Why knitting (or any type of extra-curricular) is essential for a student’s well being
The start of the term is well underway, but it’s never too late to pick up a new hobby. Victoria College’s knitting club, cleverly named CommunKNITy, is providing students with an opportunity to break free from the stress of upcoming deadlines. According to the VUSAC club website, the group aims to “bring students together and foster connection through knitting, crocheting, and other yarn crafts.” I was privileged to speak to Faith Wershba, Stranded Editor and founder of CommunKNITy. Faith was inspired to start this club after learning to knit from her sister in winter 2022. She found solace in the project and decided to start the club, which aims to “foster an inclusive and collaborative environment where members can learn from each other.” She believes that “finding community through this shared practice motivated [her] to create a space where people interested in fibre arts and mental wellness could come together and form new friendships.”
Your club description says that you aim to “provide a safe space to decompress, connect, and unwind.” Why do you think that these are vital for a student’s mental health?
As students living in a high-energy city, many of our days are dominated by activities that require intense focus and attention. It can become exhausting if our brains don’t receive other forms of lower-intensity stimulation. [Knitting] provides just enough stimulation to help me distract, while allowing me to slow down and process my thoughts and feelings. This sort of decompression is necessary for me to recharge and maintain a sense of wellbeing.
Do you consider knitting an art form?
For me, the practice of knitting is what I find most meaningful, rather than the product that emerges. Insofar as art is about the process of creation, I would say that knitting is absolutely an art form. It is a way to channel your creative energy into something tangible, to simultaneously focus your attention and unplug.
When and where does your group meet?
We meet every Thursday at 5pm in the Wymilwood Lounge of the Goldring Student Centre! You can find us on Instagram @vic.commuknity and follow our partner club @UTknits!
There you have it, folks: CommuKNITy has you covered! Try something fun this semester and pick up a pair of knitting needles, or just drop by and start a conversation. You never know where a new experience might lead.
