The Knitting Club at Thomas Jefferson is a place where students have the chance to learn how to knit and help the community at the same time.
Photo by Mia Nogueira
Going strong since 2007, the Knitting Club has stitched together great memories while knitting blankets, little baby hats, and much more, in the library on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 4 p.m., and now they are ramping up their community service.
Sudi Stodola sits behind the desk in the school’s library but many don’t know she is much more than the librarian. When Stodola first arrived at TJ in 2007, she took it upon herself to start up a knitting club; one of the purposes she fired up the club was to carry on a tradition. “I learned to knit at the Denver Public Library and I loved it. I thought I should bring that here and let the kids experience that tradition,” Stodola said.
The library is the hot spot for knitters on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Many may not know that the club gets together after school hours for one hour; from 3 to 4 p.m., to knit and share some jokes.
This hands-on club is a place of serenity for the club members. “The knitting club has helped me because it helps me relax. In the library, the atmosphere is very relaxing and it is just peaceful,” says three-year member, Junior Mel Barrow. The atmosphere may be relaxing, but it is also a place where the group can joke around and let loose. “ The club is a great place to relax but we also get popcorn. On top of the popcorn, we tell a lot of jokes to each other. I always come back to the club because everyone has a great sense of humor,” Barrow said.
The members keep each other laughing, but also know how to get down to business. This year, the club will be working on two main projects that help out our community. The first project the club will tackle will be knitting quilt squares. The knitters will be working with a group called Warm Up America to create quilts for the homeless. “Each person in the club will be making a seven inch by nine inch square. After we have all done our part, we send the squares to Michaels Craft Store. Volunteers there sew the squares together making warm blankets,” said Stodola. The second project that the knitting club will do is knitting hats for premature babies. This project will start in January and end the first week before spring break, giving the knitters plenty of time to create a warm hat. The knitters will not be working alongside an organization on this project, but are working on their own and are calling their project Caps For Preemies. “Knitting the hats will help the community while the club members work on their skills because the project hits on all skill levels,” says Stodola. After the caps are made, Stodola takes them down to the Children’s Hospital where they become available for the babies.
All the club members say they are very thrilled to be participating and helping out in the community. “I’m really glad to be a part of Warm Up America because I always like to share my knitting. I feel like Denver doesn’t have as many homeless people as other places I have been, but nevertheless, I’m glad to help them out,” Barrow said.
To prepare the club members for the knitting projects, Stodola teaches the members basics and even takes them to knitting stores. “About twice a year, we go down to the Michaels store and I show them what they should get and what they don’t really need,” said Stodola.
To get the new knitters started, Stodola provides them a pair of needles for three weeks and one free ball of yarn. After the essentials are provided, the members set off and create masterpieces. “This year I’m making a scarf that is 20 feet long and it has many fun colors and a pretty easy pattern,” Barrow said with a smile.
The knitting club is a place to explore creativity and it also helps develop math skills. The atmosphere is relaxing and jokes are non-stop; plus the fresh popcorn is a bonus. Stodola shares, “Our goal is to have fun but wrap charity in too.”
