Osa Iyoha ’22
To most, knitting sounds like the most boring thing in the world. The idea of sitting, needles in hand, for hours on end, painstakingly creating a single article of clothing is unrewarding for most. Chemistry teacher Michelle Eichelburger thinks otherwise. “It just takes practice, it’s very relaxing, something that doesn’t require any technology, knitting needles never need to be updated.”
She started at a young age: “My mother taught me to knit when I was a little girl, but academics got in the way and I didn’t knit for a long time. Probably about 10 years ago I started to get back into it. I’m obsessed with the Outlander series, and there’s lots of knitted articles, so I started knitting some of those patterns.”
Eichelberger sources her wool from her Angora rabbits and also spins her own woolen yarn. Eichelberger also wears her pieces, saying “Any shawls you see me wear, I’ve made em.”
Emma Shuford ‘22 says, “I enjoy knitting because it is a calming activity that allows me to do something that I do not need to actively focus on. I have knitted washcloths, scarves, and socks. Most of the patterns are very similar, making the process satisfying and calming, but there is also enough variation to make it interesting as well.”
When asked about his potential interest in knitting, David Kim ‘22 says, “I want to make a beanie, or maybe a pair of earmuffs.” Knitting is an activity all can enjoy, as evidenced by Olympic diver Tom Daley, spotted knitting while watching another event.
Eichelburger also let us know that alongside Tom Daley, Patrick Stewart, a star of the show Star Trek: The Next Generation, also loves to knit.
Look forward to a time soon when Eichelberger will bring her rabbits to campus to demonstrate spinning and angora knitting techniques.