The Close-Knit Textiles Club is a student-led organization open to any students with an interest in working with textiles.
The club was established in the Fall 2022 semester by a group of students who wanted to make a fun environment related to their shared love for textile work.
“The reason that we started this club is because we wanted to have an outlet to let ourselves and other students who are interested in textiles be able to have a place to do those things outside of school projects,” the club’s social media manager Jennifer Hauber said.
Kennesaw State has its own Textile and Surface Design program, operating from the Marietta campus. While several club members major in Textile and Surface Design, the club is open to those who major in other fields.
“Even before the club, I did not have any experience [with knitting] at all,” club member J’Mya Cutter said. “I was at the open club event on the Marietta campus and when I saw it, I was like, ‘You know what? This is a good opportunity for me to learn how to knit and meet other people in the same environment trying to do the same thing.’”
The Close-Knit Textiles Club has previously collaborated with other organizations for events. In November 2022, the club worked with KSU’s LGBTQ Resource Center, KSU Apparel and Textiles Program and Atlanta Pride to host the Transgender Awareness Month Fashion Show.
“At the Transgender Awareness Month Fashion Show, I was the makeup artist for a majority of the models there,” said club member Gianna Stellato. “I’m definitely looking forward to this spring fashion show because I’m planning on putting in a couple pieces of my own.”
The fashion show was loved by club members and there are plans for another one in the future as there are desires for other community projects, according to club Treasurer Arlis West.
“We also want to branch out into helping more with our local communities and giving back,” West said. “Things like the crochet movie night was for us to make pieces of clothing to give back to a women’s shelter, since it is winter.”
Club activities involve working with varieties of textile-related mediums, including creating installation pieces, knitting, weaving, draping and drafting.
“A lot of people think we’re just a knitting club just because of the title of the club,” Hauber said. “I totally get it but we’re open to doing a lot more textile formations like crochet, sewing, upcycling or even printing on clothes. We want to do everything!”
The club meets on Monday evenings at the W. Clair Harris Textile Building on the Marietta Campus. For more details about the Close-Knit Textiles Club, visit its page on OwlLife.
“I am very happy that our members on the board decided to start this club,” Stellato said. “I’m really excited that this is something new that we can start to do and improve and over time hopefully blossom into something beautiful.”