USCHS Crochet & Knitting Club
Frankie Dubreil
Crochet and Knitting Club might just be the hot, new thing on the market! Although Upper St. Clair High School has many clubs to choose from, this recent addition is already full of members, all of whom seem thrilled by the club and its growth.
Having been founded midway through the 2022-2023 school year, Crochet and Knitting Club started off rather small. It had missed Freshman Rush when clubs get the opportunity to advertise and gain membership, so it was mostly comprised of small groups of friends who had heard of it and joined. However, this year the founders, Sydney Montgomery and Sydney Waldron, went all out, with flyers to hand out at Rush and a large poster board to advertise the club, and the membership numbers have grown.
The club members have nothing but praise for this crafty club. Those who already know how to crochet or knit are welcomed and encouraged to help crochet and knit for charity, with the club being affiliated with charities such as the Linus Project, which collects handmade blankets. The club is also incredibly welcoming to new, inexperienced members looking to learn either crochet, knitting, or both. Experienced members of the club willingly volunteer to teach their fellow club mates. The club also provides “newbie” members with yarn and hooks or needles, for crochet and knitting respectively. Sydney Waldron, one of the co-founders and co-presidents, even says, “I hoped that we could gain more people to teach how to crochet better”.
Rosie Goldstein, a club member who joined says, “I wanted to join to learn how to crochet since I already knew how to knit, but now I mostly appreciate that it gives me time to do both. I wanted to knit more in general, and now I have [the opportunity], through making little animals and stuff during club”. Erin Shehab, another member of the club who is very experienced with crochet, also appreciates “having a set time where I could crochet during school and connect with other crocheters and knitters. I attend almost every club meeting, and I usually bring my crochet projects to work on because I can use that time and spend time with my friends who are also in the club”.
While Shehab was appreciative that the club meets during school, noting, “I am normally busy after school and cannot attend clubs, so this is a big perk for me”, she also laments the club’s meeting place—in the ART (Academic Resource Time) of an English teacher, their sponsor. She states, “The club doesn’t really have its own space; we share a space with Mrs. Robbibaro’s ART. I understand that because we meet during school, it is difficult for us to have our own space, but I hope that this can become a possibility in the future”. Sometimes it is hard not to feel crowded with so many people in the room, given that both Mrs. Robbibaro’s students and club members are numerous in convening in her room. Waldron states, “Unfortunately, we moved our club space from Ms. Gibson’s room to Mrs. Robbibaro’s room. It is a lovely space, and Mrs. Robbibaro is a fantastic teacher; however, I feel bad invading her space and interrupting her ART with her students”.
Still, with the busy life of a high schooler, any opportunity to relax and enjoy a fun hobby must be taken advantage of, and Goldstein says the club is the perfect place for that: “I obviously like crocheting and knitting, but I also like getting to just see my friends and have fun”. Shehab adds, “I think this club is a benefit to the USCHS community because it gives students a space to take a break from other school activities and create with their peers”. Waldron states, “I feel like we have created a small family and community, and I have been so happy with the people in our club. I think this is an inclusive space that is welcoming to all”. That community-based creative spirit is truly at the heart of the club and the root of its success.