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Posted: 12/02/20

TAMIU’s Knit and Wit Society Knits, Donates Scarves and Caps for Local Women’s Shelter, University PD

 

Casa De Misericordia donation
Dr. Rosemary Welsh (far right), executive director at Casa de Misericordia, accepts an assortment of knitted gifts from members of the University's Knit and Wit Society. Present at the donation was, from left to right, Dr. Kameron Jorgensen, Dr. Lola Norris, Zeina Ramos and Dr. Frances Gates Rhodes.  

A beloved campus group is making a difference for members of our local community and fellow Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) employees one stitch at a time.

TAMIU’s Knit and Wit Society (Knit & Wit), a group predominantly made up of University faculty and staff members, completed two distinct projects this year aimed at aiding women in need, as well as members of the University Police Department.

Together, Knit & Wit members knitted 25 scarves and cowls, 10 booties, two headbands and two baby caps for shelter residents at Casa De Misericordia. Other donated items included store-bought woven scarves, toiletry items, creams, perfumes, nail kits, purses and more.

“All of the treasures received from the TAMIU Knit & Wit Society will be shared with the families we are privileged to journey with at Casa de Misericordia. What makes these donations and gifts so special is that they were made with love and care and will make the recipients feel extra special,” said Sister Rosemary Welsh, executive director at Casa De Misericordia.

Additionally, University Police Department officers and dispatchers received 32 knitted caps, said Dr. Lola Norris, associate professor of Spanish and Translation and a Knit & Wit founding member.

“We also wanted to give back to the TAMIU Police Department for everything they do for the University community. We are extremely grateful for their service and support to faculty, staff, and students,” Norris explained.

Founded by current, retired and former University faculty members, including Norris, Dr. Frances Gates Rhodes, Dr. Jyotsna Mukherji and Dr. Cristina Garrigós, Knit & Wit members have met monthly for nearly 10 years to knit and crochet. Recently, they have welcomed members who cross-stitch, embroider and craft.

Rhodes, a Knit & Wit founding member and retired associate professor of English at the University, reflected on what Knit & Wit means to her, saying, "We have great fun, great conversations, great projects, great food, and a lot of loving sisterhood and support in times of trouble as well as joy."

Current members of Knit & Wit also include Dr. Angelique Blackburn, Dr. Deborah Blackwell, Ana Clamont, Dr. Kaitlyn Culliton, Malynda Dalton, Elizabeth DeZouche, Dr. Conchita Hickey, Dr. Kameron Jorgensen, Dr. Abigail Meert, Kimber Palmer and Dr. Elizabeth Terrazas. Additional members include Dr. Weam Al-Tameemi, Dr. Ula Klein and Myssi Whitfield.

Blackburn, an assistant professor of Psychology noted the impact Knit & Wit in both her personal and professional life. "When I first came to TAMIU, I didn't know how to knit, but K&W provided a welcome community. I met women who were fully committed to our school and our city. The support of this group is a large part of the reason I fell in love with TAMIU and decided to make Laredo my home," said Blackburn

Currently, Knit & Wit is open to University faculty, students, and community members. Diverse both in its skill-level and makeup, prospective members can join at different skill levels ranging from beginners to long-time knitters and crocheters. With members coming from different backgrounds and parts of the world, the close-knit collective has established strong ties of friendship and sisterhood that go beyond knitting and crocheting, said Norris.

“We are a very diverse group. We are learning a great deal from each other not only in terms of knitting or crocheting, but also in so many other ways: traditions, customs, cultural expression, languages, etc.,” Norris emphasized.

For Blackwell, an associate professor of History at the University and current Knit & Wit member, the experience was both familiar and meaningful.

"My grandmother had a group of crafty girlfriends who called themselves the 'Sticht and Chatter Club' and met in each other's homes once a month for more than 50 years. I remember well how much that group meant to her, and I have found much of the same camaraderie in Knit & Wit, where we can learn a lot, eat yummy food, and talk up a storm about every subject imaginable," said Blackwell. 

