A quiet craft is making room for lively conversation at men’s knitting groups in New York City. At Cleo’s Yarn Shop in Brooklyn and Knitty City on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, regular meetups give men a place to work on projects, meet others and connect without having to fit a narrow idea of masculinity.
Essential Takeaways
- Two New York meetups: Cleo’s hosts a monthly craft circle, while Knitty City lists a weekly Men’s Night.
- More than a knitting lesson: The gatherings are social occasions centred on people’s own projects, not formal classes.
- A lower-pressure way to connect: Attendees say having something to do with their hands can make conversation feel easier.
- Open to different experience levels: Both shops welcome people to bring projects; Cleo’s event listing says crafters of all levels and people of all genders are welcome.
- The idea travels: Groups and organised retreats offer men opportunities to craft together beyond New York.
A shared project can make conversation easier
At a yarn-shop table, the talk doesn’t have to carry the whole evening. In The Advocate’s account of two New York gatherings, participants described knitting as a gentle social bridge: there’s always a project to focus on, and joining a conversation can be optional.
That ease matters to people who’ve felt wary of knitting because it’s often treated as women’s work. Some of the men interviewed said gender stereotypes had made them hesitate to learn or practise openly. The group setting offers a practical way to try the craft without feeling quite so exposed.
Knitting groups make room for different kinds of belonging
At Knitty City, the men’s gathering began as a way to make the shop feel more inclusive, according to manager Zac Chin. Participants told The Advocate that spending time with other men through a shared hobby can loosen expectations around how men are meant to behave.
For some LGBTQ+ attendees, that’s especially welcome. The appeal isn’t simply being in a group of men; it’s finding a space where connection feels less bound by conventional masculinity. And for people who find an all-men’s group daunting at first, the knitting itself can take some of the pressure off.
What to expect at the New York meetups
Knitty City’s website lists a weekly Men’s Night on Thursday evenings, except the first Thursday of the month, when the shop holds its book club. It describes the gathering as a casual hangout for knitting, crochet or spinning, rather than a class, and says no reservation is needed.
Cleo’s Yarn Shop calls its Bushwick event the Boy’s Night Craft Circle. The shop says it meets on the first Thursday of the month, welcomes people of all experience levels and identities, and requires no sign-up. If you’re thinking of going, check the shops’ current event listings before setting out, as schedules can change.
It’s part craft circle, part social outlet
The Advocate’s interviews suggest that returning to the same table helps people build friendships over time. A participant at Knitty City described the meetup as one of his social outlets; another attendee explained that you can join in, listen, or simply keep working on your project.
There’s broader support for the social side of group knitting, too. A research paper on adult knitters found that respondents often described knitting as a way to connect and start conversations. It also reported differences in some self-described positive feelings among group knitters, while cautioning that these findings don’t prove group knitting caused them.
From shop tables to retreats
New York isn’t the only place where men meet through fibre crafts. SF Men Knit describes its San Francisco group as a regular gathering open to beginners and experienced crafters, while Men’s Knitting Retreats lists longer events that bring participants together for knitting and other fibre arts.
For one New York knitter interviewed by The Advocate, a retreat became his version of a family hunting trip. It’s a neat reminder that a hobby doesn’t need to look traditional to carry the same things people often seek from shared pastimes: time together, a common interest and a place to feel at home.
A welcoming table and a project in hand can be a good place to start.
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