By Marianne Luedeman
Photos by Marianne Luedeman
A group of Gardner-Webb students are starting a new needlework club open to the Gardner-Webb student body. The club is set to educate about textile arts, provide a crafting community on campus, and showcase creative projects made by its members.
The club, named Threaded Together, is set to officially launch on April 23, 2024, with an interest meeting from 4 to 7 p.m. (more details about location to come).
Threaded Together was founded by students Forest Blackston, Storm Brooks, Jasmine Kremer, and Slawka Ndubuisi. Kremer and Brooks serve as co-presidents, Blackston serves as vice president, and Ndubuisi serves as treasurer.
“Threaded Together is a needlework club about everything textile. It’s a relaxing environment to be social and do art together,” said Kremer. Blackston further added that “the club is big on community. It’s a place where people can come and feel safe to relax and do needlework.”
Kremer wants students to know as official operations begin that “anyone is welcome, whether you just want to come and check it out or join us to relax and make art. This is supposed to be a relaxing space that helps you destress.”
“This is a really good community, and even if you have anxiety about coming to the club meetings because you have little experience or don’t know anyone, come and join us anyway because you never know what friends you are going to make,” continued Brooks.
Each member of the club’s executive board emphasized that the club is meant to be an educational and relaxing space for students of all skill levels to learn needlework.
“We’re more than willing to teach people who don’t know how to do any needlework and welcome them into our community,” noted Blackston. The club intends to teach crochet, knitting, sewing, embroidery, weaving, and other types of textile-based art.
The club is also marketed as a haven for all students who seek an art-based community on campus. “We believe in inclusivity and diversity. You do not have to be worried about anything while you are with us, we are a safe space. Anybody is welcome,” said Blackson.
In the upcoming school year, the executive board members said that they plan to host events featuring large-scale creative projects, community projects like creating donatable clothing, and practical educational events like teaching students how to repair ripped clothes.
The club currently hosts weekly hangout sessions, where club members are invited to communally work on their needlework projects with other club members. These sessions during the 2023-2024 school year are from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday at the Tucker Student Center food court.
Threaded Together has existed unofficially since September 2023, originally beginning as a passion project of Blackston and Brooks. “It started when Forest taught me how to crochet, and they asked if I would want to be in a crochet club. From there, we kickstarted an unofficial club,” noted Brooks.
“There was so much work and heart that has been put into this club, even before it was official,” continued Blackston.
The club currently has 16 members and expects to expand in the upcoming semester.
For questions about the club or upcoming club meetings, Kremer can be reached at [email protected] and Blackston can be reached at [email protected].