Cozy creations

As the cold weather rolls in, an old hobby is reaching a younger generation: knitting and crocheting are no longer just for grandmothers.

Across campus, students are knitting and crocheting hats, scarves and blankets. Junior dance performance and choreography major from Magnolia, Miss., Cheryl Cornacchione, said her mother sparked her interest in crocheting as a young girl.

“It’s nice to do because it’s not a heavy thinking activity. You let your hands do the work and let your mind wander,” said Cornacchione.

Cornacchione keeps very little of what she makes for herself. She gives most of her creations away as gifts.

“I like making big afghans. It usually takes me several months. It’s kind of exciting when I put it all together,” said Cornacchione.

A group of Southern Miss women meet weekly to drink coffee, talk about men, and of course, knit and crochet.

One of these women, Becca Scott, a mass communication and journalism graduate student from Vicksburg, Miss., began knitting when she learned a friend was expecting a baby.

Scott later taught the skill to another friend, Madison Johnston, sophomore history major from Vicksburg. Senior fashion merchandising major from Sumrall, Miss., Erin Blount and USM graduate Rosie Ricks from Chalmette, La., crochet instead of knit.

In knitting, two needles are used whereas in crocheting, only one is needed. The women jokingly argue over which method is better.

“There’s an inner war between knitters and crotcheters, but I will always love anyone who works with yarn,” said Scott.

Johnston only knits using wooden needles and mostly wool. The group knits and crochets everywhere, from bars to bowling alleys to coffee shops.

Scott even has a pair of electric light-up knitting needles for the dark atmosphere of bars.

“Its good for gifts; it’s a cheap hobby,” said Scott. “It’s affordable, and you can take it anywhere. I always have it in my car.”

Ricks said, “It’s easier than buying stuff and it’s cheaper.”

They sell all of the items they make each week at the farmer’s market. The women mostly make scarves, but sometimes Blount crochets a scarf and Ricks makes a matching hat to be sold as a set.

Some people call students who knit and crochet “old ladies.” Johnston jokingly said, “I hit them with my knitting needles; it hurts.