Erica Phillips loves Stitch 'n' Pitch

By Venus Zine Staff
Published: March 25th, 2009 | 12:00am

When pitchers and catchers reported to spring training in mid-February, I started getting that familiar anticipatory feeling that summer was on the way, imagining evenings of slow-moving ball games and crunching peanut shells and - that's right - crochet.

A couple of seasons back, I discovered Stitch 'N' Pitch, a collaborative program between Major League Baseball and The National Needlearts Association. Members in cities nationwide organize special Stitch 'N' Pitch nights at their home field where one section of the stadium is reserved for crocheting, knitting, needle-pointing fans and their friends. The SNP website provides baseball-themed patterns and arranges a mentorship program between advanced crafters and younger up-and-comers.

For crafty baseball fans, this truly is - as they say at Stitch 'N' Pitch - "the perfect double play."

Erica Phillips is a Venus Zine writer.