Exploring the happiness found in crafting

By: Janisa Cook

Nimble hands weave yarn-wrapped crochet hooks in a steady rhythm, while some others thread a needle through cloth. When a finished product is shared for all to admire, the room responds with smiles and support.

The sounds of chill music and soft chatter fill classroom 235 on the second floor of Miller Hall. Soft lighting creates a warm atmosphere within the room of people gathered. Meet Cozy Club, a Western student club that finds its euphoria in sewing, crocheting, crafting and more.

Cozy Club is “a space where we meet and talk to each other, give each other advice on crafts and just sit there and hang out,” says Rory Abel, the president of Cozy Club and a first-year at Western.

Members do a variety of crafts, adds Gwyn Teel, the vice president of Cozy Club and a first-year as well. Favorites are knitting and crocheting, but sometimes people do embroidery, mending, or even needle felting.

Teel weaves bright coral yarn on crochet hooks. They chat with a new Cozy Club participant as their hands work at a steady pace. By the next meeting, Teel wears two original coral armbands and a matching-colored hat.

“I think it can be sort of euphoric, to connect over a shared interest and also be able to see what other people are doing and learn about different kinds of crafts,” Teel shares. “For me, I don't really enjoy adrenaline or thrill-seeking. I have the best time when I'm really relaxed. And that relaxation is kind of what euphoria means for me.”

Many people in Cozy Club are fulfilled through crafting in a shared space.

“It's satisfying and it gives me a sense of pride when I think of something and I’m like ‘Oh I want to make this’ and I can go and make that thing,” Abel says. “It's nice to go with people that understand the hobby and be able to talk about your frustrations with this project.”

Cozy Club provides a sense of community for craft-loving students. The chill atmosphere provides a means for strangers to make connections, bonding through the joy of a shared interest.

“When you have a community aspect, you're bouncing ideas off of each other and connecting over that,” says Elli Anderson, artist and owner of Art and Happiness, a Bellingham arts and crafts store. “Not only are you talking about crafting, but it leads to talking about other aspects of your life…And so then it builds friendships.”

Teel, wearing the coral hat and armbands they created, describes what inclusivity means to Cozy Club.

“It's a pretty diverse club,” Teel says. “I think that people tend to think of fiber arts and crafts as being old lady hobbies. But there's actually a really big array of people that do them across genders.”

Anybody can come to Cozy Club, Abel chimes in. Club regulars don’t judge visitors, who may even choose to hang out without working on a craft for their first visits.

Members of the Cozy Club are even willing to help inexperienced crafters who wish to learn. However, both Abel and Teel agree that the biggest challenge is affording supplies.

Art and Happiness provides a 10% discount to students. While they mainly offer paper craft supplies, the store does carry a decent variety of art supplies.

The joy of crafting lies in the endless possibilities and community it provides. From knitting to collage, Cozy Club’s door is open.