Community Yarn Creature Program | Engineering Wellness Program

Made by our community for our community!

Yarn crafts have been gaining popularity. They have also been shown to reduce stress and improve well-being. If you love yarn crafts (knitting, crochet, etc.), or want to learn, join us! Have fun, connect with other yarners, and make cool yarn-creatures that bring joy across our community!

Spring Dates

Waterloo (CPH 2376): Mon, May 25 to Aug 24, from 11:30-1:30 pm & Wed, June 3rd and July 26th, from 4 to 6 pm

Cambridge (Library): Tues, May 26th, June 23rd, & July 14th, from 11 to 2 pm

Have fun!

Meet other yarners

Reduce stress!

Make cool yarn-creatures that bring joy across our community!

The Community Yarn Creature Program supports our community in three ways:

1. Donate

Decrease your stress and anxiety by decluttering your home and donating unneeded creature supplies to us!

Do you have leftover supplies from a larger project that you won't use? Consider giving them to the Community Yarn Creature program, and we will make them fabulous creatures that spread joy, encouragement and support throughout our community!

Want to contribute to the program but don't knit or crochet? No problem! We always need supplies. See the list of needed items below for ideas.

Contributions can be dropped off at any of the locations listed below.

Drop-off Locations

Thank you for supporting our program by donating supplies and materials.

You can drop-off materials at any of the following locations:

Waterloo Campus:

Engineering Undergrad Office - E2 1772
Most FoE Academic Advisors will collect them for us.

Cambridge Campus:

Main Office
Musagetes Library

You can also email the Community Well-being Team to arrange pick-up or drop-off.

Supply List

Would like to donate, but aren't sure what we need? Below is a list of items that would be very helpful.

Yarn (variety of colours and size (tubular, plushy yarn is especially appreciated, but we accept most types of yarn)
Crochet hooks and knitting needles (all sizes)
Safety eyes (to give our creatures personality)
Yarn
Polyester fibre fill (polyfill) stuffing
Storage containers for crochet hooks and knitting needles
Yarn
Storage bins for yarn
Medium and large sized zip-lock baggies (for those who want to take the materials with them)
Did we mention yarn?

Thank you for your contribution! We couldn't make the yarn creatures without you!

2. Create

Join us and create these adorable creatures. Research shows that participating in yarn crafts can improve mental health and well-being.

Do you love to knit or crochet? Join us at one of our regular "yarn-ins" and help us create more joy! Help create these adorable yarn (amigurumi) creatures. Make one for yourself and one to give to someone in our community. We have patterns for knitting and crochet. Feel free to bring your own crochet hooks or knitting needles. We also have some you can use while you are with us.

Prefer to knit/crochet on your own. No problem. Stop-by and pick up the materials/patterns. You can make the yarn-creature on your own and drop the critter and leftover supplies off when you are finished.

Creature Creation Drop-in Dates

Spring 2026 Dates

Drop-in any time during the sessions below. Stay as long as you'd like, or pick-up supplies to create your creatures, or drop-off finished creatures.

If the dates below don't fit in your schedule, email the Community Well-being Team. Additional drop-in times are available on a week-per-week basis.

Waterloo Campus (CPH 2376):

Lunch-time: Every Monday from May 25 to Aug 24, from 11:30-1:30 pm (no session Aug 3 due to holiday)
Evening: Wed, June 3rd and July 26th, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm

Cambridge Campus (Library):

Tues, May 26th, from 11-2 pm
Tues, June 23rd, from 11-2 pm
Tues, July 14th, from 11-2 pm

3. Receive

Take one home with you. Yarn creatures can increase joy and comfort in your home or office!

Looking for some extra encouragement, a positive reminder to help keep you focused, or just think they're cute? Then you need a yarn creature!

These adorable creatures were made by members of our community for members of our community. We want to spread joy, encouragement and support one stitch at a time!

Stop by one of the pick-up locations or Community Well-being Events and adopt a yarn creature! (They deserve loving homes too.)

Please note: our community members are hobby yarners — yarn creatures might be imperfect, but they were made with love. Adopt a yarn creature today!

Pick-up locations

Waterloo Campus:

Engineering Undergrad Office - E2 1772
Community Well-being Events
Most Faculty of Engineering Academic Advisors

Cambridge Campus:

Main Office
Musagetes Library
Community Well-being Events

You can also contact the Community Well-being Team (Please note: we do not have the capacity to make custom orders.)

Want more yarn news? Sign up for the Staying in the Loop Newsletter!

Research: Yarn crafts and well-being

Brooks L, Ta K-HN, Townsend AF, Backman CL. “I just love it”: Avid knitters describe health and well-being through occupation. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy. 2019;86(2):114-124. doi:10.1177/0008417419831401

Bukhave EB, Creek J, Linstad AK, Frandsen TF. The effects of crafts-based interventions on mental health and well-being: A systematic review. Aust Occup Ther J. 2025 Feb;72(1):e70001. doi: 10.1111/1440-1630.70001. PMID: 39956657; PMCID: PMC11830576.

Burns, P., & Van Der Meer, R. (2020). Happy Hookers: findings from an international study exploring the effects of crochet on wellbeing. Perspectives in Public Health, 141(3), 175791392091196. https://doi.org/10.1177/1757913920911961

Law, J., & Golda, A. (2022). Making e-Textile Things: A Craft-Based Approach for Building Resilience in the Age of Pandemic and Eco-Anxiety. Journal of Textile Design, Research and Practice, 10(2), 82–99. https://doi.org/10.1080/20511787.2022.2078085

‌ Le Lagadec, D., Kornhaber, R., Johnston-Devin, C., & Cleary, M. (2024). Healing Stitches: A Scoping Review on the Impact of Needlecraft on Mental Health and Well-Being. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 45(10), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2024.2364228

‌Surgenor, H. Young people are starting to knit and crochet for mental health. CBC Radio · Posted: Apr 07, 2023 4:00 AM EDT (News article)

York, P., Zhang, S., Yang, M., & Muthukumar, V. (2022). Crochet: Engaging Secondary School Girls in Art for STEAM’s Sake. Science Education International, 33(4), 392–399. https://doi.org/10.33828/sei.v33.i4.6