On Tuesday nights at Helen Hills Chapel, you will find the first floor filled with people congregating in a circle. Everyone there is knitting, crocheting, or working on a different arts project, but all the while talking and laughing with one another. The whole atmosphere of the meeting is calm and laid back. The club is headed by president/chairperson, Fiamma Cochrane ‘24, Bailey Butterworth ‘24 as the treasurer, Jessica Johnson ‘23 as secretary/historian, and Margaret Parks ‘24 as social chair.
Considering that the Smith Stitchers had roughly three hundred people sign up for their club at the activities fair and over ninety people turn up for their interest meeting it comes as no surprise that they have such a great turn out during weekly meetings.
When asked about the popularity of the club, Parks ‘24, the Social Chair of Smith Stitchers, spoke about how not only are people interested in the activity of knitting and crocheting, but the community that the club offers. Parks, who taught herself knitting in December, was looking for a community to continue her interest in and was grateful to find the Smith Stitchers.
Whether you were for or against Zoom classes, trying to connect with other students online was difficult. Despite this struggle to learn remotely and connect with others, Smith Stitchers continued to thrive virtually. The club held weekly zoom conferences where people could hang out and knit together. Having that community, albeit virtually, was amazing to Parks.
Butterworth shared similar sentiments to Parks in being invested in cultivating a welcoming environment for the club, continuing the legacy of the previous presidents. Butterworth, who was introduced to Smith Stitchers by the previous stitchers’ president and her big sib, Ruby Lowery ‘21, wanted “Smith Stitchers to continue being a club here at Smith” that can “be a warm and friendly space.”
Although the popularity of the club comes from the welcoming environment, another component is the possibility that “anyone can make innovative designs [which allows] people to be creative,” Johnson described. This creative outlet could be the reason why knitting and crocheting has made a comeback among younger generations. Parks agreed with Johnson, but was surprised by how popular knitting and crocheting was at Smith, specifically. She believes that this renewed interest in knitting is due to the fact that “you are creating a community while you are creating an amazing product.”
While continuing to cultivate a supportive community, the club is interested in expanding the lessons they offer as well as finding ways to connect to the greater Smith community, such as faculty and staff members who are fellow knitters. Although Smith Stitchers is seen as a majority knitting and crocheting club, they hope to offer different workshops like embroidery and other fiber arts.
Whether you have been knitting since you were born, only know how to cast on, or have never gone near a ball of yarn, Smith Stitchers has a friendly community to learn or continue your knitting passion.
(Photo via Smith Social Network)
