Last semester, freshman Ella Eyler brought a new club to campus centered around Fiber Arts.
The club meets every Tuesday from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Sculpture Building but will move outside when the weather is nice. Students can attend with any level of knowledge or skill.
“There’s no requirements to join, just show up and have a craft, and if you want to learn all you need is a hook and some yarn and there’s people there willing to teach you, I’m willing to teach,” Eyler said.
Eyler is a Biochemistry and Pre-med student at SRU with a love for crocheting and knitting. When Eyler first came to campus, she was surprised to find out there was not a club for fiber arts.
She felt that not having a fiber arts club was excluding individuals who might not be able to take a class or might not want to be graded on their art.
After finding out there was not a club, Eyler wanted to find a group of students to knit and crochet with. She wanted to make a club as soon as possible.
“The first week on campus as soon as I got here, I was already posting on Snapchat, Instagram, etc. I was like ‘does anyone crochet’, ‘does anyone knit does anyone want to meet up?’ And we actually met up under one of the trees around Vincent,” Eyler said.
The club gives students the opportunity to meet others interested in art and crafting.
It’s just such a good sense of community even though we’re just getting started,” Eyler said.
Students are encouraged to bring a craft they are working on and relax while engaging with others.
“It’s just a connection that’s strong because you’re sharing art with people, and I feel like art is very intimate, and you’re sharing how to make that art and also things that you have created and put time and effort into,” Eyler said.
“It’s very important to have an outlet and something to do outside of schoolwork where you can just relax and have a moment,” Eyler said.
She hopes to grow the club as time goes on.
“I truly am very passionate about this art form. I love knitting, I love crocheting, I love cross-stitching, I love spinning yarn and stuff, and I feel like it’s a powerful tool to bring people together,” Eyler said.
Not only did Eyler create her own club, but she also sells her art on Instagram and posts about projects she has completed.
“I started selling my stuff in 2021, I think. I went to a lot of craft shows and festivals and stuff and I literally got tents and chairs out of the attic and I brought them down so I could use them,” Eyler said.
The Instagram account is called loving_loops.byella.
“With school I don’t really find myself having a lot of time to make things, which is why the Fiber Arts club is so important to me, because for that hour, I’m not doing anything except knitting, crocheting, crafting something,” Eyler said.
If students are interested they can join on CORE for updates.
“I want people to come into Slippery Rock and find love for this art like I have,” Eyler said.
