Gardner-Webb Students Start Needlework Club Focused on Crafting, Community, and Creativity

Threaded Together Welcomes Both Experienced and Beginner Crafters

By Marianne Luedeman, GWU-Today Lead Writer

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—A group of Gardner-Webb students have started a new needlework club named Threaded Together. Officially recognized by the Student Government Association, the club has an interest meeting today, April 23, from 4-7 p.m. in Room 103, Dover Library.

Club members hope to educate about textile arts, provide a crafting community on campus and showcase creative projects made by members.

Threaded Together was founded by students Forest Blackston, Storm Brooks, Jasmine Kremer, and Slawka Ndubuisi. Kremer and Brooks serve as co-presidents, Blackston serves as vice president, and Ndubuisi serves as treasurer.

“Threaded Together is a needlework club about everything textile. It’s a relaxing environment to be social and do art together,” said Kremer. Blackston further added that “the club is big on community.”

Brooks continued, “This is a really good community, and even if you have anxiety about coming to the club meetings because you have little experience or don’t know anyone, come and join us anyway because you never know what friends you are going to make.”

Each member of the club’s executive board also emphasized the educational aspect of the group. “We’re more than willing to teach people who don’t know how to do any needlework and welcome them into our community,” noted Blackston.

Club members intend to teach crochet, knitting, sewing, embroidery, weaving, and other types of textile-based art. In the upcoming school year, the executive board said they plan to host events featuring large-scale creative projects, community projects like creating donatable clothing, and practical educational events like teaching students how to repair ripped clothes.

The club currently hosts weekly hangout sessions, where others are invited to join them and communally work on needlework projects. These sessions are on Tuesdays from 4-6 p.m. at the Tucker Student Center food court.

Threaded Together has 16 members and has existed unofficially since September 2023, originally beginning as a passion project of Blackston and Brooks. “It started when Forest taught me how to crochet and asked if I would want to be in a crochet club. From there, we kickstarted an unofficial club,” noted Brooks.

“There is so much work and heart that has been put into this club, even before it was official,” continued Blackston.

For more information about the club or upcoming club meetings, Kremer can be reached at [email protected] and Blackston can be reached at [email protected].

Writer Marianne Luedeman, ’25, is a journalism major.

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at Gardner-Webb.edu.