UD’s St. Clare’s Crafters
In the midst of UD students’ busy lives that are full of exams, essays, assignments and activities, St. Clare’s Crafters offers the perfect opportunity for people to take a step back and spend relaxing time working with their hands, knitting and crocheting with a group of friends.
The president and founder of the club, Emma Wells, is a senior theology major, and she started the club spring semester of her freshman year. Wells was taught to knit by her mom at 5 years old, and since then she has shared the hobby with her sisters and friends, taking part in a group in middle school that would knit together and then donate what they made to pregnancy help centers.
Wells said she was inspired to create the club after being “discontent with the volunteering opportunities on campus” and wanting a club that would be “an opportunity for people to bond over a wholesome activity.” Thus, St. Clare’s Crafters was born. The group meets regularly on Sundays to knit and crochet various pieces, which are then donated to Bloom Pregnancy Help Center.
The club’s current name did not come around until Wells’ junior year, previously being known by a longer name that featured the club’s connection to Crusaders for Life. Wells was inspired to rename the club after St. Clare, who is the patron saint of needlework and embroidery. The group ends every meeting with a Hail Mary.
The club knits and crochets various pieces, including baby blankets, hats and booties. However, Wells made sure to include that people are welcome to bring their own personal projects to work on during meetings. Wells said her favorite thing to knit would have to be baby sweaters.
While there are opportunities to work on more intensive projects such as baby sweaters, the club is always open to beginners. The club provides donated yarn and knitting needles during their meetings, and Wells and other group members are happy to teach anyone who wants to learn. When people are learning, they usually start by making squares that are joined together to form blankets. Wells said this is because the squares are a smaller project and do not require much commitment.
The club is a great place to grow in your knitting skills, and Wells was eager to share the story of her friend, Anna, whom she had taught to knit in the club freshman year. “She is an avid knitter now,” said Wells, “making all sorts of stuff, including a sweater for one of her friends, baby blankets…and stuffed animals.” Anna graduated a semester early and is currently teaching in Wisconsin but has continued her passion for knitting, running her own knitting club for her students. “I’m very proud of her,” Wells says.
If you want to learn how to knit or crochet, or you would like a space to share in a hobby you enjoy while serving your community, St. Clare’s Crafters is the place for you.