it is a good mixed group of people. People bring other crafts as well depending on what they are working on. Must admit we do far more nattering than anything else and I have learnt quite a bit. So there are good ones out there, and hopefully you will find one you enjoy.

Pleased to see some positive stories. Will certainly try it out soon.

I went to one here when I first moved her in the hope of picking up knitting tips and making new friends. I did neither no-one spoke to me during the four meetings I attended except for the woman who was trying to sell her expensive yarns.

I'm pleased to say the crochet group I joined a couple of years ago is just great. We have a tutor who gives guidance if asked for and a new pattern each week to do if we want to
There are up to 16 in the class. All levels and abilities who work on whatever they want to. Very friendly. A great place to find out what us happening locally. I hope your group is the same for you.

I belong to a monthly Knit and Natter club at our local library, we are shortly coming up to our five year anniversary with the eight founder members still going strong, and new members joining since. Good friendships have been made with lots of chat and helping each other, swaps of yarn and patterns,and small gifts and cards being exchanged at Christmas and birthdays

I've been in a few, i find they work better in smaller towns or villages.
I've moved house and area five times in the last ten years. I found them a great way to feel part of local life and have people to say hello to when out.

A little local wool shop is perhaps more cosy than a John Lewis group. Newer, trendy, wool shops will have less/none acrylic loving knitters. Test a few out.
I find a great icebreaker is to take along a few patterns for "advice" on. Or a couple of knitting magazines if you have any.

Whereas I went to one inside a tiny seaside wool shop where I was considered odd to want at least some wool in my baby yarn. Lots of older, very family orientated countryside ladies who wouldn't dare go near a naked flame in their creations, lovely lovely women.
The shop owner was a man and his poodle! Poodle and owner sat in on the knitting and gossip. Poodle had its own chair in the circle.

The beauty is you don't have to go if you're having a bad day. The ladies will welcome you back next time.

I met one of my closest friends at one. We were the "youngsters" ha ha! at that one because we are under 55.
She is a young widow and struggled with loneliness. The group was just enough contact with new people for her. She can't knit but does fabulous crochet.

We've seen ladies through cancers and other tragic circumstances. It's a time out of family pressures where you can just "be". Pp

At another I met some wonderful church going ladies who then met me outside the church (I mentioned I was paying a first visit ) and introduced me to people. These three women presented me with a St James bible complete with case, to welcome me. I'll never forget their wonderful kind natures. An example I hope I follow.

Despite moving away so many times I've enduring friendships made at knitting groups. We still text and phone.

Our Community Library has two stitching groups. The first one got too big for the meeting room so we started a second one.

They both meet every week, people turn up when they feel like it and we see everyone from accomplished crafters to those just starting. Everyone works on their own projects which cover knitting, crochet and all forms of sewing.

Friendships have been made, encouragement and assistance gladly given, illnesses sympathised with, family troubles shared, charities enriched, tools and materials shared and given away, local news discussed, and, of course, tea, coffee and biscuits partaken.

Oh, and the noise level is very low. ?

I go to two groups each week. One started in local library (meetings room off), first time I went it was so large and unfriendly that I was put off, but did go back. Eventually we could no longer use that room and a few of us met together and approached local pubs. All were delighted to have us daytime. We do not advertise at all, preferring the keep the group quite small. Do not turn away anyone who does find us.
Second group is a Knit for Peace group, and this is by far my favourite. Meets in a local church, and I as a very firm atheist have always been welcomed. Lovely group of people, always willing to encourage and help newbies to knitting/crochet and although anyone can do what they wish, the group also works at sending all sorts of items to charities both at home and abroad. Will also provide the yarn and needles. So, if anyone is looking for a new group to join do look up Knit for Peace on the internet to see if there is a local group.

Did you try an online Community? I would give it a try. There's always useful info that you can get on some of the online communities Chelseababy. Ann's is a good one community.annthegran.com , but there are many out there, good luck.