An unofficial Knitting and Crocheting Club meets in The King’s College lobby every Tuesday at noon. The club started meeting in the Spring 2023 semester and hopes to become an official student organization in the future if the opportunity arises. Sarene Jackson, a junior in the House of Queen Elizabeth I, and Isabel “Iggy” Lueck, a junior in the House of Susan B. Anthony currently lead the club.

The club offers a “tight-knit” community. During one meeting, at least eight people attended throughout the lunch hour, with some students attending to learn and other students completing their works-in-progress. Several club members are eager to expand their skills or extend their knowledge to others.

“If you want to learn, let me know, and I can bring yarn and teach you,” offered Jackson.

Many club members learned from family members or roommates; a few are just beginning their knitting or crochet journey. Brianna Minifie, a freshman in the House of Corrie Ten Boom, explained that she started knitting over the past Christmas break, and Grace Henry, a freshman in the House of Ten Boom, said she “started knitting over finals week last semester” and “started crocheting in the middle of January.”

Others started knitting years ago or even since childhood.

“I’ve been knitting since I was around five or six since my mom used to teach a knitting and crochet class,” Alice Michlik, a junior in the House of Susan B. Anthony, said. “I learned to crochet at about eight, and that’s what I usually do.” Michlik learned to crochet from her mother, but also learned to knit from her friend’s brother.

During their meeting time, the club discusses anything and everything from breakups to Economic Thought and Practice (ETAP) and celebrates birthdays, new jobs and – of course – finished projects. They exchange advice about the best hangout spots in New York, where to spot celebrities and what color scheme to use for a skirt.

It is a scientifically established fact that knitting and crocheting decrease stress and increase concentration, according to a New York Times report. The knitting club mostly agreed that this was the case. Henry confirmed that “it was a big stress reliever” during the fall 2022 finals week.

“Especially since there's so much going on with the school, I feel more relaxed when I’m in a community update, and I’m making some shirt rather than just thinking about the state of the school,” Jackson said.

Other crafters felt that the pressure to create could create stress rather than alleviate it.

“Sometimes it makes me more stressed because it takes so much time to create something, and so I really want it to be right,” Brianna Minifie said. “Overall, though, it’s such a joy for me to knit.”

All of the members of the club knit or crochet in at least a few of their classes. Most of them agreed that professors at King’s are generally comfortable with their students knitting in class since most of them find that it helps them focus. Minifie explained that she has not received any complaints but tries not to knit in smaller classes “not to distract the professor.”

“I do think it makes me more focused on class conversations,” Minifie said. “Since I’m doing something with my hands, I zone out less, and since it is kind of a mindless activity, I can still keep up with the lecture.”

Michlik said that one of her professors mentioned that the students’ hobby reminded him of his daughter, who also knits. “I think that as long as I take notes as well, I’m completely engaged and am less likely to daydream or doze off,” she said.

“I have crocheted in class and have never received complaints, but I usually pay attention to the vibes of the professor,” said Jackson. “Some professors understand the stress of everything at kings and care enough to not say anything; others don’t care one way or another… I usually am able to retain information better when I’m doing something with my hands.”

Henry is the only member who admitted to receiving negative feedback about knitting in class.

“No one has complained, but Dr. Innes made a comment in an email saying that I should ‘strive to get as much out of this course,’ and he was ‘concerned for my success’ since I wasn't necessarily paying full attention to the lecture,” Henry said.

Do-it-yourself fashion, such as knitting and crocheting, is more popular now than ever, as it is simultaneously personal, environment-friendly and fashionable. The slow fashion movement spread across social media as a more sustainable alternative to retail therapy. The concept is that clothing that takes longer to make also lasts longer.

“I’ve been making hats for the past few weeks, and I can make about one or two per week. Hats are a small project, though,” Minifie said. “For my next project, I want to make a sweater, which will probably take me several months.”

Michlik claims that she can “knit and crochet a variety of things from leg warmers to balaclavas to hats and make maybe one or two things a month.” Jackson noted that she also typically makes one or two items a month.

Buying sustainable fibers to craft with, or using recycled materials, is another way knitting and crocheting can be more sustainable than buying clothes from traditional fast-fashion brands. Sustainable fibers, like cotton, are typically plant-based and can be purchased at local yarn stores or other craft stores. Three members noted that they buy their yarn from Michaels. Yarn can also be thrifted, purchased second-hand through eBay or bought online from small businesses.

“I’ve gone to local shops for specific things like Mohair– a super thin yarn– and cotton or wool yarn,” Jackson said. “I also raid my mom’s or friends’ stashes.”

For those who can’t knit or crochet, several members of the (unofficial) King’s Knitting Club sell their knitting through word-of-mouth, Instagram, Etsy or their own websites. Jackson, Michlik and Lueck sell their finished products. Michlik “sold several pairs of fingerless gloves last winter through social media and through friends.”

“I also have sold stuffed animals, pillows, shirts and hats,” Jackson said.

Some beginning knitters want to get more comfortable with their skills before they start selling or posting their work on social media, such as Minifie, who just likes to knit for the sake of it and does not have any social media.

“I just make projects for the sake of it, but I would love to sell,” said Henry.

“I love knitting with my friends,” Henry said. “Me and Sloane knit together a couple of times a week. I taught my roommate, Bri, to knit, and we watch movies and knit together occasionally, too.”

Michlik emphasized her appreciation for the group and its potential future at King’s. “Iggy and Sarene started it, and it’s sort of morphed into a group that regularly meets – it’s an open invite, and we’re considering making it into an org as well!” she said.

The group continues to meet in the lobby every Tuesday, regardless of whether or not they will be able to become an official student organization in the future. Several members expressed their appreciation and enthusiasm for the group. A sense of community is inherently tied to the craft.

Mandie-Beth Chau is the Campus Editor at the Empire State Tribune. She is a freshman studying Journalism, Culture and Society.

King’s (Unofficial) Knitting Club Makes Their Mark