Patterns and Stitches
Written by Vanessa Watson
The fight for inclusion and equality, a war that has raged over generations and across countries, is being fought quietly in our own school. The sun dawns on Monday mornings where a club unites to defy stereotypes with every stitch. The Knitting and Crocheting Club focuses on spreading tolerance and joy through their yarn creations.
Knitting and crocheting are often seen as old-fashioned and girly hobbies. To Alexis Bouy, president of this club, this is not the case. To those who belittle her hobby, she responds, “I don’t think they are right. There are plenty of boys in the club, and there are many kinds of creations you can make. It’s gender neutral basically.”
We often hear of women who strive for equality. There are so many examples of job fields and hobbies previously relegated to men opening up to women. Yet, we never hear the opposite. We never hear of the boy who plays with dolls, the man who ventures into a job dominated by women.
Today this makes the news. Today we learn of those who go unnoticed. Today we learn about the boys who have the courage to open a door to the knitting and crocheting club. They were not met with disapproving stares. Those who join the club do not find dated ideas and disapproval. Instead, those who join are greeted with open arms and loving acceptance.
This club thrives on the sense of community and inclusion they’ve built. They’ve created a little family. Each morning, members come back to their individual projects, ready to work over a cup of tea or hot chocolate. Talking and laughing together, they work on spreading this joy beyond the club. They make scarves and stuffed animals as gifts and practice. Experienced members help guide newcomers and teach them their medium.
The club focuses on two techniques: knitting and crocheting. To the untrained eye, the results are nearly indistinguishable. They both involve looping yarn over itself to form shapes and patterns. The main difference is the tool used. Knitting uses needles, metal dowels that taper at the end, to hold and loop the yarn. Crocheting uses a metal hook to tie repeating knots.
This club, this sense of unity, is the legacy of a special pair of sisters. Alexis took over the club after her sister, the former president, graduated. This passion has built a strong bond between the sisters. Alexis herself says “I definitely feel like we’ve grown closer because of it, because we share an interest and can talk a lot about it. So I feel like it’s made us very close.” Now that her sister has left, Alexis has taken it upon herself to sustain her sister’s legacy and keep ahold of the connection they built there.
Alexis has also inherited her sister’s mission to cultivate this acceptance throughout the school in small but meaningful ways. Right now the club is working on spreading joy to our beloved teachers. They are making Amigurmis, which are small yarn creations. Alexis has set a goal to make a plush for each and every teacher by the end of the year. We need your help.
Joining the knitting and crocheting club is easy, all you have to do is show up to the IB office Monday mornings. No materials, no worries! Yarn and tools are provided by the club. Lessons and help learning these crafts are available as well. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can begin your own project. I love making stuffed animals, but you can make scarves, hats and many other crafts. Learn to express yourself creatively and wind down from the stress of school. You can join the club’s project, or make something on your own. The possibilities are endless. Join us for engaging conversations and help learn this forgotten skill. Meetings are chill, relaxing and creative.
No matter your gender orientation or background, the knitting and crocheting club invites you with open arms. Come join us in the IB office (next to B wing) at 7:00am on Mondays. We hope to see you there!