Spinning a Yarn
by Susie Mitchell
This article originally appeared in theWinter 2025-26 issue of Art with Altitude.
It is the first Wednesday of the month on a fall evening in downtown Steamboat Springs and the lights at Off the Beaten Path Bookstore are still burning, later than usual. Tonight, among shelves laden with a kaleidoscope of colored titles, this cherished gathering place is open for Knit Night. It is the third month for this newly founded event and it’s already a staple on the calendar for those seeking connection and creation.
“We’ve decided to make this our new thing every month, go out to eat and then come and knit,” says Christine Russell who has joined the group for the first time with her friend, long-time local Libby Creamer.
Not everyone knits, some crochet and others do needlework, but anything crafty is encouraged. “For me, this time being alone together is a powerful thing,” says Izzy Mumm, head of the bookstore marketing and events who is making these craft-based evenings possible. “I think people have been looking for something like this in town that is free,” she continues. “There are lots of knitting circles, but they are either well established and people don’t know how to go about joining, or they are instruction-based and cost money.”
There is no teacher, but individuals are happy to share tips and lessons learned from their own creative journey. Mistakes don’t matter in here; they make for conversation and laughter. For Libby Creamer, there is celebration in the fact she’s finished a sweater that she jokes has taken her 17 years to complete. Sidetracked by raising a family, working as a librarian put her passion project on hold.
Like most of those in the 10-people strong group, Libby learned to knit from her grandmother as a child. “In college we’d often drink beer and knit instead of partying – but we did that too,” she shares with a smile. Working with wool from her own alpacas, she humbly shares the fact it is even for sale at the bookstore.
There’s something about working with your hands in company that they all say feels grounding, and for some, it is almost rebellious. While the rest of the world swipes and scrolls, this group thumbs through patterns and counts stitches.
“Anytime I’m anxious it helps me to do something with my hands, and it centers me,” says Katerina Lee who is working on a pair of socks. She too learned from her grandmother at an early age.
Mariah Starbuck feels nostalgic sitting around the rustic farmhouse table in the shop’s ground floor where the group is seated. “I remember being signed up by my mom, Donna, for a crochet class in middle school that was held at the bookstore, so it feels good to be here,” she says.
The scent of hot tea accompanies the soft chatter and clicking of needles as baby blankets, sweaters and wall hangings are shaped. There’s talk of yarn and patterns—both of which are available through the store’s eclectic offerings.
For everyone here, it’s the sense of belonging and the gentle reminder that life can be more about presence than productivity.
Elevate the Arts: Grab your knitting needles, crochet hook or embroidery hoop and join the group on the first Wednesday of the month at Off the Beaten Path Bookstore.SM
