Knitting Club Has Community in Stitches

Northwest Academy is getting ready to bundle up in its first ever Knitting Club, a place where knitting, relaxation, community-building and community service are all combined. Meetings are held Tuesdays at lunch in the conference room.

“The goal of the Knitting Club is for students to mingle more and have something to bond over that is not impacting the community negatively,” Elayna Caron, founder of the club, said.

The Knitting Club is one of the few strictly student-run activities at Northwest Academy. Julia Cain is the adult supervisor, but she feels that she should be only an occasional presence.

“I think there is a need for student-organized activities,” Cain said. “It’s fun to have an adult in there; it’s fun to be a part of that.”

Both Caron and Cain wish to create a comfortable environment for all members. In the club, Caron hopes the intermingling of the different classes will help improve the school’s social environment.

“Besides my elective classes I don’t really see any of the older grades,” Michael Aaby, a freshman, said. “It helps me to get to know more of the other grades.”

The Knitting Club has allowed new students to feel more comfortable at Northwest Academy.

“As a newcomer, the benefits of going to Knitting Club were getting to socialize with fellow knitters and getting to know other people,” Marilyn Blakewood, a new sophomore, said.

To make the environment of the Knitting Club even more relaxing, baked goods are brought to each meeting. While relaxation is an important part of the Knitting Club, it has a larger scale focus as well.

“With the Knitting Club I would love it if during the holidays we knit scarves for homeless and handed them out so we could get some community service in there,” Caron said.

The Knitting Club will also have a therapeutic aspect. The meetings will be a place for blowing off steam during finals week.

“I know people get so stressed out here, I think, during finals week,” Cain said. “What a nice break to sit in a room and knit and relax.”

People new to knitting are welcome. Help will be offered to novice knitters by fellow members of the club. Caron is providing yarn for the whole group.

Any yarn or other knitting supplies donations are appreciated and should go to Caron.