crafting & connection
I’m sitting at my desk, preparing for my upcoming virtual knitting workshop and reflecting on why I decided to host these classes in the first place. Since Covid, I’ve been relatively isolated, a combined result of becoming parents, my graduate school program becoming virtual and the invisible side effects of the pandemic. I see my immediate community and family often but rarely interact with strangers or people I don’t know well. While social media can increase the isolation, I have found that it can also foster friendships and feelings of belonging that can be hard to find.
It was at the beginning of the first lockdown in March 2020 that I learned how to knit my first sweater (shoutout to Karen!). I immediately fell in love with the feeling of wearing something I made from scratch. Learning how to knit freehand (without a pattern) empowered me to a whole new phase of making. I felt I could find inspiration and then ask my knitting friends to ask advice on how I should recreate it.
I loved all the parts of making- the search for inspiration, the planning, sketching, choosing the yarn, sizing it, casting on, putting on a movie and knitting, messing up, unraveling a few rows and trying again, finally trying it on and wearing it! I started sharing my knit pieces on instagram in 2020 and began to discover an entire community of fiber makers. I was doused in inspiration and loved seeing everyone’s projects and different styles of creating.
A few years later and I put out an instagram poll to see if anyone in the area was interested in meeting up for knitting in the park. I got a few responses but wasn’t sure if anyone would actually show. I waited on my blanket at the park, filled a mix of nerves and excitement. Four people showed up and we drank our coffee and chatted as we worked on our own projects. I can’t tell you how satisfying it was to connect with people in real life instead of just on the internet. We started meeting once a month and named the group Yarn in the Park.
This month marks 2 years since Yarn in the Park first started. Every month there is a 50/50 mix of new people and veterans that have been coming for months. We started with 4 people but now have an average of 30 people every month!
The best part of this group is that it exists on its own; I’m less of a host and more of a facilitator. There is a huge desire from people to connect with each other (in ways other than going to bars or parties). People walk up with their bag of crafts and sit down next to a stranger and start making small talk. More often than not, conversations spread easily and within minutes everyone is chatting easily. It’s always so funny how much in common we all seem to have- regardless of what neighborhood we drove from or what we do for work- I often end up talking to someone for a few minutes before realizing we have an easy amount to talk about. These meetups have shown me that there is a huge need from others to find casual, welcoming places to make friends.
I have always been driven by the idea of bringing people together and fostering community in an increasingly isolated world. With Yarn in the Park it has been so fulfilling to create a warm and comfortable space where strangers can become friends.
In the last year I’ve taught a handful of local workshops around LA. They’ve been super fun and fulfilling but I received lots of feedback from people who wanted to join but were not in the area. That led me to the idea of virtual workshops- a way to be able to meet and work with people all over the world, regardless of location. In two weeks I’ll be hosting my second Virtual Knitting Workshop- a 1 hour zoom meeting where we will discuss the basics of knitting / crocheting without a pattern to create your own dress.
Our last meeting was so great, full of people from across the world (England, Germany, Portugal, Bulgaria, Brazil, Canada and all over the US!). I loved the fact that strangers were getting together for one hour on a Sunday to talk about crafting. Below are some of the final pieces people made and I just loved seeing their progress and how their personal style came out in all of their work. It really was inspiring.
This upcoming class on Sep. 15th has less people in it than before (a testament to Instagram’s pesky algorithm) but I know it will still be just as meaningful. There is still some room in it if you want to join :) We meet twice over zoom over a 5 week period. We’ll learn the basics of creating your own pattern and knitting/crocheting freehand. We’ll then each work on our own projects and have a Whatsapp groupchat where we can discuss progress, ask questions and share inspiration. We’ll meet again in 5 weeks to show off our finished pieces or our progress! Life is so busy for all of us so it’s designed to be low pressure and easy to participate in no matter where you are.
All in all, I’m still searching for more meaningful connection. For all the mean spaces that exist on the internet, I have found sweet spots with authentic people who make wonderful art and start honest conversations about motherhood and life in general. I’m excited to continue facilitating those spaces (virtual and local) and want to hear from you guys: what kind of spaces/events are you craving? What makes you feel most connected?
How are you feeling about the isolating nature of the internet? Do you feel like you can find genuine connections with others? Let me know as I always love to hear from you guys and what you’re thinking.
Till next time!
love