20 The Courier sun • june 12, 2014 for breaking news visit www.couriersun.com Astoria-based Stitchin’ Queens brings members with a love for crafts together BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO aaltamirano@queenscourier.com @aaltamirano28 An Astoria-based group is knitting together women of all ages from throughout FLEXIBLE DENTURE CENTER IN QUEENS After Flexible, Metal Free, Comfortable, Beautiful Dentures. Do you still wear your dentures from 5 years ago? Are they loose? Slide around and hurt your gums? Are you embarrassed to smile because of the metal hooks in your mouth? Just don’t like how your denture fit, look and feel? Schedule your free Consultation today. Most insurances are accepted FREE PARKING 101-49 Woodhaven Blvd., Queens, NY 11416 718.865.8111 • www.citidental.com Flexible Denture Center of Queens has a solution: Queens who share a love for crafts. Stitchin’ Queens is a knitting, crochet, needlework and general craft group that gets together every two weeks at the Astoria Panera Bread, located at 38-01 35th Ave., to practice the craft, eat and socialize. The group originally began in 2007 under a different name and in 2012 Danielle Burger, who was a member of the group since it started, took over and changed the name. Since then, Burger has started to advertise the group and establish a Facebook presence as well, in order to attract new members. “I really enjoyed the group because you get to meet other people you wouldn’t otherwise meet,” said Burger, who moved to Rego Park from Astoria in 2008. “It’s not a place to come and put your head down and just knit or crochet. It’s a social experience.” Burger has also created a group on Ravelery.com, a website for knitters, crocheters, designers, spinners, weavers and dyers to share information and research projects, patterns and much more. Stitchin’ Queens, which varies in the number of members because some move or can’t make meetings, according to Burger, not only brings together people who share the same love for the craft but also opens doors for members to socialize and learn from each other. Cheryl Pasternack, 67, from Kew Gardens has been involved in Stitchin’ Queens since 2008 and found it to be a great outlet to pick up knitting once again since stopping in her college years. “I wanted to start knitting again and I knew that unless I got involved in a group I wouldn’t do it,” said Pasternack, who is currently knitting a sweater and hat for her nephew who will be born in August. “I am older than most of the people in the group and I find that it is amazing because it opened a whole new world for me.” Pasternack said the group members have helped her develop the skill being left-handed and also help her whenever she has issues with technology. “I really look forward to it,” she said. “We don’t only knit, people talk about their lives, movies, TV shows. It opens up something that I don’t usually have access to. It’s really fascinating.” Astoria resident Franchesca Bisignano, 26, has been knitting for the past three years and says she likes the environment of getting together with the members of Stitchin’ Queens and attends the meetings for the social aspect. “You get to interact and see what other people are working on,” Bisignano said. “It’s a great way to get ideas on new projects. It’s just amazing — the spectrum of women that you meet is so broad and its women that I wouldn’t have met otherwise. We get along so well, we have the same characteristics.” The next Stitchin’ Queens meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 18. For more information visit www.facebook.com/ stitchin.queens. Danielle Burger knitted a sweater for her mom’s dog, Lilly Photo by Jaime Burger
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