CANTON -- A group of local knitters who meet weekly at The TAUNY Center are pitching in on a project they will donate to the “TAUNY at 25” Auction in May.

The knitting friends are inviting anyone who would like to knit a square or two. They will host a Knit-a-Thon at The TAUNY Center, 53 Main St., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 19.

As Jody Horwitz, who hosts the group, explains it, “We got the idea of creating a Barn Raising Afghan as a way of contributing to TAUNY’s 25th anniversary efforts from a fun ‘knit-along’ website.”

The website describes the “generous, colorful” Barn Raising Afghan, which can be knit by one to a hundred knitters, as “an explosion of sock yarn.”

“People can come for all or part of the day,” explains Horwitz. “That should be enough time to complete a square for most knitters. We've found that four hours is enough -- or at least get a good start.” There will be plenty of help for beginners.

Some yarn will be available, but knitters should bring their own needles -- a set of five double-pointed needles, size 2. For knitters bringing their own yarn, the pattern calls for sock yarn (also called fingering weight) in any and all colors. “It's a great way to use up scraps of sock yarn,” says Horwitz.

Anyone interested in knitting a square can visit www.TAUNY.org where there is a link to the pattern.

Finished squares may be brought to The TAUNY Center any time before the deadline of Thursday, March 31.

A photo gallery of progress on the afghan will be posted to the website.

The finished afghan will be auctioned at the “TAUNY at 25” Auction on Thursday, May 26, with proceeds benefitting TAUNY.

Donations of North Country art and antiques are being accepted for the auction. For more information contact Kristen Whittier, kristen@tauny.org, 386-4289.