BUTLER TWP — Those interested in textile-based crafts or learning a unique hobby that will serve to keep them warm and toasty in the winter should plan to attend the Butler Machine Knitters Open House on Sept. 9.

The club stores two knitting machines at Christ Community United Methodist Church on North Duffy Road, which they pull out at 10 a.m. every third Thursday to use during club meetings.

Most of the 15, or so, club members have multiple knitting machines of widely varying capabilities.

Like knitting needles, some machines are meant for very fine yarn while others are made to accommodate medium or bulky yarn.

Machines also differ based on whether the desired pattern is entered manually, with a punch card or even electronically. All the machines are operated by hand.

The ladies in the club share one main reason for favoring the machines over knitting needles.

“It’s quicker,” said Jackie Huff, of Penn Township, who is one of two original club founders remaining. “You can make a hat in 20 minutes.”

Huff makes tall, narrow knitted wall hangings for her grandchildren that include their name, the year they graduated high school, their high school activities and achievements, school name, and even the graduate’s likeness using a photograph Huff downloads into her electronic knitting machine.

“It’s a work of love,” said Huff, who owns eight knitting machines. “You couldn’t sell anything like this.”

Huff said while new punch card machines cost around $1,100 and electronic machines will run about $1,500, many machines are available used.

“People buy them and don’t use them and put them under the bed,” she said.

Others end up with knitting machines owned by their mothers or aunts.

“It was Great-Aunt Lucy’s, and they don’t want to throw it away because it was Great-Aunt Lucy’s,” said club founding member Ruth Schnell.

Darlene Tolman said she got two knitting machines free.

“It can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be,” Tolman said.

Another expense is yarn for the machines, which are purchased online in 1-pound “cones.”

“When I started, yarn was $5 to $6 per pound,” said club member Sara Wood. “Now, they are $20 to $25 a pound.’

Wood visited a cotton mill in Georgia a handful of years ago and picked up a 5-pound cone, which she still uses, mainly to make dishcloths.

Many members save money by purchasing shirts from secondhand stores, like Goodwill, to harvest the buttons.

Schnell makes all manner of knitted products using her machines, then sells them at the annual Penn’s Colony Festival in Clinton Township.

The most popular items at her booth are her thick, soft sweater coats, but she makes various items all year to sell at Penn’s Colony.

Schnell said she takes a pickup truckload of knitted items to the venue each year.

“I can only do one big show per year,” said Schnell, 83. “I have a family and all that other stuff I have to do.”

Jennifer Lis is a spinner who creates yarn from the fur of sheep and even rabbits.

She saw a knitting machine demonstrated at a fabric shop many years ago. The woman offered her lessons, and the rest is history.

“You really need support,” Lis said of learning to use a knitting machine. “There is a steep learning curve, and this is what the club is good for.”

She makes socks, caps, mittens and dishcloths with her machine.

“The club is trying to get me to expand to sweaters,” said Lis, who has three machines.

Patty Johnson is a fan of creating all sizes, colors and thicknesses of socks on her sock-making machine.

Unlike the other machines, Johnson’s is circular to create the tube shape of the sock. Once complete, the toe of the sock must be sewn closed.

Her husband wears a size 13 shoe, so she frequently makes him socks.

“We could make them for Shaquille O’Neal or newborn babies,” Johnson said. “There is nothing better than the feel of sock yarn.”

She said during World War I, women were given sock-knitting machines and told they could keep them as long as they cranked out at least 30 pairs per month to supply the boys overseas.

Eleanor Hendler, of McCandless Township, Allegheny County, is another longtime member of the knitting club.

Hendler, 103, drove herself to Christ Community United Methodist Church last week, mainly to deliver the 38 baby blankets she made for the club’s annual “challenge,” which is making small blankets to be delivered to area hospitals for their smallest patients.

She learned to knit with needles at age 8, when she mainly made clothing for her baby dolls.

“Knitting machines are so much faster than hand knitting,” Hendler said.

She summed up the thoughts of all members of the Butler Machine Knitters who attend monthly meetings.

“I love the fellowship with these lovely ladies, and I always learn something,” Hendler said.

TO KNOW

WHO: Butler County Machine Knitters Club

WHAT: Open house and demonstration

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9

WHERE: Christ Community United Church, 205 N. Duffy Rd., Butler

ADMISSION: Free

INFORMATION: Club members will demonstrate making a variety of items on knitting machines. A “make and take” item also will be available to those who attend. Many sweaters, hats, sweater coats, scarves, shawls, blankets and other pieces will be on display to display the capabilities of a knitting machine.