The Fibers Club threads artistry and collaborations by crafting fun projects and friendships here at Arkansas State University. 

The Fibers Club teaches students various techniques and skills related to fiber-based artworks, such as sewing, crocheting, knitting, felting, machine gun tufting, beading, fabric echo printing and more. 

It encourages students to improve their skills and knowledge through various student and professor-led demonstrations. The club began in the fall when Kristen Franyutti, assistant professor of drawing + fiber, asked one of her students, Lauren Vansandt, to create the Fibers Club together. 

“As the fiber arts professor, my intention was to establish a club that would enable students to delve into various facets of fiber art and provide a platform for interaction and cooperation among students from different areas of the campus and the Jonesboro community,” Franyutti said.

Franyutti wanted to expand her reach in teaching fiber arts to a wider range of students, providing opportunities and connections to those who could not enroll in studio courses.

Vansandt, a senior fine arts major with an emphasis in fiber arts from DeWitt, Arkansas, is president of the club. 

Vansandt helped create the club alongside Franyutti when the newly offered fiber arts course piqued interest in the craft.

“The club is all about finding community in creating fiber arts,” Vansandt said. “We all love to sit and chit-chat while working on our own individual projects.”

Franyutti, the club’s adviser, said she helps gather materials, tools and demos for student members.

“I also bring in my own professional fiber-based artwork to work on while the students are working on their own project,” Franyutti said. “This allows students to have a behind-the-scenes look at how professional artists create their work.”

Vansandt said her favorite thing about the club is the friends she has made from various majors outside the art department.

“Whether you’re into sewing, crocheting, knitting, felting or all of the above, you’re welcome here. This is a safe space,” Vansandt said.

Emily Briones, a first-year graphic design major from Bryant, Arkansas, joined the club during the last fall semester when she first heard about the club through Katherine Baker, Ph.D., an associate professor of art history. Baker mentioned the club in her art history class and Briones then began to ask around until she found someone who could send her a picture of the Fibers Club flier.

”My favorite thing about being in the Fibers Club is that I’ve made new friends who crochet,” Briones said. “This club is important to me because it allows me to connect with others who also enjoy my favorite hobby and it gives me dedicated time to work on my crochet projects.”

Briones wants to let people know that although the majority of the members in the Fibers Club mainly crochet, all other fiber arts are welcomed. 

“Even if you aren’t experienced in a particular fiber art form, you are always welcome to join the club and learn,” she said.

The Fibers Club meets at the Fine Arts Center in room 217, alternating between Thursday and Friday at 1:30 p.m. each week.

Categories: Life