Warm hearts

Nov. 14, 2006

By LEILA KHEIRY

Frontiersman

The crochet needle was a blur as Maria Olivas finished work last week on a black cap destined to warm the head of a chilly child. It was one of many accessories Olivas and others have made for Project Warm-Up, a volunteer effort that allows talented seniors to contribute needed handcrafted hats, mittens, scarves and more to the Valley's schoolchildren and women's shelters.

And it's not just crocheted items. The mostly gray-haired ladies who create the colorful, cozy accessories knit, piece together felt and more, said Rene Rieth, Mat-Su coordinator for the project, which is run through the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.

&#8220These gals have so much fun,” Rieth said last week, just before the group started sorting and counting its yarn creations to prepare for distribution.

The ladies get together every couple months throughout the year to show what they've made, and to share tips on technique, she said. They also share stories, and just enjoy their social time together.

Barbara Rice, one of the contributors, just learned to knit this past spring. She said she has crocheted all her life, and did beadwork, but never knew how to knit until fellow Warm-Up member Patt Alders taught her.

&#8220I just wanted a different project,” she said. &#8220It's very relaxing.”

Olivas, who was introduced to Project Warm-Up by her friend, Maria Williams, also knows how to knit, but prefers her crochet needle.

&#8220It's fast and it's easier than knitting,” she said, as her nimble fingers flew, linking a pattern of knots into an attractive open-weave hat.

Project Warm-Up started in the early 1990s, said Rieth, and it serves Anchorage as well as the Valley.

If one area doesn't have enough items, the other helps out. Last year, for example, there weren't as many Valley ladies participating, and the local group had to borrow from Anchorage, she said.

However, she anticipated they wouldn't have to do that again this year, as the boxes of Valley items were overflowing.

There is no set goal for the number of accessories made, said Rieth. The group just makes as many as possible.

&#8220I only did 61 this year,” said Rice, but that number doesn't include all the hats she made and gave away to friends and family.

She added that she sometimes catches a glimpse of one of her hats sitting on a baby's head. She's tempted to compliment the parents on their child's headgear, said Rice.

As they shared a quick lunch before sorting the accessories, she and Alders traded ideas for determining the correct size for an infant's hat. Alders uses a pomegranate. Rice said she has a teddy bear with just the right cranium size.

Rieth said every group member has her own technique, and her own speed. Some ladies are very quick, but others are just learning or re-learning their craft. One lady is just getting back into knitting, said Rieth, and it takes her at least twice as long to make an item as some of the other ladies.

However, said Rieth, the quality of that lady's work is wonderful.

The great thing about the project is that it gives members a meaningful activity, said Rieth.

&#8220What I see is the look on these ladies' faces,” she said. The members are interested, active and contributing to their community.

As they opened boxes of knitted items, the members exclaimed over all the hats and scarves inside, complimenting each others' work.

&#8220I wondered how this yarn would come out,” said Rose Feltz, holding up a boucle knit hat and scarf set. &#8220Remember when we got this yarn, girls?”

&#8220Look at these! They're gorgeous,” another lady said, as she examined some mittens.

Last week's count showed the Valley group made about 600 accessories for distribution this winter.

That's a lot of yarn, but none of the material was purchased by the group or its members.

Rieth said it's all donated through thrift stores or when people pass away, leaving collections of yarn behind that their families send to the group.

Barbara Campbell, RSVP director, showed up to help with last week's count. She said her office already has fielded calls from school nurses who said they have kids with cold hands.

The items are even more valued because they're handmade, said Campbell.

&#8220When we give the kids a hat, we say, ‘A grandma made this,'” she said. &#8220They're just extra special.”

Campbell encouraged anyone who can to contribute handmade items to the cause. To volunteer with Project Warm-up, or for more information, interested people can call 354-4900.

Contact Leila Kheiry at 352-2270 or at leila.kheiry@frontiersman.com