Since last semester, Dickinson has been treated to the crocheting talents of an anonymous samaritan. If you have been lucky enough on campus, you will recognize and appreciate the calling card of the person identifying as The Crochet Dyke. We have them to thank for the shawls, hats and scarves that appear in school buildings. Beyond these, they also plan to branch out into making bags and other accessories. 

They have been practicing this fiber artform for a decade, but have only started sharing their talents with the public since last semester. It started as a stress project to keep their hands busy during exam season, and has since evolved into something of a passion project. This brought up the choice in giving these items away versus selling them. High quality handmade goods like these can be sold for a steep price depending on the item. One reason behind giving the garments out instead of earning off of them is their hesitance to monetize a hobby. They justifiably believe that expecting something in return could simply diminish the enjoyment of the activity. 

On top of personal reasons, they went on to talk about many college students are broke and “a lot of college students can’t like afford like a $10 scarf, but I know I can afford a $2 ball of yarn.” Aside from this, the sheer amount of items they produce have no home in their decisively compact wardrobe, and they would rather see the pieces off to find homes with people who may need cold weather gear. It’s admirable that they use this fun, disciplined crocheting skill in a way that brings joy to their peers. 

The Crochet Dyke posts their creations on Yik Yak, with the location being included in the post’s caption. The accessories also often come with notes indicating that they are free for the taking.