Whether students knit, crochet, sew or have never picked up a needle before, Nifty Needlework offers a place to explore fiber arts and meet other creatives. The club combines skill-sharing, personal projects and community service.
Nifty Needlework gives students an opportunity to unwind (pun very much intended) while learning something new.
Meetings vary depending on what members want to accomplish.
Some are dedicated to individual projects, while others feature demonstrations led by members or group projects for service opportunities. The club is open to students of all experience levels, and no one is expected to know everything.
“Our current members range in a variety of skills from super beginner to expert,” Club President Mikalya Miller said. “No one is an expert in every skill, you’ll always have a buddy who doesn’t know what’s going on and is learning with you.”
The club’s emphasis on learning extends beyond developing technical skills. Miller said the cabinet has worked to create an environment where members feel comfortable experimenting.
“We’ve instated that sense of respect for everyone’s craft and also kinda the Bob Ross, happy mistakes, sense in everything that we do,” Miller said.
The president also attributed much of the club’s success to how friendly the members are.
“The entire group is so open to new members,” Miller said. “By the time the meeting is over, everyone is chatting like old friends.”
Nifty Needlework also incorporates community service into its meetings. Originally called Stitch to Serve, the club has a history of service-based projects.
This semester, members are working with Comfort for Critters to create blankets for animals in shelters. The blankets can provide comfort while animals wait for adoption and travel with them to their new homes, giving them something familiar in a new environment.
Miller said the club hopes to maintain at least one service project each semester, reflecting Elizabethtown College’s “Educate for Service” motto. For many members, crafting for others is just a natural continuation of fiber arts.
“There’s only so many things you can make for yourself and the people you love,” Miller said. “Eventually, you want to make it for someone else.”
Since becoming president, Miller has also shifted the club away from making its primary focus a bring-your-own-craft-and-relax format. Although those meetings remain an option, the cabinet has introduced more skill-sharing opportunities to help members learn from one another.
For Miller, however, the club’s success is measured by more than what members make.
At the end of a recent meeting, students continued talking with people they had just met, even after the room reservation ended.
“I was just glad we were able to create a community for that day and if that community continues for even another hour, I’m happy,” Miller said.
Looking ahead, the club plans to host a PowerPoint night where members can share presentations about fiber arts, followed by a movie night where students can bring their projects and unwind before finals.
For students looking for a creative outlet or a way to meet people outside their usual circles, Nifty Needlework offers a space to create something alongside others.
