Knitting News

Former dancer steps into knitting for needy | Yakim Herald-Republic

Former dancer steps into knitting for needy
Yakima Herald-Republic - December 6 2006

After several thousand stitches and about 150 hours of knitting, Elaine Harmon finds her retirement is even busier than her youth, which found her dancing away nearly every night in Los Angeles nightclubs.

But the 81-year-old finds knitting -- and sometimes crocheting -- for Project Warm Up with Yakima's Retired and Senior Volunteer Program more satisfying because the pieces go to the needy.

Harmon, who enjoys listening to the Beach Boys while knitting hats for cancer patients, does what she loves while keeping people warm.

"I can sit there and get those needles going like crazy," she says. [more]

Third Graders Knit Caps for Underprivileged Babies | ksl.com

Third Graders Knit Caps for Underprivileged Babies
ksl.com - December 5 2007

Some third graders in South Weber are getting a lesson in art and politics at the same time. The class is knitting stocking caps that they'll be sending to the President with a special request.

Though the kids are having fun, that's not their goal. They are working on a service project, making hats for babies in third world countries through an organization called Save the Children.

Pat Prussing, teacher: "They said that most babies in developing countries die within 24 hours because they don't keep warm on their head."

When Mrs. Prussing read about the dilemma, she decided to get her class involved. They've been knitting since Friday and are just starting to finish some of their hats. [more]

Woolly hats will help to raise cash for elderly | Worcester News

Woolly hats will help to raise cash for elderly
Worcester News - December 5 2006

The county's elderly people have been doing their bit to raise cash for local services.

Members of Age Concern Herefordshire & Worcestershire have been busy knitting little woolly hats to raise money for local services.

The hats will go on the lid of Innocent drinks and be sold in Sainsbury's and EAT cafs. For each hat created, Age Concern receives 50p to help older people keep warm this winter. [more]

Yonkers High School students weave holiday hope by knitting for the needy | Mid-Hudson News Network

Yonkers High School students weave holiday hope by knitting for the needy
Mid-Hudson News Network - December 7 2006

Just like the sweaters Grandma knits to keep her loved ones warm, large blankets crocheted by Yonkers High School students will help “Warm Up America.” Just in time for the holidays, the school’s new knitting club partners with the national organization Warm Up America! to donate handmade blankets to homeless shelters, orphanages and families displaced by natural disasters. Because each knitter contributes one square per blanket, the students weave a bit of themselves into every afghan and extend their holiday wishes to each recipient. [more]

Knitting with a purpose | ABC12.com

Knitting with a purpose
ABC12.com - December 2 2006

This is a warm story -- at least for 110 Mid-Michigan babies. That's because a Midland man has donated 110 baby hats to a local hospital.

Little bundles of joy are sure to be warm and bundled up this winter, thanks to Edward Smith.

Not your typical knitter, 87-year-old Smith has been making hats for men, women and children for "better than twenty something years."

Twenty years ago, Smith suffered from a heart attack. Ever since, he hasn't been able to do a lot of physical activities. So he chose this as a hobby.

His reason for knitting is simple. "I don't like to sit and look at the wall," he said. "It gives me something to do. One lady said it took her one week to make a hat and I said I can make five in a day." [more]

Prayer stitched into shawls for hospital patients | Lancaster Online

Prayer stitched into shawls for hospital patients
Lancaster Online - December 3 2006

At Ephrata Community Hospital, a special ministry is providing comfort to patients through knitted and crocheted shawls.

For the past year and a half, a group of women has been gathering the first Sunday of each month to knit and crochet for others.

“We make shawls that are given to cancer patients, heart patients and other patients,” said Donna Shenk, chaplain at Ephrata Community Hospital.

Between eight and 20 usually get together at the Center for Women’s Health lounge, she noted. They knit or crochet the shawls, using their own yarn in various colors.

Sometimes they knit specifically for a female, sometimes for a male, and other times they put their needleworking skills toward something that would be appropriate for either gender. [more]

Slowed by health, she still touches others | Times Union

Slowed by health, she still touches others
Times Union - December 2 2006

A petite woman, Ludmilla Wohland counts her blessings.

She has a modest, well-kept apartment, has enough money to get by and has a social circle that she can call on for support. She says she is doing OK but is not ashamed to ask for help.

"I get help and I give help," she said.

She helps by knitting and crocheting, skills she learned as a child in Slovakia. She donates many creations to Birthright, an organization that helps young, unwed mothers, and to area hospitals.

"I make little sweaters, hats, booties and blankets for infants and preemies," she said. "I also make lap robes for people in nursing homes." [more]

Knitting for a cause | The Times

Knitting for a cause
The Times - December 1 2006

Some of the area's tiniest babies will stay warm, thanks to students at Portage High School.

Members of the school's combination knitting and art club are crafting tiny hats that will keep low birthweight babies warm at the hospital.

Knitting tiny hats serves a twofold purpose, said Wanda Rice, the club's faculty adviser. Many of the club members are novice knitters, and "this just seemed like a really easy project," she said.

But the knitted-hat project also allows the students to make a positive contribution just in time for the holidays, she said.

They're not the only Portage students knitting for a cause this holiday season. Students in Katie Griffith's crafts class are knitting 7x9-inch rectangles that will be joined to create an afghan that will be given to a local homeless shelter. [more]

Lincoln warms to pet project | The Coloradoan

Lincoln warms to pet project
The Coloradoan - November 30 2006

With the cold of winter upon us, students at Lincoln Junior High School are taking a little extra time to stitch, sew and crochet a helping hand for the many furry friends awaiting a home at the Larimer County Humane Society.

Working Mondays after school, Lincoln students spend an hour at a time creating small blankets that are donated to the humane society to be given to dogs and cats that might get chilly during the cold winter months.

The program, called "Snuggles Project," is in its fourth year at Lincoln but has been done by other organizations across the country for many years. [more]

Moved by need, woman knits caps for children | Daily Press

Moved by need, woman knits caps for children
Daily Press - November 28 2006

Cindi Snead is helping to keep poor city kids warm, one hat at a time.

Over the last year, the Harrisonburg woman has knitted 70 caps for students at Spotswood Elementary School and 50 for those at Stone Spring Elementary School.

In about three days, Snead can crank out one hat while she soaks in her evening dose of "CSI," "Alias" or "Grey's Anatomy." Her gift comes at a time when the number of students enrolled in the division's free or reduced-priced lunch program is increasing. Enrollment in the program is based on financial need.

"These kids needed hats," Snead said, "and my hands itch if I don't do something to keep them busy. It was something small, but it worked." [more]