During Fairfield’s spring 2024 semester, Stags Stitch– a campus club tailored to students who would either like to learn or enjoy embroidering, knitting or crocheting– hosted a kickoff event with the university’s Wellness Center for their Comfort Shawl/Blanket Program. Today, the club is continuing to sew meaningful pieces for individuals with physical and mental health issues in Stag Country and the local area.
“Stags Stitch is a great club that has helped to build community. I love that this group of students have taken the club to the next level by starting a comfort shawl/blanket program,” said club advisor and Fairfield nursing professor Audrey Beauvais. “This service activity uses the club members’ talents to do something meaningful for those experiencing a difficult time.”
Area hospitals including Yale New Haven Health System and Hartford Healthcare approached Beauvais about the club making shawls for their patients. Embracing this idea, Stags Stitch expanded the initiative to patients throughout local Fairfield. According to Stags Stitch President Rebecca Beauvais, three major goals of the club are providing handcrafted shawls for those in need, fostering community and connection through a service project and promoting a wellness activity that “has the potential to decrease anxieties.”
The Comfort Shawl/Blanket Program collaborates with various clubs and organizations on campus to further its impact and spread awareness. The Assistant Director of Health and Wellness, Pamela Paulmann, volunteered to pay for supplies such as yarn and hooks through the wellness budget – as long as club members can teach others how to crochet.
To incorporate a religious aspect, Stags Stitch partnered with Campus Ministry to have their items blessed before delivery. Shawls are stitched in a pattern of three to represent the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. The club has additionally worked with Public Health Club, Social Work Club and Student Nurses Association on campus.
“My comfort shawl was the most meaningful postoperative gift that I received,” said nursing faculty member Christa Esposito, P.hD., who received her own shawl after going through surgery. “I felt that it wrapped me in love and peace after my bilateral mastectomy surgery. I am truly blessed by the kindness and generosity of my Fairfield family and forever grateful to the Stags Stitch Club for aiding in my recovery.”
Members also include crocheted and knitted miniature hearts to give to patients in addition to shawls.
Crocheting novices start with crocheting only small squares, squares in which experienced members will sew together into a blanket as a donation to the Wellness Center and support for students seeking their services. The club hopes to finish this blanket by the end of the academic year.
Rebecca Beauvais said, “Knitting and crocheting according to the literature helps to decrease anxieties.” She further mentioned its connection to the Jesuit mission and being a man and woman for others.
“We are looking at the entire person– cura personalis– mind, body and spirit by providing these blessed handcrafted items to those struggling emotionally or physically,” she continued.
About half a dozen shawls have been donated already or will be donated soon.
Stags Stitch president Beauvais encourages anyone interested to join their mission of helping those in need, regardless of stitching skill.
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