Collegiate Times

Entering the small shop tucked away next to Five Guys with the sign reading ?Mosaic,? two small dogs with curly tails run up to greet customers while women sit at the round wooden table knitting and chatting to sales owner Gina Bonomos. Bonomos paces the floor with her new child as she talks to the circle of knitters and tries to calm the squeamish infant. Walls are lined in shelves of yarn coordinated by color, sparking the imagination of customers. It?s a rarity in the yarn shop business.

?They usually are categorized by brand,? she says. The only ?only? yarn shop in the Montgomery County, Mosaic?s doors opened three and a half years ago to all levels of knitters, supplying a full stock of yarn, needles, classes and company.

Business has steadily grown since its opening, in most part because of the sudden burst of interest in knitting. Bonomos knows this is due to the fact that ?it?s popular right now. So many young people want to knit right now. It?s a little bit more contemporary and I made (the shop) a little less ?grandma?s yarn shop.??

Knitting?s resurgence began soon after the tragedy of the World Trade Towers, as Americans searched an activity to help relieve stress and to ?have something to keep them busy and relax them, since it?s really meditative to knit,? Bonomos said.

Laura Johnston, a senior public and international affairs major, began knitting on a lark one day to fend off boredom. After spending six hours at it, she was hooked. For Johnston, the appeal was not only the rhythmic process of knitting, but also the end product.

?It?s nice to be able to appreciate something that you made and be able to wear it afterwards,? Johnston said. ?It also helps pass the time when you are bored, or traveling.?

Scarves, mittens, and hats are just the beginning of the creative results that can be used as gifts, or for the knitter?s own personal use. The profusion of colors to choose from often inspires knitters to play with the color palette and attend the classes offered every Saturday that teach patterns for shawls, trendy ponchos and other more intricate designs. Beginning at 1:30 p.m., classes range in levels from teaching the basics to beginners to instructing the avid knitter in more advanced patterns.

Whether you?re a novice or a veteran, peak knitting season is here as cold weather drives people indoors.