The Amador Valley Crochet and Knitting Club is a safe, creative space for artists to experiment with patterns and designs. Created during the COVID-19 pandemic, the club has grown tremendously since then, accumulating several new members.
“During the pandemic, I asked people about some of their hobbies, and several of my students said that they like to crochet and knit. So I said it’d be great if we had a crochet and knitting club here, and that’s when the first officer group got together and started the club,” said Math Teacher and Club Advisor Gauri Reyes.
President of the Crochet and Knitting Club, Isabel Lim (‘26), initially joined the club after developing an aptitude for crocheting during the pandemic. Now, as president, she has advanced her skills and started projects to help the community.
“I started crocheting during COVID because I was bored and had nothing to do. It was very therapeutic and fun, and I was able to make a ton of gifts for people,” said Lim.
Crocheting for charity
Lim recently introduced Charity Blankets, a project where members of the club crochet or knit blankets for hospitals. The project’s main goal is to spread joy to the community.
“Right now, we’re working on a blanket project in which we’re donating to a hospice center. Our next project is going to be crafting plushies and flowers,” said Lim.
Lim’s goal is to make the club an inclusive learning environment where everyone feels welcome. She tries to help members based on their skill level and tailors meetings to their needs.
“My goal for this club is to attract more members and get more people involved because it’s a really fun, easy hobby that can have a lot of benefits. I think one of the best things is that we provide a lot of materials and a space for people to work on whatever they want to and learn a new skill,” said Lim.
Over the years, the Crochet and Knitting Club has not only grown in members but also in outreach around Pleasanton.
“We are doing more different types of charity projects and getting more people involved. We get some people that are new to crochet and knitting and some are not so new, and it’s been great from that perspective,” said Reyes.
Connecting through the craft
Though people may have joined the club to share their interest in the craft, it also creates and reinforces relationships.
“In the summer, I took up crocheting because I’ve always wanted to try it. I found it really fun. I taught my mom how to crochet, and I think it’s a really good bonding experience for my mom and me,” said Katherine Chen (‘26).
All students are welcome to join, regardless of their crocheting or knitting background.
“Seeing more people come, not necessarily from the same friend group, is great because they’re unified through this [club],” said Reyes.
