Close-knit Club Looking for New Members

Photo courtesy of Benjamin Gordon

By Benjamin Gordon

At Concordia University there are many different clubs for a variety of interests, including Yarn Club. Yarn club was conceived by its creator Salem Nicole Kruse as part of an assignment for the business ethics class Concordia offers.  She had several service hours she needed to fill so she created yarn club to allow her to use her gifts to serve the community.

Yarn club was initially created with three members including Kruse and her brother senior Gage Boehm as co-presidents, as well as their friend senior Whitney Pottschmidt as secretary.  They added three additional members their first year. Eventually once Kruse graduated, junior Jenna Fredrickson became president, since she was their first member outside of the original group that made Yarn Club, and Boehm became chairman.

The goal of Yarn Club is to create fabric items to donate to various organizations. During the spring semester they make red infant hats for babies that are born prematurely. Some other examples of projects they have done include creating fabric triangles that are sent off to make blankets for the homeless or making neutral color beanies for the troops.

“Our main project right now is hats for cancer patients … we thought that this year we would try and do something to help our local community,” Fredrickson said.

Yarn Club uses two types of methods, knitting and crocheting, to make different fabric items. Knitting is done with two large needles and is considered the more difficult of the two. Crocheting is done with a hook and is considered the easier of the two. Both are great skills to learn and accomplish similar results.

“Technically both of them [knitting and crocheting] are dying … techniques most people are in their 60’s who still do it not very many young people do it and it is still very important,” Boehm said.

Yarn club is looking for new members especially since many members are graduating this spring. They are especially looking for male members as Boehm is the only one currently. Knitting and crocheting are great skills to have if prospective members are looking to join. Though people with no experience or supplies are welcome as well since the club provides  all the materials and experience needed to teach and equip people new to the craft.

“Even if you don’t stick with it and you come for a couple of times,” Boehm said. “It’s one of those things that where as soon as you get the hang of it, it’s hard to forget … It’s a skill that lasts with you for a long time.”

For people looking to join, Yarn Club meets at 8 p.m. Tuesday night in the 2nd floor Johnathan lounge.

“You don’t need to bring anything … The only thing you need to bring is yourself and your willingness to learn,” Boehm said.