The Allegheny Knitting Club Helps To Keep Campus Community Warm this Winter
The members of the Allegheny College Knitting Club are a tight-knit bunch.
Dedicated to all things crafty, members of the club have banded together to hand-knit hats and scarves for the campus community. Knitting Club President Kaleigh White explains that the initiative started with a piece of advice she first received as a child.
“My whole life, when I go outside in fall and winter, my grandma always says, ‘Cover your ears!’ and I always do it so that I don’t get sick,” she says. “I call my grandma every day, and she reminds me to cover my ears, and I realized that not everyone has the ability to cover their ears. The Knitting Club does charity projects regularly, and I thought this would be something fun for members to do to help students on campus stay warm and healthy.”
In addition to giving back to the Allegheny community, the Knitting Club is a big supporter of self-care.
“Members are encouraged to come even if they don’t want to craft on a given day,” White says. “If they need to vent, the Knitting Club is there to offer support and friendship as we all navigate life at Allegheny.”
Speaking of friendship, members gathered a few weeks ago to celebrate Galentine’s Day, an unofficial holiday usually observed on the eve of Valentine’s Day, where women celebrate their friendships with one another.
Along with conventional knitting, club members do a lot of crocheting and loom knitting. Some members even work on their own projects through methods such as embroidery, felting, and cross stitch. No prior experience is required to become a member, as education sessions are held each week to help newbies practice their skills.
Allegheny students in need a hat or a scarf can contact knittingclub@allegheny.edu for a free, handmade item while supplies last. Experienced volunteers are welcome.