Throughout the years, Knit & Wit members have contributed to several international, national, and local organizations, including knitting caps for newborns in Asia, Africa and Latin America via Caps for Good; quilt squares for blankets for AIDS patients in South Africa; blue and red scarves for the Special Olympics; purple caps, scarves, booties, and ninja dolls for the Purple Stich Project; scarves for Navajo elders, and caps for foster children in the Austin area.

Locally, the group donated knitted items to the Sacred Heart Children’s Home and the groundskeeper crew at the University. 

Mukherji, a professor of Marketing at the University and Knit & Wit founding member, shared her experience helping form the group, and the community projects that meant most to her. 

“I was keen to learn a craft and had joined a group in the public library where the women knit and spoke mainly Spanish. I realized how much I enjoyed both. One day I mentioned to Frances what I was doing, and the idea of a group on campus took birth. What I enjoy is that this activity whether done in people's lovely homes with interesting treats to munch on, or virtually is a wonderful way to spend time and be one's self. This group expresses the best of human interaction, kindness, telling stories and teaching each other, instructions in knitting crocheting and patterns. One project that has left an indelible mark on me is the caps for kids in developing countries. All of us instinctively planted a kiss on the baby caps and wrote a note to the ma. I am really fortunate to be in the company my crafty sisters," said Mukherji.

When the pandemic reached Laredo and classes migrated to an online platform in March, members of Knit & Wit found new ways to stay “in the loop” and maintain their close ties. Initially, members created a WhatsApp group to stay in touch. Then, members discovered their silver lining as emerging technologies allowed them to connect virtually.

“For me, Knit & Wit means belonging to a community. It is giving me hope of accomplishing meaningful projects other than Math projects and it is helping me establish new friendships,” said Dr. Weam Al-Tameemi, former assistant professor of Mathematics at the University and current Knit & Wit member.

Dr. Ula Klein, former assistant professor of English at the University and current Knit & Wit member, echoed those sentiments, saying, "Even though I haven't been able to make it lately, I think about Knit & Wit all the time. Not only did our group help me learn how to crochet, but it helped me become a part of the TAMIU community." 

Knit & Wit members began meeting through Zoom and while the experience was very different from in-person meetings, members noticed they began meeting more frequently than just once a month. The group would meet every two weeks and continued their sessions throughout the summer months – something they had never done before due to the academic schedule.

“It was wonderful to craft together again and to share our experiences, our trials and tribulations through the pandemic,” said Norris. 

For Norris and fellow Knit & Wit members, these collective projects truly brought people together, even in a virtual environment. 

“Knitting and crocheting have been shown to have many physical and mental benefits. For many of us, engaging in these crafts is a form of meditation that alleviates anxiety and stress. It is also amazing to be able to create items by hand that are beautiful and useful and show that we care,” Norris reiterated, “With Knit & Wit, we have built a strong community of fellow knitters who craft together, teach each other, and support each other. This is very important, especially during these difficult times when we are forced to be apart. Knitting, crocheting, cross-stitching, etc. are also time-honored traditions that people engage in all over the world, so we feel we are part of a global community.”

For more information on TAMIU’s Knit & Wit Society, contact Dr. Lola Norris at 956.326.2648 or email lonorris@tamiu.edu.

 

Thirty-two knitted caps were given to TAMIU Police Department officers and dispatchers by members of the University’s Knit & Wit Society. Present to accept the donations were (from left to right) Fructuoso San Miguel, University chief of police; Lino Sanchez, lieutenant; Dr. Frances Gates Rhodes, retired assistant professor of English and Knit & Wit founding member; Roque Velasco, captain; Jose P. Ugarte, police officer; and Dr. Lola Norris, associate professor of Spanish and Translation.

Thirty-two knitted caps were given to TAMIU Police Department officers and dispatchers by members of the University’s Knit & Wit Society. Present to accept the donations were (from left to right) Fructuoso San Miguel, University chief of police; Lino Sanchez, lieutenant; Dr. Frances Gates Rhodes, retired assistant professor of English and Knit & Wit founding member; Roque Velasco, captain; Jose P. Ugarte, police officer; and Dr. Lola Norris, associate professor of Spanish and Translation.