THREAD THE NEEDLE. Lazy Monk Brewing (97 W. Madison St., Eau Claire) welcomes its regular patrons and all Chippewa Vallians to “Needlework Night,” a group whose sole mission is to enjoy pints of German-style brews and work on in-progress textile projects.

Needles swiftly weave together a new crochet scarf while others wield thread bobbins and needles, ready to bring a new quilt to life. Each new stitch and weave is accompanied by lively chatter over pints of beer.

Lazy Monk Brewing (97 W. Madison St., Eau Claire) welcomes a new intersection between its signature offerings – German-style brews – and the creative hubs the Chippewa Valley has become recognized for.

At the brewery, “Needlework Night” has evolved into more than just a recurring gathering; it has become a space where people of all ages aim to preserve the art of fiberwork and along the way, befriend other locals.

“I am always looking to our clientele or our regulars that come in and what they are interested in,” Madison Stauffer, a beertender and events organizer at Lazy Monk Brewing, said. “Needlework Night was (made) to just see who would want to come down, bring their crafts with them, and sit and chat – it is a learning experience.”

In the years Stauffer has worked at Lazy Monk, she observed regulars who brought their quilting patterns and other fiber projects in to work on. As a result, the new Monday night offering was not designed as a workshop with classes or a lead teacher, but rather as a space for connection.

“People need hobbies, but it’s not just that they need hobbies, it’s that they need the human connection involved with their hobbies.”

KAROLYN KELLY

pattern designer & Needlework night attendee

Yet, the frequent flyers of Needlework Night have made the group their own. Attendees exchange new techniques, patterns; folks collaborate together on one piece or quilt.

Kristy Goettl, a regular guest at Lazy Monk, has become a fixture in the group. She often comes with her husband, Jeff, who works on his fly-fishing art while she quilts.

At a recent Needlework Night, Goettl was also joined by Tammy Stackhouse, a fellow quilter who was actively shaping a new piece made of archival patterns and fabrics.

“We have been coming basically since it started,” Goettl said as Tammy nodded in agreement – her focus on the next stitch of the quilt. “It’s just a nice community; being a quilter I usually just hang out with other quilters… It’s really nice that we have a place like this to go.”

Tammy Stackhouse, pictured above, working on her latest quilt. Madison Stauffer, an events organizer at the brewery, said the recurring gathering attracts creatives of all ages and artistic mediums.

Stauffer views fiber arts as not a dying art form, but a means to bridge together generations of creatives and celebrate new, contemporary approaches to the medium.

“My grandma taught me how to crochet when I was little and it was something that was passed on to her,” Stauffer said. “I think that is just interesting, to see a resurgence of made material projects in the Chippewa Valley; It’s amazing to see the amount of people that are interested in demonstrating handmade arts.”

Another regular attendee of Needlework Night, Karolyn Kelly, is a pattern tester in her day-to-day life. She connects with international designers and, at Lazy Monk, will often bring her works in progress and share new insights with other attendees.

Kelly believes the group also serves as an outlet to discover other creative passions in the Valley; she herself hopes to pick up a few tips from gardening to baking, hobbies she was only able to learn because of the safe space to connect with other locals.

“People need hobbies, but it’s not just that they need hobbies, it’s that they need the human connection involved with their hobbies,” Kelly said. “There’s never an age (where) it’s too late to learn, which sounds very poetic… there are so many crafts and fiber arts to get into.”

It seems Lazy Monk Brewing – often a stop for a craft lager or porter – has become a haven where old art forms find new life and local connections are stitched together, one Monday night at a time.

“Needlework Night,” hosted every other Monday night, offers a space for connection, Stauffer said. Attendees will often exchange new techniques, patterns – or, folks collaborate together on one piece or quilt.

Lazy Monk Brewing (97 W Madison St., Eau Claire) hosts “Needlework Night” from 6pm-8:30pm every other Monday in its Prague Room. For more information and event updates, visit lazymonkbrewing.com or check out its social media platforms (@lazymonkbrewing).