Athens is home to many craft-loving locals who enjoy knitting, embroidery, coloring and other creative activities. The West End Ciderhouse, located on 234 W. Washington St., holds a “crafternoon” every second Sunday of the month for those wanting to share their crafting hobby with others.
Stephanie Hayes started hosting these meetings last September and said the group gets about eight crafters every time they meet.
“(It’s) wonderful for a Sunday afternoon,” Hayes said.
Hayes, an Ohio University alumna, moved from Cleveland to Athens in the '80s to study dance and secondary English education, and never left. She said the Ciderhouse is her neighborhood bar as she works in the shipping department at Stewart-MacDonald. She also sits on the board of Ohio Brew Week, which inspired the creation of the "crafternoons."
“A few years ago, my friend and I wanted to have a knit night because the whole point of Brew Week is to foster the small businesses here in our town,” Hayes said. “We got together and decided to get together at the Cider House … a few people suggested that we get together more often.”
Hayes said her favorite craft to busy herself with is knitting, but she also likes to bring her jean jacket to the meetings, which she’s been slowly adding patches to.
Hayes is involved with the knitting group at the Athens Public Library and said many people walk by to say they wish they could join, but they do not know how to knit. She hopes by using the word “craft,” people will be more inclined to include themselves in the group at Ciderhouse.
“Any craft that anyone would want to pursue, be it applique or cross stitch, knitting, crochet, doodling, beading, jewel portrait, anything that you might find yourself being isolated in your home doing by yourself,” Hayes said. “Come here for a few hours. Do it with other people.”
Lindsay DesJardins is a regular of the Ciderhouse "crafternoons" and said the space is not only great for socializing, but also for learning different skills in crafting. She described herself as someone who is not crafty, but said she was given guidance and support from the group to cross-stitch gifts for her family.
“The first time I went, I brought a coloring book, literally an adult coloring book, and colored pencils, and I sat there and colored,” DesJardins said. “I was inspired by all of my fellow crafters to start cross stitching, and now I have moved on to embroidery as well.”
DesJardins has lived in Athens for five years and said she fell in love with the city after a college visit for her daughter. Her daughter ended up going to a different school, but DesJardins moved with her husband and involved herself in the community, joining the Athens County Visitor Bureau Board and serving as chair for the Chamber of Commerce.
DesJardins said the "crafternoons" group reflects a larger attitude of Athens locals.
“Athens in general, for me, is a very safe space to ask questions or anything like that,” DesJardins said. “It’s a very similar group in that regard. It’s a safe learning environment.”
Just as Athens captured her heart, DeJardins said she would invite anyone to the Ciderhouse for a "crafternoon."
“The Ciderhouse is definitely a local kind of establishment where people can come in there and gather … whether it's game night, you know, music, book clubs, crafts,” DesJardins said. “They're open to hosting, and so I think it's so important to have that kind of partner in the community.”
Sarah Kennedy, a manager and bartender at the Ciderhouse, said she loves to see the people who frequent the establishment.
Kennedy said she enjoys seeing the "crafternoon" group come in, and said it makes her want to craft as well. Kennedy likes how the event is labeled as a “no judgment zone” and said anyone could come in to simply doodle without pressure to buy any drinks.
“We get to see a lot of new faces,” Kennedy said. “I feel like people get really cozy. They have a seat over there on the pews, and they just craft out for like two hours. It just feels very casual and comfortable.”
All Bobcats and locals who enjoy crafting or need a space to hang out for an afternoon are welcome to join in the "crafternoons."
