Finding community through Fiber Feelings
Editor's Note: This blog features a student perspective on the Fiber Feelings program, an informal weekly gathering initiated by Residential Case Manager Amy Thoren.
I first came across the Fiber Feelings program while sitting on a couch in the SDRP lounge. A nice lady asked if I wanted to learn how to knit, and I decided to give it a try since I had time. I could have never imagined how much I would learn and grow through the program.
The wonderful lady, who I learned was Amy, taught me the basics of knitting: how to cast on, the garter stitch, and how to count stitches. I enjoyed practicing it, and I soon asked to learn more. In the next few weeks, I would learn how to do a purl stitch, how to make holes, and how to create a stockinette pattern. It was fun being able to see myself creating a fun textile piece, and the act of knitting itself was enjoyable in its therapeutic repetitive motion.
The community around Fiber Feelings was something I immediately realized was special. There were some people who came every week to work on their projects, and there were others that came because they wanted Amy’s assistance. There were also those that stumbled by the program while walking through SDRP or were sitting on a couch near where the program was set up who were then invited to participate in the program. It was wonderful to see some of them go through the same process I had just gone through and seeing them start from the beginning with Amy’s patient guidance.
My small project soon became a sizable length of yarn, documenting a history of the stitches I had learned. I started to look forward to meeting everyone again on Friday, and through Amy’s suggestion, I went on a popular knitting pattern website she recommended and found a scarf I wanted to make. I excitedly showed her the pattern the following week, and she taught me how to read a pattern and how to get started.
It took much trial and error to put the pattern into practice, and I quickly found out the many challenges knitting can bring. I had to restart the project at least four times as I kept messing up the pattern, forgetting which row I was working on, and losing my stitches. Each time I restarted, I learned valuable lessons that I put in practice the next time I tried. This kind of firsthand exploration of knitting was extremely beneficial to the knitting journey and my personal self-growth. Sometimes I would be able to painstakingly work it out myself through searching on the internet, while other times I would wait for next Friday to come so I could ask Amy.
Either way, Fridays for me became a source of anticipation. I couldn’t wait to see all the regulars, catch up with them, and see what they were working on. After all the challenges I faced with the scarf, Amy taught me how to tink, which is the process of carefully undoing all of your stitches. It was slow and tedious, but it became a lifesaver for me in the future. She also taught me how to frog, a more aggressive form of tinking that was both exhilarating and nerve-wrecking. Little by little, knitting became easier as I could now read which row I was on just by looking at my project.
The most miraculous thing happened during this project. As someone who does not usually have a lot of patience, I was forced to adjust my mindset while knitting. Since I was still a beginner, I would make so many mistakes, many that were daunting to tackle. At first I would get confused and even a little frustrated with myself, but after learning and practicing to undo mistakes, I no longer feared them. Instead, I learned how to be more forgiving with myself and to face my mistakes head-on so that when one slipped through the cracks, I knew exactly how to undo them.
I worked on my scarf everywhere: on the bus, in changing rooms, during study sessions, on the plane back to California during spring break, and at my dorm. It was a project that I looked forward to working on every day, and I explored switching out different colors while knitting. Through many hours of hard work, I had created something that I loved and could wear in the colder months, even though by the time I finished the project, the weather was already starting to warm. It was just another little reminder of how much time had passed since I was introduced to the program.
After finishing my first big project, I explored some more advanced patterns, stitches, and colors. I started learning how to crochet completely independently, and through online videos, tutorials, and patterns, I was able to create small plush figures of my favorite animals that now sit on my desk and make me happy whenever I look at them.
I was only able to muster up the courage to independently learn a new craft through my experience with learning how to knit with Amy. I am now more confident in my own ability to learn and handle challenges, both in terms of a project and in life in general. I’m so glad to have been able to meet Amy and participate in this program, and I hope to continue being a part of the program in future semesters.
Editor's Note: Residential case managers support residents through a variety of challenges, and you may also see them in Housing buildings as they host Wellness Wednesday tabling and informal programs like Fiber Feelings, which takes place on Fridays from 2:30-4 p.m. in the lobby of the SDRP. Feel free to stop by, say hello, and join their activities! You can learn more about residential case managers online and book time to meet with an RCM in Champaign halls or Urbana halls.
