Creating blankets, sweaters, cardigans, stuffed animals and so much more is currently a creative option for students through the brand new Crochet Club. Students now have an innovative outlet to express themselves with outstanding designs and color combinations, bond with other students and spend time with friends after school.
Juniors Lea Swindle and Sofia Thomay stitched this idea together after they noticed many students around school brandishing crochet hooks and colorful balls of yarn.
“It all started the summer after freshman year. I decided to buy some yarn and start crocheting because I had nothing better to do. I became obsessed with it. Then I noticed people around the school were making things as well and thought ‘Why don’t we have a club for this?’ So, I decided to start one with my friend Sofia,” club president Lea Swindle said.
The club welcomes novices and experts alike, supplying many of the materials, including different types of yarn to spark members’ creative expression. Beginners start out learning to master basic stitches before they begin their first project. More seasoned fiber artists can jump right in and start creating anything that interests them.
“[Crochet Club] has been fun and allows me to socialize after school. I have friends who really like to crochet and I wanted to get into crocheting [as well],” freshman Mayumi Bombay said.
Many students love the newly created Crochet Club, as it serves as an opportunity to spend time with friends, unplug from technology and develop new skills.
“It’s just a very free space and you can have fun with [crocheting] instead of having to worry about trying to figure out how to do it by yourself. Here you have a community to help you learn how to crochet,” junior Emma Ruiz said.
Other than a nourishing environment and a safe space for creativity and expression, Swindle and Thomay have found certain ways to shift a fun experience with friends into a social cause through service projects.
“We usually try to help the beginners if they still need help, but I think we are going to start having people who are more advanced start working on the service project for single moms,” co-president Sofia Thomay said.
This December, Crochet Club’s first service project will benefit The Kids and Me organization; this is a non-profit organization that strives to make a positive influence on the lives of single mothers and their children. The organization wants to create positive relationships between single mothers, advocating on their behalf and addressing the families’ needs. The Kids and Me offers tutoring opportunities, engaging activities for children and many different events for other single mothers allowing for personal growth and creating amazing friendships. Crochet Club will be creating blankets, plushies and other items that bring comfort to spread some holiday cheer.
If you want to get hooked on this new club, you can join their Remind page using the code @d6kd29g or following @wf.crochet.club on Instagram.