In the bright, open space of Bixby Knolls’ Kubo LB, a group of certified yappers and crocheters of all levels gather monthly to create and converse to their heart’s content.
Yap & Stitch, a Long Beach fiber arts club for those who take their hobbies with a side of yapping, will celebrate its three-month anniversary this Saturday. Friends have been made, granny squares have been crocheted, and founder and local artist Amor Roldan is ready to expand into more events, and eventually, more locations.
“For me crocheting taught me patience and to be forgiving. It’s so random but I always tell people when I teach them how to crochet that it’s very forgiving and it teaches you patience because you can always unravel and do something other than what you started,” Roldan said. “With that I feel like it connects to my other passions because I can tell myself that it’s okay to start over and start from a different point or a different perspective.”
The club has had two meetings so far, inviting novice and skilled crocheters, as well as junk journalers, iPad digital designers, drawers and creatives of all kinds and experience. It’s something Roldan has envisioned for years, they said, and felt encouraged after a long hiatus from creating.
Growing up, Roldan knew they had a connection with art, whether it was drawing designs while watching tattoo shows with their dad or diving into fashion and animation as a teen. They studied art and animation in San Francisco, where visions of an artistic community began popping up as they were far from their Long Beach home.
“It’s really motivating and powerful to be able to create that space among everybody and make sure that everybody feels welcome,” Roldan said. “It just brings joy and happiness to be around people who want a creative outlet.”
Roldan began crocheting two years ago while pursuing their master’s degree at the University of California, Los Angeles. They were itching to make art, but the usual dose of sticker and bookmark-making was proving too expensive.
What could they afford? Yarn. While outside of their comfort zone, they found an unexpected sense of peace.
Once teaching science and math at an elementary school, Roldan noticed they were incorporating art into every lesson with ease. They returned to making digital art, stickers and zines, then started a crochet club for their students, hoping to tap into their own creative needs.
Instead, Roldan felt a push, perhaps freed by the imposter syndrome holding them back, to create a similar space for people their own age who might need it.
“It took me a while to get the confidence to start this and say, ‘You know what, if I’m the only one there that’s all that matters.’ Someone will have to show up eventually and it’s okay if no one comes,” Roldan said.
Yappers and crafters showed up though, some with their own projects to work on, and some picking up their first pair of crochet hooks. The inviting energy in KUBO has become a place for attendees to exchange info, take pictures and learn from each other.
As Yap & Stitch grows, Roldan said their goal is to move the meetings around to different small businesses in Long Beach, then eventually other cities.
For now, Roldan is deepening their roots by hosting events out of KUBO, with a movie night and tiny market on the horizon. Lovers of the movie musical “Mamma Mia” can watch the film with a group of romanticists and crafters in KUBO LB on June 14 at 4:30 p.m. People can bring their own quiet projects to work on or simply enjoy the film.
The Tiny Market will take place on July 26 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at KUBO. There will be 15 vendors selected by Roldan, and an opportunity for every person to participate through a tiny market scavenger hunt with the chance to win prizes.
Yap & Stitch is on the third Saturday of every month at KUBO LB (3976 Atlantic Ave.) in Bixby Knolls, with the next meeting on May 17 from noon to 3 p.m. Guests can bring projects to work on or use crochet tools available to the public. All meetings are free to attend.
Tickets for the “Mamma Mia” movie night are $15 advance sales and $20 at the door and can be purchased on Eventbrite. Each ticket purchased comes with a raffle ticket to win a Yap & Stitch tote bag filled with prizes.
