The University Student Fibers Guild proves that knitting isn't just for old ladies.

By Melinda Hugo

All the stars are doing it. Julia Roberts. David Arquette. Even Dakota Fanning. You can read all about them in Vogue Knitting.

Video Emily May talks about the Guild's chemotherapy caps program. Slideshow Pictures of Guild activities.

It’s not exactly what University of Oregon senior Sara Asher Morris was looking for when she began studying ancient crafts for her archaeology degree. Morris’ interest in learning arts and crafts of classical civilizations started with learning trades you’d never see Julia Roberts trying, such as metalsmithing and flint knapping. When it came time to learn the ancient craft of knitting, Morris found the hot hobby that would soon sweep the nation.

Morris co-founded the University Student Fibers Guild shortly after learning to knit four years ago. The group brings together students and members of the community to learn and practice spinning and dyeing wool, and mostly, to knit together.

Guild founder Sara Asher Morris knits a cap for herself.

For those who haven’t caught on yet, knitting can conjure images of stuffy old ladies. “A lot of people think I learned from my grandmother,” Morris said. “Which I didn’t.” Or she gets odd, humoring looks that she reads as, “Oh my God, she’s an old maid already.” But the Guild is full of young people who sought out knitting. Morris estimates there are about 50 students on its mailing list, and its Sunday afternoon knitting corners have been very popular. A recent session overfilled the room capacity of 20 people, and university staff made the group break up the party.

The Guild often sponsors field trips to local sheep farms (and an occasional alpaca farm) on shearing days. The trips offer students the opportunity to learn about the fibers process. For those who just like to knit, they offer insights into their passion.

The thing about knitting is once you start, there’s no stopping. “It’s extremely addictive,” Morris said. The Guild offers lessons, and if people make it through the first session, they tend to stick with it, she said.

A USFG field trip to McTavish Farm in Eugene allowed students to experience the fibers process beginning with the shearing of the sheep.

Morris seldom goes a day without knitting for at least two hours. It’s such an ingrained habit that she multitasks her projects with chatting online, watching television, and even doing her homework. “Once you get to a certain point, it’s really relaxing,” she said. When midterms get stressful, Morris goes into knitting overdrive. A typical sweater takes her about three weeks to complete. One particularly nerve-racking term she completed a sweater in a third of that time.

That same term, Morris spun so much excess wool that she ended up selling what she couldn’t use. That’s a rarity for Morris and the Guild. First of all, considering supplies and labor, selling wool or finished products is hardly cost effective. But mostly, the Guild is in the business of making items for charity.

The group’s first project, an afghan for Womenspace, involved all the student members and people from the community and took almost a year to complete. The group recently sold caps to raise money for Hurricane Katrina relief. Their current enterprise is making caps for premature babies and chemotherapy patients. Baby clothing companies don’t make hats small enough for preemies, Morris said. The brightly colored, handmade caps are a warm departure from hospital garb.

Students and members of the community knit caps for premature babies, part of the USFG's charity program.

The chemotherapy cap program is especially important to the Guild’s volunteer coordinator, Emily May. The death of a close friend to cancer led May to start knitting. Once she joined the Guild, she found the opportunity to come full circle with her friend. Guild and community members have been extremely receptive to the volunteer knitting program. All the Guild’s yarn and equipment have been donated, along with the time people put into knitting for those in need. “We have a very generous community. Thank God,” Morris said.

May is setting up an event to take the chemotherapy caps to the hospital. “It’s nice to meet the patients when we take the hats,” she said. “We want to make a personal connection and show that someone cares for them and hopes that they recover and that they can make a hat for someone else when they do recover.”

The Guild is built on this kind of community. A recent knitting corner brought together students with non-students Tim Peters of Junction City and Mika Watanabe of Eugene. Peters worked on a hat with the knitting skill he had developed in just a few weeks since his first lesson. He hoped knitting would help him maintain the coordination he needs as a jazz musician. Watanabe worked on a sweater for her 2-year-old son. While occasionally stopping to ask for help, Watanabe and the Guild members were there mostly to enjoy the knitting community.

Morris acknowledges the trend that has made knitting hip. “There’s a strange little revolution,” she said. “I hope it lasts.”