Language arts instructor Katie Brekke formed the Magi Crochet Club with 30 members in its first year. Keeley, a senior, is among the club’s 19 members this year.

As her passion for crocheting has grown, Keeley said, she’s created numerous items to be donated or sold through the club and even more just for her own fun.

“I have lots of stuff at home in a bin – if I ever get an idea,” she said of her yarn supply. “Like, for my cats, I made hats for them.”

Brekke, who has crocheted since age 7 after learning from her grandmother, said the club focuses on donating, teaching, collaborating, creating and selling crocheted items.

Submitted Photo Trophies specially designed with yarn and crochet hooks will be awarded at an end-of-the-year banquet to recognize Magi Crochet Club members who have made the significant strides or contributions in the craft.

“The only requirement is they have to take classes until they are proficient,” Brekke said. “Then they have to come to two meetings a month.” They also must do 10 hours of volunteer work, either crocheting items to donate or helping at vendor booths.

The club has donated beanies to Trinity Cancer Care Center and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and also collaborated with Trinity to provide newborns with Viking beanies during the week of Norsk Hostfest. The plan is to crochet cowboy hats for the babies born around the time of the State Fair.

The latest project involves making cat blankets for the Souris Valley Animal Shelter. The club also conducted a plastic bag donation drive, then used the collections to create crocheted plastic totes to sell on the Magi Day of Giving. All proceeds will go to the Minot Area Homeless Coalition.

In addition, club members have sold their handiwork at Norsk Hostfest and plan to do so again this year in a larger booth that will enable them to offer classes.

The club sells to the public online. Anyone interested in the link can contact the club at magicrochetclub@gmail.com or Brekke at katie.brekke@minot.k12.nd.us. The club also takes custom orders and accepts yarn donations.

Submitted Photo Members of the Magi Crochet Club take a field trip to The Big One Arts & Crafts Show in Minot in April. Shown are: back, Arlene Sharp, Madison Tinck, Drew Pursifull, Ashlyn Stacy, Bayleigh Tybo; front, Adviser Katie Brekke, Claire Keeley, Allie Wallin, Havanna Metzger, Mikayal Wilson, Mckenzie Bruce and Jurnee Rust.

Spots remain open for community classes the club is hosting next week. Beginner crochet classes for the public, ages 7 and older, are being held Tuesday, May 6, and Friday, May 9, from 3:30-5:30 p.m. in Room 206 at Minot High School. The fee – $30 for one class or $50 for both – includes supplies and one-on-one instruction from experienced crocheters. Eight students will be assisting several instructors recruited from the community.

Brekke noted the club recently was approved for a graduation honor cord for its seniors at Minot High. It also recently was accepted into the Crochet Guild of America, which opens the door for members to attend national retreats and enter their charitable work into donation competitions.

Arlene Sharp, a junior, joined the club this year because she wanted to get involved in an extracurricular activity and has always enjoyed crafts.

“It’s easier to learn if you already know how to knit, and I already knew how to knit, so I thought it was something I could do,” Sharp said.

Having opportunities to donate items is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the club for her.

“It’s not just something to do. It’s something to help. So, it feels bigger than just a craft,” Sharp said.

“I like making gifts for people,” agreed Kiera Aguilar, a senior who joined the club last year because it looked like fun.

Jurnee Rust, a senior and club president, has been crocheting as long as she can remember.

“I do it mostly by touch because I can’t see too well,” said Rust, whose vision is limited due to a brain tumor when she was younger. She prefers developing her own patterns and has made a large afghan blanket worn by a therapy horse in the State Parade. Like many club members, her favorite items to crochet are stuffed animals. She said she crochets almost every day.

“I like doing that once I get home from work,” Rust said. “It’s something to decompress after a long day.”