PSLA Knitting Club Stitches Together Creativity and Camaraderie
“So for the double crochet, we’re going to yarn over, go inside, yarn over again… then we’ve got to get out of the loop… perfect!”Tucked away in a classroom inside the PSLA at Fowler library, a group of students gathered after school. They huddled around two teachers, crochet hooks in hand, as they copied the teachers’ hand movements.
It’s called the Knitting Club – but this year, students chose to start with crochet lessons. As the year goes on and they become more comfortable with their crochet skills, they will have the option to expand to knitting as well.
“Most kids who come here are doing this for the first time, so there’s a learning curve for sure,” PSLA Math teacher Lydia Nevin said. “I’ve worn sweaters to school that I’ve knitted, and they always ask about it… so I knew there was an interest in a group like this! Crocheting helps them learn how to push through the experience of frustration. Having a tangible result helps keep them motivated. There’s also a great sense of community here… we have quite a few 9th graders come to make new friends. This group provides a reason for them to talk to others and gives them a shared interest.”
About 10-12 students regularly attend the group, where they are provided with all materials needed – crochet hooks, yarn, and of course – guidance from experienced instructors!
Junior Jorge Almena is one of the most experienced in the class – noting that his most impressive project was a pair of mittens he made a couple of years ago. Now, he’s working on making a dragon amigurumi crochet pattern.
“I wanted to try some new things,” junior Brayan Rubio Carrillo shared. “It’s hard… there’s a balance between making the stitches too loose or too tight! But I want to keep working at this until I’m good at it.”
Junior Shyanna Hammonds started crocheting a couple of years ago with her grandmother.
“I joined the club at school because I was looking for people who have the same interest as me,” she explained. “It’s hard to do, but the challenge is fun for me!”
Ms. Nevin started knitting as a child as her mom taught her. As she grew, she learned that crocheting is much faster, so she taught herself that skill as well. Now, she makes sweaters for herself, hats for family members, and more. It’s a practical skill that she hopes to pass on to her Knitting Club students now.
As a Geometry teacher, Ms. Nevin also noted that crochet requires a good amount of math – figuring out how much yarn a project needs, counting stitches, and more – making it both a great academic and emotional pick for students! We’re looking forward to seeing the Knitting Club students’ skills develop over the course of the school year.
