On Mondays and Tuesdays at lunch in WW124, needles seamlessly thread strings of yarn together in intricate patterns. Ayla Bair, freshman at Truckee High School, is the president of the new knitting club, alongside advisor Tamara Chisholm, THS’s yearbook and Spanish teacher. Both share the passion for knitting which is as extensive as the endless variety of yarn that the crafters have to choose from.

The development of the Fiber Arts Club came just three days before Club-A-Palooza the past fall. Bair expressed her interest in knitting and similar crafts that Chisholm shared and together they established the club. 

Chisholm agreed, due to her shared interest in the activity but also to highlight the importance that a relaxing craft such as knitting or crafting has on a person’s mental and physical health. 

Chisholm says that she wants students and teachers to utilize the club as a space to help relax and focus on mental health. She says, “Knitting is a mental health practice and helps everyone relax.”  In a school culture where there is constant movement and action, the knitting club is an oasis for anyone in the school community who wants to slow down. Bair says, “We try to stick to the beginning of the week because it is such a calming thing so that they can ease into the week.”

The knitting club has a wide diversity of members. With some teachers also involved with students, the atmosphere is very welcoming. The club has also become a safe space for many students new to both Truckee HS and the English language, often called “Newcomers.” It’s a place where students can connect through the universal language of knitting. Chisholm connects with the Newcomers to THS through her Spanish proficiency bringing enhanced diversity to the club.

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After brainstorming for projects, the club decided to yarn bomb the west wing stairs. It is a technique that is “putting art that is made of yarn on different objects.” Bair says, “We decided to do something for pride month and so we got the pride club involved and got a few members to come over and get involved.” 

Stitches for the installation include, the garter stitch, and reverse rib and some people are even crocheting their portion. “The point and part of it is having different stitches and creating different textures which are cooler that way,” Bair says.  In varying the patterns and stitches there is diversity even in the yarn itself. 

Bair’s dedication and proficiency in knitting have turned a hobby into something extremely meaningful in the school community and community outside of THS. Bair says she has been knitting for two years now. Her talent reaches beyond the simple stitches for the installation in the West Wing. She says, “I make everything really, clothes, and toys.”

The knitting club has also been involved in many other events and projects since the establishment of the club. Over the winter, they participated in Caps for Chemo. Over the course of four months, the new club of about 15 members knit 36 caps for the project. “It was actually a great project and we worked with the Cancer Center.”

Between Bair and Chisholm the club has grown and will hopefully continue long after the members have graduated. As their presence becomes stronger in the school community, students will grow to understand and appreciate the hard work that comes with a seemingly simple craft.