Knit & Chat – a place for community and creativity on campus
You don't have to knit or talk to be able to participate when the Student Health Service together with the Student Union arranges Knit & Chat. A coffee, a conversation, maybe a little try out some needlework is enough to come.
A couple of mandala books, colored pencils, knitting needles and crochet hooks, a plastic box with balls of yarn are on the table. It's Wednesday afternoon and time for a new round of Knit & Chat in the students' house in Östersund. One by one, the students, they appear. They greet each other, sit down, start unpacking crochet hooks and yarn, embroidery cloths and needles. A student has brought his computer, that's perfectly fine too. You don't have to do handicrafts to participate.
"It's more about creating a place for students who don't necessarily want to go to the pub, to have an activity that isn't linked to alcohol," says Linda Näsström, Health Strategist at the Student Health Service.
Linda was involved in starting up Knit & Chat about a year ago, and she is usually there when it is arranged, every other Wednesday.
" We have many students who feel lonely. It is not necessarily them who find their way here, but it is important to have activities," says Linda and adds:
"It's also important to know that this is a safe place for the students, here you can be who you are. The conversations we have here stop here.
A good vibe and always someone to help
Tuva Lindqvist, who is studying social work, has been involved in Knit & Chat since she started at Mid Sweden University last autumn.
"It's a good vibe here. You meet people who are like-minded and you can sit here and talk about anything.
She is currently working on creating a crocheted version of spongebob. It will be given to her little brother, who recently bought his first car. SpongeBob will be able to hang from the rearview mirror.
Next to Tuva sits Emilia Nilsson who is studying the foundation year. Emilia crochets a purple yarn around it, in the end it will be a coaster. Emilia found out about Stick & Talk from a classmate.
" She always sits and knits during lectures, she was the one who told me about this and since then I've been here," she says.
When Emilia started at Knit & Chat, she wanted to learn how to crochet small stuffed animals, amigurumi. It turned out to be a perfect opportunity to learn.
" I always get a lot of support here. I started by watching youtube videos but here you can always ask someone.
Every other Wednesday at 15.00 you can go to Knit & Chat in the students' house on campus in Östersund. The Student Union offers coffee. It has also begun to be arranged in Sundsvall, where it is every other Tuesday from 3.30 p.m. in the new union building Fire Brigade.
More about the Student Health Service
Join the Student Health Service's group in Teams
Linda Näsström, this week's group, Emilia Nilsson and Tuva Lindqvist:
