We are going back to school! Come with us as we (virtually) hit the road to visit and learn about Michigan's 15 public universities over the course of five weeks! Each week, we'll visit three schools, share a few facts, interesting tidbits and - of course! - yarn inspiration! 

SCHEDULE

Week 1: August 30-September 1

We start out close to home with schools all within 20-60 miles of the shop: Wayne State University, Oakland University, University of Michigan-Flint. 

Week 2 - September 6-8

Moving into the middle of the state, Saginaw Valley State University, Central Michigan University, and Ferris State University are separated by less than two hours total!

Week 3 - September13-15

We're heading to the Upper Peninsula! Lake Superior State University, Northern Michigan University, and Michigan Technological University are beautiful universities that cover the northern part of the state!

Week 4 - September 20-22

On our way back south, we're visiting Grand Valley State University, Western Michigan University and Michigan State University on the western side of our fair state!

Week 5 - September 27-29

While we've loved being out on the road, it's nice to wrap up in our own backyard with the University of Michigan-Dearborn, Eastern Michigan University, and University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

SCHOOLS

Enjoy some fun facts and yarn recommendations for each school we visited below! Schools are listed in alphabetical order.

Central Michigan University
Location: Mount Pleasant, Michigan
Distance from MFY: 145 miles
Enrollment: ~14,000 students
Fast Facts:
     🏛  Founded in 1892 as the Central Michigan Normal School and Business Institute, the school was renamed to the Central Michigan University in 1959.
     🏈  Students and athletic teams at Central Michigan University have gone by many names including: the Normalites, the Dragons, the Bearcats and currently the Chippewas. This is a nod to the Chippewa tribes that used to live in the area as well as the Chippewa River that flows through Mount Pleasant. Learn more here.
     💻  Central Michigan University offers more than 75 fully online programs at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels.
Yarn Recommendation: Ella Rae Cashmereno Sport in colors Fuschia #42 and Marigold #43. 

Eastern Michigan University
Location: Ypsilanti, Michigan
Distance from MFY: 22 miles
Enrollment: ~13,300 students
Fast Facts:
     🏛  Founded in 1849 as the Michigan State Normal School, the institution became Eastern Michigan University in 1959 after adding a graduate school.
     🌟  U.S. News & World Report recognizes Eastern Michigan University in the category of social mobility which aligns with Eastern's core value of being an "institution of opportunity." 
     🏃🏽‍♀️  Eastern Michigan's 800+ acre campus has 18 miles of walking/jogging trails for students and faculty to enjoy!
Yarn Recommendation: Ella Rae Cashmereno Sport in colors Emerald #41 and Ivory #13. 

Ferris State University
Location: Big Rapids, Michigan
Distance from MFY: 200 miles
Enrollment: ~10,000 students
Fast Facts:
     🏛  Founded in 1884 by Woodbridge and Helen Ferris as the privately-owned Big Rapids Industrial School. The school was brought into the state system in 1950 as Ferris State College and became Ferris State University in 1987.
    📚  The Ferris Library for Information, Technology and Education (FLITE) and the Carillon Tower are icons on campus, but the university is also investing in resources like the Center for Athletic Performance and Center for Virtual Learning to give students state of the art tools.
     💻  The First Lady's Attic program provides students access to business attire to look their best for interviews or presentations. Students get one full outfit for free each year and can shop anytime so they are dressed for success!
Yarn Recommendation: Sirdar Hayfield Soft Twist in colors 266-Sunflower and 264-Scarlet.

Lake Superior State University
Location: Sault Ste Marie, Michigan
Distance from MFY: 345 miles
Enrollment: ~1,700 undergraduates
Fast Facts:
     🏛  Founded at Fort Brady in 1946 as the Mining and Technology College, it became the Lake Superior State College of Michigan Technological University in 1966. After becoming a separate entity in 1970, Lake Superior State was granted its university status in 1987.
    🔥  Lake Superior State University was the first school in the country to offer an accredited four-year Fire Science program!
     💻  The annual Banished Words List produced by Lake Superior State University receives world-wide media attention!
Yarn Recommendation: Malabrigo Chunky in colors 35-Frank Ochre and 88-Indigo.

