By Robin Gamble
The ETX Common Thread is a crochet/knitting group created by Ijeoma “EJ” Unegbu. She began this group in September 2023 as a way to build women up. Today, the group has grown to about 125 members.
This is an East Texas group for anyone age 18 and above who knits or crochets. The goal is to meet monthly at a local coffee shop or any location conducive to a group of knitters and crocheters in the goal toward community.
Unegbu said she really got to thinking about ETX Common Thread post-covid as a non-competitive way to build community and combat loneliness. “It’s not about politics or drama.This is about the loneliness epidemic,” she said.
It doesn’t matter your background or social status or even your ability level. At any given meeting, you will find crafters from complete novices to experienced artisans. Nichole Henry came to a meet-up as a beginner without any knowledge of crocheting. She learned a few basics and made some new friends. Henry said she was an empty nester and wanted to learn some things for herself and be more creative, to explore her creative side.
Group leader, EJ, encourages pouring back into the community by supporting local coffee shops with the monthly meet-ups. Members enjoy coffee and pastries while crocheting and knitting. Occasionally, meetings are held at other local establishments such as Laurel and Pearl and Barnes and Noble. Most meetings are on a weekend but occasionally some are held during the week.
In between monthly meetings, members post WIPS, works in progress, and finished items to the group’s Facebook page.
At the last two meetings, the group incorporated a blind date with a book exchange in addition to crocheting and knitting. This idea came about after discussing books that everyone had read and what some favorites were.
In July, everyone will bring a complete project to gift to someone else. It will be a Christmas in July themed meeting.
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