Chicago Students Learn More than Knitting in Fiber Clubs

I really enjoyed this story from the Chicago Tribune about knitting and fiber arts clubs for high school students.

KnitLAB and BT Lives in the Stitch are projects in North Lawndale where students are paid to produce hand-crafted items and at the same time get a sense of community and pride in creating things that’s a contrast to the chaotic neighborhoods in which they live.

Some students say they thought knitting would be boring, and that it was hard at first, but they like being able to make things instead of buying them, and they like having their friends ask them to make things.

Teachers and art therapists say making is important for teens because it gives them autonomy in creating things, and the process of knitting is comforting, as we all know.

I think it’s awesome that these programs exist and wish more kids had the opportunity to learn knitting and other crafts in school.

Do any of your local schools have knitting programs? I’d love to hear about them.

[Photo by John J. Kim, Chicago Tribune.]

Next Pattern:

Just about anything you can make in fabric you can make in knitting, but there are some styles that you just don’t see that often translated into knitting.

For example, a button down collared shirt. This is a classic design, of course, and it looks great in a knit version, but it’s just not something you see much of.

Noma Ndlovu’s Guglethu shirt is the pattern to try if you want to knit your own button down shirt. This one is inspired by cashmere tops (though the sample was made out of yak yarn, not cashmere, and uses two strands of lace weight yarn held together) and includes lots of high-fashion details like double-knit cuffs, collar and shoulder seams.

It has a patch pocket on the front and 10 buttons including the button band and the cuffs.

The designer says you can also use a DK weight yarn held singly if you’d rather, and that the shirt looks good in a variety of yarns. There is another version on Ravelry that uses Berroco Remix Light, which is a mix of nylon, cotton, acrylic, silk and cellulose fibers. It has a more relaxed look but it still really pretty.

The pattern has 12 sizes, with a full bust measurement ranging from 32.35 to 72.25 inches, or 82 to 183.5 cm. The designer suggests 2 to 6 inches, or 5 to 15 cm, of positive ease when you pick your size. I could totally see knitting one that’s even bigger to wear more like a jacket, because I do that a lot with button down shirts I already own.

I love all the details on this shirt, which isn’t necessarily difficult to knit, but might introduce you to some things you’ve never knit before (like those cuffs with the plackets, or a shirt collar like this).

To learn more about this shirt and grab a copy of the pattern for yourself, head to Ravelry.

[Photo: Noma Ndlovu]

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Comments

Elena Tucker says
March 21, 2015 at 12:58 am
The article sounds interesting, unfortunately I can’t access it without a subscription to the Tribune. I’d like to learn more about it, are there any other sources?
Bekah says
March 21, 2015 at 4:27 pm
Our university has a knitting society which does volunteer knitting, such as blankets for the elderly and preemie knits… it’s a great way to get students both socialising with likeminded people, and also to support their community!

Next Pattern:

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