When you think about craft beer, you probably don't think of crafting right alongside it, but a local group, is bringing the two worlds together, one handmade project at a time.

Casual Crafters is all about creativity, connection, and community.

Producer John Branscum shares, how this unique gathering creates real impact.

(water whirling) (water squirting) (rhythmic music) - [John] It's no secret many folks love craft beer, down in Steele Creek, a popular place to sip a pint, is The Casual Pint.

- [Bruce] The Casual Pint's like a community gathering place, we're like the local "Cheers," we like to say, "When you walk in, we know your name."

- [John] Throughout the week, they offer up your typical taproom entertainment.

- We have Trivia on Tuesday nights, live music on Fridays, and karaoke on Friday.

- [John] But come Wednesday evening, that's when things get a bit more crafty than just the craft beer.

- So anyways, you guys, I have this one going.

I'm Sandy Adams, But watch, it's so crazy.

I work in the back of the house here at The Casual Pint.

Tonight I am here as the leader of our Casual Crafters Group, we're talking knitting, crocheting, diamond dot painting, embroidery.

- [John] Adams says, "The inspiration for Casual Crafters came when she learned another crafting group had lost its usual meeting place."

- And it was like, "Well, we could do that, we could have our own little group."

Now, the difference between us and them is, we're drinking wine while we're at it, we're having a little bit of a (laughs) good time.

- [John] The group was exactly what folks like Karen Clark and Tiffany Boberg were looking for.

- We come out, and bring our yarn and our different crafts, and we all have different projects, and we help each other, and socialize, drink.

- There's something about being with people, and there's something about sharing something that you know with someone else, I've been crocheting for 15 years or so, I sit next to someone that's new at it, so I can give her some tips, and I can learn something from someone else.

But it's great to be with people, and not sit and just look at your phone.

- [John] And the added bonus for Tiffany, time with her daughter, Sydney, - It gets her out of the house, it gives her something to do.

she's really good at socializing with all the ladies here too.

- I can just spend time with my mom, and also, it's kind of just like comfortable.

There's a bunch of old ladies here, I mean, [Interviewer] It's a dream.

- and also it's kinda interesting just listening to their like their whole conversations, like, "what?"

Stuff and drama, and stuff, that's really funny.

- [John] Whether a beginner or a pro, everyone here enjoys passing along their skills.

For Adams, that spirit of sharing is deeply tied to her connection with her mother.

- This was something we did together, she was in assisted living towards the end, and she would call me and say, "Oh, I just can't get this right, what am I doing wrong?"

And we'd FaceTime, it kind of was a way for us to connect and stay together.

My mom passed away recently, and this is my way of paying it forward, of teaching what she taught me, and helping people find that creative spark.

- [John] One way she pays it forward.

- I got all of her paraphernalia, all her hooks, all her needles, all her yarn, and that's part of what I use today.

When somebody comes in and they're like, "I don't know, I don't have any materials," they get a hook, they get yarn, they get whatever they need to get going.

(upbeat rhythmic music) - Early on, the ladies of the Casual Crafters knew they wanted to include a bit of community service by creating useful items they could donate.

- The project that we decided to do was a cup holder, and then it's got a strap that goes over an armchair, and then a cell phone holder.

- [John] But to have a bigger impact.

- [Becky] We have The Casual Pint ladies, are here teaching our residents how to crochet.

- [John] They took Casual Crafters on the road to Kempton of Rock Hill.

- They're always having something fun to do, and I wanted to check this out, and it is always good to be learning something new, at my age, (laughs) I just turned 90.

- And some of 'em are new to crochet, and some of them used to crochet, so they're doing something they didn't think they would do before, again, and they're reminiscing, they're laughing, they're just having fun interacting with people, and it's just a lot of fun for them.

- [John] With each chain and stitch, it's obvious here at The Casual Pint, there's something more being crafted.

- Oh my, gosh, I would've never even known any of these ladies.

Like, I wanted to find a group of people, and I found a group of people.

- [John] For Adams, it means even more.

- It's definitely something that I remember doing with my mom, that kind of keeps her a little bit alive for me, especially, now that I'm hoping to carry it on, and teach other people how to do it.

I like to think that mom is here, definitely.

You know, they say that, "They always let you know they're still around."

Mom's finding subtle ways to let me know she's still around, so I really feel her when we're here.

- [John] For "Carolina Impact", I'm John Branscum.