Michigan Technological University
Location: Houghton, Michigan
Distance from MFY: 448 miles
Enrollment: ~7,300 students
Fast Facts:
     🏛  Founded in 1885 as the Michigan Mining School for educating engineers in the operation of copper mines. As mining declined, the need for a new name increased and the school became Michigan Technological University in 1964.
    🇺🇸  The annual Parade of Nations is the region's oldest and largest multicultural festival with more than 50 international flags flying, food, entertainment and activities promoting peace and unity.
    ❄️  Huskies enjoy celebrating and their Winter Carnival shows appreciation for the tenacity it takes to live where there are 200 or more inches of snowfall a year!
Yarn Recommendation: Cascade Yarns Sarasota Chunky in colors 221-Black and 209-Yellow. 

Northern Michigan University
Location: Marquette, Michigan
Distance from MFY: 448 miles
Enrollment: ~7,000 students
Fast Facts:
     🏛  Founded in 1899 as the Northern State Normal School with a class of 32 students, the institution has been known as the Northern State's Teacher College, the Northern Michigan College of Education, and the Northern Michigan College. It became Northern Michigan University in 1963.
    🌊  Enjoy 83 miles of Lake Superior shoreline while in Marquette, Michigan!
    ⭐️  Northern Michigan University has been recognized as a STARS Gold Institution by the Association of the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education! 
Yarn Recommendation: Brown Sheep Company Lamb's Pride Bulky in colors M155-Lemon Drop and M147 Emerald Green. 

Oakland University
Location: Rochester, Michigan
Distance from MFY: 32 miles
Enrollment: ~16,000 students
Fast Facts:
     🏛  Founded in 1957 when Matilda Dodge Wilson donated her estate to Michigan State University for a satellite campus.
     🐻  Oakland sponsors 18 NCAA Division I men's and women's athletic programs with the nickname of the Golden Grizzlies.
     🌳  Campus sits on 1,443 acres of wooden hills and meadows.
Yarn Recommendation: Berroco Modern Cotton in colors 1634-Longspur and 1618-Coffee Milk.

Saginaw Valley State University
Location: University Center, Michigan
Distance from MFY: 100 miles
Enrollment: ~8,500 students
Fast Facts:
     🏛  Founded in 1963 as Saginaw Valley College, classes were originally conducted in the basement of Delta College before moving to the current campus in 1967. SVC became Saginaw Valley State University in 1987.
     🏀  Students are extremely active with more than 2,000 participating in some for of rec sports activity, and 500+ are varsity athletes who compete as the Cardinals at the NCAA Division II level.
     💰  Boasts the lowest tuition of the public universities in Michigan!
Yarn Recommendation: Universal Yarn Uptown DK in colors Bittersweet #106 and Midnight #133.

University of Michigan-Flint
Location: Flint, Michigan
Distance from MFY: 60 miles
Enrollment: ~10,000 students
Fast Facts:
     🏛  Founded in 1956 with a class of 167 students attending Flint Senior College.
     📚  Offers in-demand programs within five academic units: the College of Arts & Sciences, the School of Management, the College of Health Sciences, the School of Nursing and the College of Innovation and Technology.
     👥  Connected to the community through sustainability efforts and partnerships with local businesses for student growth and education, as well as research and economic development.
Yarn Recommendation: Juniper Moon Farm Cumulus in colors 22-Narwhale and 38-Goldenrod.

Wayne State University
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Distance from MFY: 20 miles
Enrollment: ~24,000 students
Fast Facts:
     🏛  Founded in 1868 as the Detroit Medical College by a group of Civil War doctors who believed in a world with better medicine.
     📚  Offers nearly 375 degrees and certificates through 13 schools and colleges.
     🛡  WSU sponsors 17 NCAA Division II men's and women's athletic programs with the nickname of the Warriors.
Yarn Recommendation: Cascade Yarns Fixation in colors 22-Narwhale and 38-Goldenrod.

Western Michigan University
Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Distance from MFY: 130 miles
Enrollment: ~17,500 students
Fast Facts:
    🏛  Founded in 1903 as the Western State Normal School and underwent many name changes related to it's education focus before receiving it's current name and university status in 1957.

    🐴  Western Michigan University competes in 16 NCAA Division I sports as the Broncos.
     🌏  Over 40% of the student staff at Western Michigan University are international students and more than 30 countries are represented!

Yarn Recommendation: Berroco Yarn Ultra Alpaca in colors 6280-Mahagony Mix and 6253-Dijon.

Follow along on our back-to-school tour and let us know what you think! We'll be sharing on Instagram and Facebook and can't wait to experience our state through this lens!