Gwen welcoming winter

We would like to welcome Gwen T to our fabulous knitting circle. We have had a lull in the knitting group attendance, but now that cold weather is coming and we have new enthusiasm, attendance is picking up again.



Knitting finished project interview:

1)What project did you just finish?
I just finished my 2nd scarf.

2)how long have you been knitting or crocheting?
I have been knitting for 2 weeks.

3)who taught you how to knit or crochet?
Nathalie and Allison taught me to knit.

4)how does knitting and crocheting help you in your recovery?
From the beginning, knitting was very therapeutic. It keeps me grounded and focused as well. This weekend was the worst weekend I have had since coming to CHANCES and knitting kept me from going back out there and using. I was having strong thoughts of using and if it hadn’t been for knitting I would have gone out there. I couldn’t wait to get back here to CHANCES to be in my group. The scarf that I made may not be the best and there may be holes in it, but this scarf is very meaningful to me because it kept me from going out there this weekend. It is a great coping skill for me.

5)what is knitting and crocheting like at CHANCES?
It is great and therapeutic. I can stay in a conversation and continue talking to people even though I am knitting. I love it.

6)what would you tell someone who is in recovery and wants to knit or crochet?
TO KNIT! I would tell them to bring the whole family, have everyone come knit. It is great and at the end you have a beautiful outcome.

7)anything else you want to add?
I LOVE KNITTING! I am the biggest fan of knitting!

Spring cleaning in July

Hey Everyone! It's been a while!

HOT Summer+wool=time to recharge our knitting fire!

Thanks to a generous donation of beautiful yarn and needles, we took this opportunity to do some spring cleaning....just a few weeks late. Nathalie and Allison spent all afternoon untangling and winding skeins of yarn and this week, we can boast about increased attendance despite the summer heat.

We have been on a baby blanket boom with over 6 blankets completed! There will be lots of warm babies in the fall! Next in line, we plan on coming together and learning the granny stitch through reading, video, websites and any of you who want to step in and teach us!



Knitting insight for today: When you have lost motivation to continue on the road or project, sometimes you just need a push from supportive people in your life and you can reignite the creative juices and find the will to journey on.

Another Completed Project!

Yes another completed project to report! As always, we interviewed our newest creator of the next completed project.

Introducing Sheron Y.

1)What project did you just finish?
I just completed a purse/clutch. It took me about 4 days to complete this project.

2)How long have you been knitting or crocheting?
I have been knitting for about 2 weeks.

3)Who taught you how to knit or crochet?
Nathalie and Allison taught me how to knit in this group!

4)How does knitting and crocheting help you in your recovery?
It helps me relax. It keeps me occupied and it is something that I enjoy doing.

5)What is knitting and crocheting like at CHANCES?
I like it. I think it is a good group that we have here. It keeps me from going out and wanting a cigarette right after group. It also relaxes me after a day of treatment.

6)What would you tell someone who is in recovery and wants to knit or crochet?
I would tell them that it is relaxing. I would tell them that it helps when you have something on your mind and when you knit, it takes it away. I realized that I don’t want to watch TV when I knit, which helps in the house that I live in.

7)Anything else you want to add?
It is fun! I like it so much and I really enjoy knitting every day!

Welcome New Knitters

The knitting bug continues to go around CHANCES as 2 new knitters decided to join us this week. Sometimes learning new things is an overwhelming process that makes you depend on your teachers. They are not knitting sweaters yet, but they have learned how to cast on. Just like in recovery, you have to take it one day at a time. You start one day thinking that casting on is the hardest thing to do and you end up wearing your knitted creations!

Our first completed project interview

We have our first completed project interview! Whenever one of us completes a project, we will ask them a few questions about their project and knitting in recovery. so here is our first completed project interview:

Introducing Vanessa R!

1)What project did you just finish?
I just finished a blanket for my baby granddaughter. It took me about a month to complete it.

2)how long have you been knitting or crocheting?
I have been crocheting for 30 years. I never learned how to knit.

3)who taught you how to knit or crochet?
I was working at a daycare at the time. My co-worker at the time taught me how to crochet.

4)how does knitting and crocheting help you in your recovery?
Crocheting is a big help in my recovery. It calms me down when I am upset. It also gives me something to do besides getting high!

5)what is knitting and crocheting like at CHANCES?
I love crocheting at CHANCES. It gives me something to do Wednesday after groups. I also really like fellowshipping with my peers at CHANCES. It gives me a perfect opportunity to do both!

6)what would you tell someone who is in recovery and wants to knit or crochet?
I would tell them that they should come to our group or learned how to crochet or knit. It is a good experience and it also helps you stay clean, which is the most important thing!

7)anything else you want to add?
I love to crochet!

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

This winter has been tough here at CHANCES and Philadelphia! We had record snowfalls this winter! As we are thawing out from this winter and the sun is beginning to shine, our discussion during the knitting group focused on how to continue knitting or crocheting into spring. Some women have not completed winter projects so they will continue to work on them but are eager to begin spring and summer projects. For those who are new to knitting or crocheting, the natural question arose….”can you knit or crochet in the spring?”

Our answer is yes you can! Whether you prepare for next year’s cold weather or you make loose and flowy spring and summer fashions, the important thing is that you continue the process, use your hands, and get through any kind of warm weather blues.

Anything you would like to see Chances knitting work on? Do you have thoughts on using wool in warm weather?

Hello and welcome to our little knitting community

Chancesknitting was started by 2 excited therapists, Nathalie and Allison, who have found knitting to be a great coping skill for getting through hard times. Nat and Alli who work together at a program for women in recovery from substance abuse disorders decided to bring the joy of knitting to the recovery community.
Chancesknitting believes that through the creative process, support from peers and working with your hands, you can surmount any obstacle including the trauma of addiction and its components. Join us in our journey through recovery as we knit (or crochet) our way to a better life!