Nearly 50 students crowded the Chamberlain Student Center for the first meeting of the Fiber Arts Bunch, a club that seeks to bring people together to crochet, knit, and foster a sense of community. 

Founded by alumna Anya Davis and now run by a new executive board. The club aims to make fiber arts beginner-friendly and affordable by providing supplies, teaching lessons, and hosting weekly meetings.

While crocheting is the main focus, members are branching off, experimenting with other art forms such as embroidery, cross-stitch, and even collaborative projects like a campus-wide granny square tapestry, the group is planning. 

Davis, who once ran her own crafting business, wanted to spread her love of fiber arts on campus. That passion now lives on through the Fiber Arts Bunch’s executive board members like Anna Wills, Emily Sellers, and Eve-Patrice Lafontant, who are currently looking to expand the group’s reach and showcase its potential. 

Plans for the organization include contributing handmade pieces to Rowan’s Beauty in Distress. A different campus organization that allows aspiring designers, artists, and creatives alike to participate in student exhibitions, workshops, and community service events. Members of the Fiber Arts Bunch are looking into having wearable pieces, such as tops and cross-body bags, created to be featured in one of Beauty In Distress’s upcoming fashion shows. 

“We don’t just want to make small projects. We want to show that fiber arts can bring people on a big scale,” said Emily Sellers, 20, Student Government Association (SGA) representative for Fiber Arts Bunch.

That sense of connection runs through everything the Fiber Arts Bunch does. Whether it’s a beginner who’s learning how to crochet their first coaster or a seasoned crafter bringing in a half-finished sweater, meetings are designed to be welcoming. 

At their first gathering, the executive board members even supplied yarn and crocheting hooks out of their own pockets so nobody would feel left out. Though the Fiber Arts Bunch strongly encourages those who do want to hone in on their craft and continue working on their projects to bring and purchase their own supplies. 

“We want everyone who comes to feel like they belong, no matter their skill level. It’s not about being perfect, but it’s about learning together and having fun,” said Eve-Patrice Lafontant, 20, president of the Fiber Arts Bunch.

The club’s overall focus on inclusivity extends beyond meetings. Members are encouraged to explore their own creativity, try new techniques, and even turn their hobbies into small business ventures. 

Anna Wills, 21, vice president of the organization, owes much of her creative drive to her early experiences with fiber arts. Wills picked up crocheting early in her childhood when she’d spend time creating blankets alongside her grandmother. Though she took a break from crocheting, she picked up her hook again in 2022 when her mother encouraged her to sign up for her first-ever craft show. 

“I was so nervous, I remember having a big bin of plushies I’d made, and I wasn’t sure anyone would like them. But the support I received here gave me the confidence to start my own business, AJ Crochet,” said Wills.

She has continued to sell her creations online on both Instagram and Facebook, offering bags and customs aside from the plushies. 

That same entrepreneurial spirit can even be found amongst the newest Fiber Arts Bunch members. For freshman Shayla Thompson, 18, a biological science major from Magnolia, N.J., joining the group felt like finding her people on campus. Thompson has been crocheting for four years and recently launched her Etsy shop, CroShayCreationsbyST, where she sells handmade plushies, custom pieces, and even her own original patterns. 

At the first meeting, Thompson found herself sitting with both beginners and seasoned crafters, helping others while sharing her own journey.

“It was just such a refreshing meeting. Even if we came from different areas or had different career paths, we all came together to enjoy the hobby of crocheting,” said Thompson.

She explained that the hobby has given her more than just a creative outlet; it’s taught her patience and confidence.

“When starting anything, don’t give up when you first start. It always takes some time to adjust, but if you stick with it, you’ll figure it out and create something amazing,” said Thompson.

And for the Fiber Arts Bunch, that’s exactly the kind of community they’re creating. One stitch at a time.

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