Staff photo / J.T. Whitehouse Knitters and crocheters filter into theater 6 at Tinseltown in Boardman. They are part of the sell-out crowd of 72 who had a private showing of the movie “The Sheep Detectives” Tuesday afternoon at the theater.

BOARDMAN — There are 72 seats in theater 6 at Tinseltown in Boardman and every one of them was filled Tuesday afternoon for a special private showing of the animated movie “The Sheep Detectives.”

The event was put together through the efforts of Linda Shevel, owner of Three Sheep Gallery and Workshop in Boardman.

“This is the first time we’ve held an event like this for the knitting/crocheting community,” Shevel said. “We sold out the 72 seats in the theater.”

She said her shop on Market Street does more than sell sewing supplies and yarn. She said classes and workshops take place at the shop on a regular basis.

“We build a lot of friendships at the store,” she said. “It brings together people from all over the region to connect, make friends, reduce stress, learn new skills and spend time together, in person.”

At Tinseltown, “The Sheep Detectives” had already run its course, but was held over for the special private showing only.

Those attending the event also were asked to try wearing something they made. The women attending did just that and came in a variety of blouses, dresses and shawls.

Denise Kalinowski came with her friend Lorraine Koehler, both of Pittsburgh.

“I made my blouse with yarn from Japan,” Kalinowski said.

Michelle Collins-Sibley of Alliance said she attends the groups at Three Sheep Gallery. She gained the skills needed to make a beautiful shawl she knitted with yarn from the Boardman store.

Not everyone was from the store groups, but as part of what Shevel said of the growing knitting/crocheting community, it was a prime example at the theater with women and men coming from all over Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Susi Ripple of Youngstown is a member of the Western Reserve Knitting Guild. Arlene Miller of Cortland is a member of Sip and Stitch, a group out of Girard.

Most of the women, according to Shevel, had met and become friends through various retreats and events for those who knit, crochet, weave and spin yarn.

Once everyone was checked in at the theater, Shevel said she was more than pleased with the outcome.

“This was a great idea,” she said. “And most of us couldn’t wait to see the chosen movie.”