One of the newest clubs at Manhattan High School, Crochet Club is beginning a new tradition of making a blanket to leave their mark on the club and future MHS crochet artists.
“I 100% do feel like it allows others to leave their mark in the crochet club,” Vice president Rowen Wade, senior, said. “I believe that it’s a chance for everyone to contribute and show any level of progress towards. Crocheting since joining or before leaving.”
Seniors students of Crochet Club are given the opportunity to make additions to the community blanket. Members of all skill levels are invited to contribute to their group work of art. Each square made by individuals is known as a granny square. Each granny square is then stitched together to make one large blanket.
“As crocheting a square is one of the first skills crocheters learn, this blanket symbolizes and displays the hard work everyone has put in,” senior Rachel Wei, president, said.
There are many different stitches and patterns to make their own additions to the blanket.
“I added my square my sophomore year when I founded the club, and it’s a pink square with round, bumpy stitches called ‘bobble’ stitches. These were the stitches that I most struggled with, so I took that opportunity to practice making multiple bobble stitches,” Wei said. “By the time I finished my square, I felt much more confident in my bobble abilities, and I hope that others can also see their crochet squares as an opportunity to step outside their comfort zone and experiment.”
Crochet Club hopes to hang this blanket on display for students to see. The club is considering the library or a classroom as a location for sharing their community artwork.
“Eventually we would have one big blanket to show off progress that everyone had contributed to. It wasn’t passed to each senior [student] more of just the club [members] that year if that makes sense,” Wade said.
The senior members of Crochet Club have many aspirations for those who are to take on their leadership roles that they are currently in for next year.
“As I am graduating this year, I am handing this all over to Maddy Trout, our newly elected Crochet Club President, who has affirmed that she will keep this tradition alive for future generations of Crochet Club,” Wei said.
