Knitting and Crocheting club has no requirements, rules for membership

By Hayley Hughes

Step into the Anderson Library on a Thursday night, and you’ll see lots of things.

At first, you might observe the casual studiers or the library personnel. Look a little closer and you’ll see a group of students in the TV corner.

They aren’t your average students. This crowd has mastered an age-old talent that makes them a student organization unlike any other: knitting and crocheting.

President and co-founder of the UW-Whitewater Knitting and Crocheting club, senior Ethan Eichstedt-Anderson, said the secret of the organization is that many members come only when they need help with a project.

Along with other members, Eichstedt-Anderson enjoys creating pieces for family and friends. The most recent thing he completed was a Mickey Mouse stuffed animal for his Goddaughter’s first birthday.

“Other than that, I’ve done hats, scarves, sweaters, basically anything,” he said. “I try to do about a sweater a year.”

Eichstedt-Anderson said last year he was not able to meet his goal, but the year before, he completed a replica of a Big Lebowski sweater based off the 1998 American comedy.

He has been working to finish a sweater this year and is almost complete.

Knitting is not Eichstedt-Anderson’s only craft, as he is a full-time student majoring in  art metals. He said he enjoys the club because it offers the chance to “slow down” and enjoy a lifelong hobby.

Other projects members have been working on include scarves, dolls, hats, mittens, sweaters and blankets. The supplies for these projects are brought by the members themselves.

The Knitting and Crocheting club is unique because it has no set rules or regulations. Members are not required to attend meetings, and it is open to all students, free of charge. If your Thursday night is booked, that’s okay, and if you haven’t made a meeting in a few weeks, no worries.

Some Thursday night crowds have more than 20 students in attendance, while some might only have seven to 10. This organization does not come with rules and regulations; there is no sign up fee, and no meeting requirements.

This club lacks one thing that students might find on an everyday basis: stress.

Vice President and devoted crocheter, senior Paxie Cornell, joined the Knitting and Crocheting club after transferring to UW-W in 2011.

“My favorite part of the group is that I just get to sit here with people I like and do nothing for a couple of hours,” Cornell said.

She described the club as a sort of “getaway.”

“We watch Food Network and yell at the contestants on ‘Chopped,’” Cornell said. “It doesn’t get much better than that.”

The members of the Knitting and Crocheting club range from experienced artisans to beginners, and they are more than eager to teach new members. “Come join if you have time, we can teach you to crochet or knit,” Cornell said.

If you have any questions regarding this interesting student organization, look them up at uww.edu/join.