Armed with needles and hooks, a new generation of fiber artists is taking on the craft of knitting and crocheting.

Laura Benes, 37, was hooked after taking a knitting class.

"We had just moved back to Monroe. I was pregnant at the time and needed something to do so I took a one-on-one class with Connie Buick, the owner of Lake Erie Mercantile. Most people start out making a dish cloth or scarf. I wanted to make something for my daughter so I made a cabled poncho," Laura Benes said.

In time, Benes started working at the Telegraph Road shop which specializes in fabrics and yarns.

She later bought the yarn section of the business from Buick and named it Knit-Picky & Hooked.

In a post on www.lakeeriemercantile.com, Benes describes herself as a wife, mother and lover of all things yarn and yarn-related. Information about Benes and her business can be found on the website.

Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the modest shop at 15555 S. Telegraph Road offers a variety of yarns, hooks, needles, kits, pattern books and notions.

“We have a variety of yarns. With acrylic and nylon blends, you can make just about anything. Nylon and wool yarns are great for making socks,” Benes said. “We’re currently building a line of yarns for those that may be wool sensitive.”

Benes, a Monroe resident, offers knitting and crocheting help to anyone interested in learning. Classes and drop-in sessions are available.

Knitting uses a pair of long needles to create loops which are then moved from one needle to another and the stitches are held on the needle. Crocheting requires a hook that directly connects loops together one stitch at a time. Generally, crochet uses more yarn than knitting.

“Our drop-in sessions are offered on Mondays from noon to 7 p.m. Customers pay $5 and get help on a project on which they are working. This is a great opportunity to get help with a new project or when a stitch has been dropped and they need a little help fixing it,” she said.

Anyone requiring more instruction may consider opting for a private class.

On a recent Monday drop-in session, Anna Maiden stopped in to work on a teal dishcloth she was knitting. The Monroe resident started knitting at age 7 and learned how to crochet when she was a junior in high school.

Flat Rock resident Becky Finch and Lori Bully of Woodhaven each worked on a crochet project creating a Granny Stripe blanket in hues of blues and grays.

Bully said she enjoys both knitting and crocheting. Her grandmother taught her to knit when she was 8.

Along with blankets and items to wear, Bully has made baskets and fall decorations. During the fall season, she crocheted more than 40 mini pumpkins and gave several away as gifts to family and friends.

Although many of her customers are adults, Benes said she does work with younger patrons and more men are getting interested in the hobby.

“Many of my customers are 40 and older. Knitting seems to be a bit more popular than crocheting," she said. “But there are some luxury products and crocheters are using more hand-dyed yarn and creating some exquisite pieces.”

Projects like baskets and amigurumi, the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small, stuffed animals, are also popular with fiber artists.

Benes said there are many activities to choose from when it comes to knitting and crocheting. From blankets and baskets to sweaters and socks, samples of projects are displayed throughout the shop.

Knit-Picky & Hooked

Owner: Laura Benes of Monroe

Address: 15555 S. Telegraph Road

Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday

Services: Offering a variety of yarns, hooks, needles, kits, pattern books and notions. Classes and drop-in sessions available for a nominal fee.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/knittedfever

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Fiber arts resource | Knit-Picky & Hooked caters to knitters, crocheters