Across Boulder County, there is an abundance of groups that welcomes knitters, weavers and spinners from beginner to expert levels.

While many are simply focused on gathering people together for the sake of community, some groups focus their efforts on producing hundreds of items for charities each year.

One of Boulder's most popular stops is Shuttles, Spindles & Skeins, Inc., 653 S. Broadway St., in Boulder. It not only provides an array of classes, but their monthly Spin-in and Knit-in group makes hats, mittens, vests and teddy bears for those in need. Roxanna Bartlett, who leads the group, teaches a new technique each month.

"Shuttles is one of the best yarn stores I've seen in the Western U.S.," says Patricia Martinek, member of the Handweavers Guild of Boulder. "They have a quarterly newsletter and give many classes and workshops on knitting."

"Shuttles and Skeins is a knitter's heaven -- though (it can be) overwhelming with too many choices for beginners," says Monica Want, who knits with a group of beginners at Borders Book Store at the 29th Street mall. "Learning with help and an experienced teacher is the most pleasant way to do it. Some people can learn from books, but knitting is so three-dimensional that most do it with live help."

For the ultimate beginner, the Longmont Senior Center welcomes anyone who is interested, as its group of knitters represents a wide range of ability. The group continues to grow with participants currently ranging from ages 19 to 94.

"You don't have to know how to knit and you certainly don't have to be a senior to join us," laughs group leader Becky Williamson, who has been knitting since she was 6 and started the class in September 1999. "I expected this would be a four-week gig at first, but they wanted me to keep the class going, so here we are in 2008 still knitting."

Williamson started with eight women and now has 52 people on the membership rolls, with an average of 36 knitters participating each week. The group knits for charities in the St. Vrain Valley.

In 2007, the group knit 2,434 items for numerous charities such as Life Choice, Holiday Basket Program, St. Vrain Valley Parenting Project, Boulder County Safehouse and Veterans Hospital.

Some people in the group see it as a great social gathering. Within the group are many women from several countries and differing backgrounds, as well as one man who does needlepoint.

"I think it's great," says Louise Sheats, who has been with the group since the beginning. "When he goes out to California, he joins another knitting group of all women and he loves it."

Nieves Franco, from the Philippines, also has been with the group since 1999. She says, "Where I'm from, many people crochet, but there is not much knitting. I believe the group keeps growing because everyone knows everyone and if you don't know how to do something, you can just ask."

Eliana Brewer, 16, of Longmont, who has been crocheting since she was 9, started coming to the Longmont Senior Center with her mother, Janet Brewer, when she got the urge to learn how to knit.

"When Ellie said she wanted to knit, I said, 'well, there's only one place to go,' so I brought her here," says Janet.

For those with more experience, the Handweavers Guild of Boulder, with more than 300 members, provides classes, groups and meetings, puts on events and collaborates with many local businesses involved in the fiber arts community.

"To join any of these groups, I would advise people to join the (Handweavers Guild of Boulder) first, since these are put together through the guild," says Martinek. "The themes are by no means limited to weaving. We have almost as many knitters as we do weavers."