Amid the various clubs at Carroll, one new group is stitching its way through the school. A club where students can come together, connect, and unwind, all while learning the ins and outs of a skillful art form.
Southlake Crocheters meets every Tuesday after school from 4-5 p.m. in the chemistry hall on the high school campus to learn all about the art of crochet in a hands-on fashion. The club was just founded this school year by junior Aara Cho.
“I wanted to build and connect with a crochet community to share works, struggles, and just get excited about yarn together,” Cho said. “I now look forward to every Tuesday and I feel so much love for our community.”
Cho’s enthusiasm has only grown as she has watched the group flourish.
“Honestly, we’ve already accomplished so much and that makes me feel so proud,” Cho said. “All the members are so passionate about crochet, so we’ve achieved so much in the short time we’ve been together.”
Though the club is a new development, Cho is no stranger to crochet.
“I started crocheting sometime in middle school, so it hasn’t been forever, but it’s been a good chunk of time,” Cho said. “Throughout my crochet career, I’ve made amigurumi, sweaters, blankets, bags, and more.”
Outreach officer and senior Kendrick Leong’s history with crochet doesn’t span quite as long.
“Before joining the club, I had no experience whatsoever,” Leong said. “I was inspired to join the club to make and mend clothes, to make three-dimensional objects, and simply because crochet is an invaluable skill to learn.”
The teaching process in the club ensured that his lack of experience wasn’t an issue.
“Technique-wise, crochet is taught in a linear fashion, starting with 1D, then 2D, and eventually 3D,” Leong said. “This means that we started with learning how to create a line, then we created flat shapes, and now we’re creating 3D objects.”
While the techniques build in complexity, the club is open to everyone, regardless of their skill level.
“The only things people need to join the club are a willingness to learn and a pulse,” Leong said. “It doesn’t matter if you have 1000 hours of experience or no hours like me, the club is meant to be fun and engaging for everyone.”
Vice president and sophomore Andrea Guerrero-Camacho has a similar confidence in the club’s teaching abilities.
“We have been teaching students with all sorts of crocheting backgrounds,” Guerrero-Camacho said. “We are able to help teach all sorts of skills and techniques.”
Beyond just learning techniques, the club has an environment where members can connect and collaborate with each other.
“One of the Southlake Crocheters’ main goals is to create a community that is able to provide a fun space for people,” Guerrero-Camacho said. “It’s an environment to make friends and generate ideas for fun new projects.”
This welcoming atmosphere has helped turn acquaintances into friends.
“Despite not knowing each other for very long, we’ve been able to create a tight-knit community of friends who are able to get together for an afternoon of crocheting shenanigans,” Guerrero-Camacho said. “Overall, I think it’s safe to say that we’ve all had a blast.”
