Looking for a creative escape during lunch? The Crochet Club, meeting on days one and four from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m, offers a space where you can eat lunch, socialize with friends, and learn new skills like mastering stitches or crafting animals- all with no prior experience required.
Freshman Ada Chalfy concentrates on her stitch, working with a white ball of yarn. She is one of the many students who attend Crochet Club. The club’s meetings provide a quiet, focused space for members to practice their crafting skills.
Crocheting, an art form unfamiliar to many, is the process of creating textiles with a crochet hook by joining pieces of thread together. The Crochet Club, created by sophomore Lola Frey, freshman Heidi Chen, and junior Ella Chen, aims to be a place of de-stressing and teaching peers basic crochet stitches. The club leaders provide individual assistance and the materials needed—yarn and hooks—to start a project.
Co-founder Lola discovered crocheting through a thrift store book and YouTube tutorials. She found it to be a stress-relieving activity that brought her immense satisfaction.
“I feel like it’s a benefit when I’m stressed and I just want to do something. It’s more beneficial than other hobbies because I can make a stuffed animal for someone else, and I think it’s fun to make stuff for other people,” she said.
Sophomore Sophia Atkins, a club member and complete beginner, was inspired to join the club after seeing the adorable handmade stuffed animals she saw online.
Sophomore Sophia Atkins attends the Crochet Club meetings, bringing her lunch and computer to finish up work while stitching. These activities help her to feel stress-free as she balances work with creativity. The club creates a supportive environment where she can connect with others and enjoy the therapeutic benefits of crocheting.
“I have absolutely no experience with crocheting. I saw something online that looked really cool. So when I saw that there was a club sign up for crochet club, I thought I’m definitely signing up,” said Sophia. She quickly learned that crocheting is very meditative and enjoyable.
Many students and teachers expressed important benefits to crocheting, such as stress relief, better creativity, patience, improved motor skills, and personal satisfaction. These advantages are something that everybody can benefit from. However, while this is true, some things are very challenging for beginners. Crocheting can be difficult, as some projects are time-consuming and require practice to master. Weaving in ends can be especially tedious. Yet despite these challenges, many people find that the rewards far outweigh the initial struggles.
“People who don’t think they are creative find out that they are,” said English Teacher Ms. Anne Siviglia
Looking to the future, the Crochet Club hopes to expand its membership and plans themed projects during holidays and breaks. Their message is simple: come, try it out, and don’t be discouraged by initial struggles.
