Shepherdstown residents Kathryn Armstrong, right, helps her eight-year-old daughter, Lillian, with her knitting at the “Learn to Knit for Kids and Parents” in the Shepherdstown Public Library earlier this month. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — For many years, Susan Wolcott owned a yarn shop for 15 years in Shepherdstown, from which she shared her expertise in the textile arts. She eventually sold that shop, Yarnability, to another textile art enthusiast, who has since moved it to a storefront in Harpers Ferry.

Her decision to leave her days as a shopkeeper behind was related to her desire to pursue other career interests — it had nothing to do with a diminished love for the textile arts. In fact, her desire to share her love for knitting, in particular, remained so strong that she decided to spend three days at the end of February and beginning of March, offering free knitting classes at the Shepherdstown Public Library. She taught two classes for adults and one class for adults and their children or grandchildren.

“It’s time for another generation of knitters to be born,” Wolcott said. “Knitting isn’t for everybody, but you’ll never know if it’s the right thing for you, unless you try!”

Wolcott said she taught at least one person how to knit every week, during her 15 years of owning Yarnability — more than 780 people. She found that to be the most rewarding aspect of owning the business.

“For some people, knitting can become a very meaningful part of their lives,” Wolcott said. “My mother taught me how to knit, and it is something that I love to share with others.”

Boonsboro, Md. resident Julie Hamilton, left, works on some knitting as her 10-year-old granddaughter, Ruby Reese, learns how to knit with the help of Shepherdstown resident Susan Wolcott, in the Shepherdstown Public Library earlier this month. Tabitha Johnston

She noted that the classes at the library were made possible, thanks to a thoughtful donation.

“Somebody donated a bunch of [knitting] stuff, which made it possible to do this for free,” Wolcott said. “That’s a great thing to have available, for someone who wants to learn something new — they don’t have to invest anything to try it. Certainly, with children, you don’t want to have to invest a lot!

Boonsboro, Md. resident Julie Hamilton came to Wolcott’s “Learn to Knit for Kids and Parents” workshop with her 10-year-old granddaughter, Ruby Reese, earlier this month. For Hamilton, the experience was a wonderful way to spend some time with her granddaughter, who lives in Shephredstown.

“It’s a really neat way to spend time together!” Hamilton said. “I used to knit, about 40 years ago. She told me that it would come back to me, with a little practice, and it has.”

Across the room, Shepherdstown resident Kathryn Armstrong worked with her eight-year-old, Lillian, to knit a square.

Shepherdstown resident Susan Wolcott, standing, teaches children and parents how to knit at a class in the Shepherdstown Public Library earlier this month. Tabitha Johnston

“Lillian crochets, so I signed her up for this class, thinking she might enjoy learning a different form of working with yarn,” Armstrong said, mentioning her daughter learned how to crochet from herself and a class at camp. “Knitting was something my grandmother did with me, for years, so it was something really nostalgic to share with my daughter. It’s a wonderful thing to be able to do together.”