If you walk past the Dixville Art Studio at 2:00 on a Tuesday afternoon, you’ll see a group sitting around a table with yarn spilling out of bags and colorful works in progress laid out on workspaces – all accompanied by the sounds of needles clacking and casual conversation. This is the home of RiverWoods Exeter’s Good Yarn Knitters.
The Good Yarn Knitters has been around almost since the founding of RiverWoods in 1994. The name The Good Yarn Knitters came about in 2013 to highlight the goal of the group, which was to knit goods for local charities. Today, the group still donates items that its members create but is also open to anyone looking to knit or crochet personal projects.
Some of the items the group knits for donations include hats, “chemo caps,” stoles or shawls, lap rugs, and baby booties. Members keep their finished items in the studio’s cupboards, where they wait to be sent off to local charities. One of the organizations the group has recently partnered with is Exeter Hospital. Members check in regularly with the hospital to see what is needed. In fact, in the last two months alone they’ve made two donation drop-offs for patients. Hospital representatives are grateful for the deliveries and for the comfort the items bring their patients.
The Good Yarn Knitters accepts gifts of yarn to help fund its charitable projects. The knitters take part in the annual Holiday Art and Craft Fair, where RiverWoods Exeter residents and staff can sell their goods. The knitters use the funds they raise from selling their products at the fair towards places such as Seacoast Family Promise (a non-profit in Exeter, NH that provides temporary housing, food, and shelter to families in need) and Second Generation (a thrift store in Greenland, NH that takes donations to support emergency shelter for women and children).
At times, the group also makes shawls and lap rugs for residents living in the RiverWoods health care lodges. When one member made a shawl for her husband who was living in the lodge at the Woods, other residents asked where they could get one as well. So, RiverWoods gave funds to the group to make additional shawls for residents across all three health care lodges. They were a hit! The group received a number of grateful responses for their work and for the comfort the shawls provided.
The name Good Yarn Knitters is certainly a fitting one. These individuals loop and purl simple thread into something that makes a big difference in people’s lives. This knitting group isn’t just about making products with your hands; it’s about being part of something that feels good, does good, and brings people together.
More people are discovering that knitting together offers the perfect blend of creativity, connection, and purpose. Regardless of skill level, a group provides an opportunity to gather, chat, and build friendships, helping participants feel engaged and part of a community. Creatively, knitting groups spark inspiration and motivation, as members share patterns, techniques, and ideas while learning from one another. The steady, hands-on nature of knitting encourages mindfulness and focus, making it both relaxing and rewarding.
The Good Yarn Knitters accepts new members year-round. Joining as a member is a great way to make friends quickly as a new resident. If you have a skill for knitting or want to learn how to knit, this just might be the group for you, so be sure to stop in at the Dixville Art Studio on Tuesdays at 2 PM.
RiverWoods Exeter Community Life
Life at RiverWoods is built on the idea that residents are citizens, not just occupants. Across our communities, residents contribute their time, talents, and leadership through committees and initiatives that help guide community life. This spirit of engagement creates a culture of purpose, connection, and shared ownership.
Learn more about community life here: https://riverwoodsnh.org/exeter/lifestyle/community-life/