Students in Elise Cronin’s Special Education class are working with material through crocheting, with knitting and sewing planned later. The idea is to collect and make as many granny squares, knitted gauge swatches, doilies, and anything tossed aside they can find.

“Either from local donations or from people across the country and the world,” Cronin said. “I’d love to see some international contributions. Once the weather gets nice, then we’ll sew them to the fences and railings, playground equipment like posts, things like that on the grounds here.”

Cronin said she got to experience this type of art installation when working with the 410 Project in Mankato. Having first-hand experience led her to believe this would be a great project for her students.

“We already have a craftology class every day,” Cronin said. “The students have been learning how to crochet so far. We will learn how to knit later this year. It’s the whole fiber arts-based class they’re already participating in. I thought that this would kind of blend in with that and teach them how to sew those pieces together.”

This bucket, with all of the granny squares and gauge swatches they’ve collected, sits outside door three at River Bend Education Center. Anyone looking to donate in-town can drop off what they have there.

And they’re not the only ones involved. Kristi Rainwater’s Textile class and the Art Department helmed by Carina Ahlnes will also be pitching in with the skills they’ve learned. Cronin said they’re currently on the hunt for more swatches and squares to expand the project further and further.

“We can take what we have here and sew it on, but the more we have the larger effect we’ll have,” she said. “I’d love some contributions locally. If there are any granny squares or gauge swatches or even unfinished projects from people that are cleaning and they happen upon them, they can donate them to us.”

The students will continue to learn, work, and add to their collection until the end of April. Then they will sew everything together outside sometime in April or May depending on the weather. Though that’s a couple of months away, Cronin said her students have already caught the crochet fever.

“They aren’t visualizing it quite yet, but they’ve been really excited about it,” she said.

Currently, anyone can drop off their swatches, squares, doilies, and spare material in the collection bucket stored outside door three on the left side of River Bend. Fabric/quilts, any unfinished projects with live stitches, afghans, and baby blankets will not be accepted.

Those seeking to mail items , send Attn: Elise Cronin, River Bend Education District, 1315 South Broadway New Ulm, MN 56073 USA There are also mailing locations in Pipestone and Apple Valley.

For more information on the project, mailing locations, and how to donate, visit https://shorturl.at/goCM5