Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
Knitting and crocheting have been hobbies – and necessities – for centuries. The skill of making clothing, blankets and other essential household items has been passed down from generation to generation.
For members of the knitting and crocheting club that meets at the Green Bank Library, the skills are also a way to provide comfort to patients.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, club co-founder Linda Stewart and member Betty Gum made hats for premies at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown.
“They stopped taking them in 2020 due to COVID,” Linda said. “I was looking for something else to do and, in 2021, a friend started taking cancer treatments in Morgantown, so I started making hats for the cancer center.”
When the friend traveled to Morgantown for treatments, Linda would send hats with him and his wife.
Linda was joined by her daughter, Suzanne, who bought a knitting machine to make hats. While Suzanne knows how to knit and crochet, the machine helped her produce hats at a faster rate.
As the mother and daughter shared their project idea with members of the group, they were joined by Veronica Swink and Kathy Garber. Two beginners – Mary Sue Burns and Tammy Hively – joined the group to learn/relearn crocheting and Swink taught them an easy hat pattern.
The project is close to the heart of the club. Members of the group have battled cancer or have family and friends who have fought the disease.
For all of her hats, Suzanne attaches a tag that says “Grace Hats,” in memory of a college friend who passed away after a battle with cancer.
Since the ladies began the project in 2021, they have sent more than 700 hats to Morgantown, Elkins and Low Moor, Virginia.
Now that the pandemic is over, Linda no longer makes hats for premies, but instead is making children’s hats, which go to the Children’s Hospital at Ruby Memorial.
Other members of the group have pitched in, providing hats and spare yarn for the cause. Donna Pennington shared yarn from a friend in Ohio, and Gwennie Friel’s family and the family of the late Dottie McLaughlin – who was also a member of the club – have all donated yarn.
Suzanne also enlisted the help of students at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, who enthusiastically helped make hats on her knitting machine during the school’s Autumn Harvest Festival.
Linda said the club is always open to new members as well as for donations of yarn and hats to expand the reach of the project.
“We meet the first and third Wednesday, from one to three at Green Bank Library,” Linda said.
“Anyone who wants to crochet or knit can join us. All experience levels are welcome. We can teach you.”
Those who can’t attend, but would like to join in the hat project are welcome to bring hats to Suzanne at The Pocahontas Times or drop them off at the Green Bank Library.
Yarn donations will also be greatly appreciated and accepted.
If you know anyone locally who needs a hat, please feel free to reach out to Suzanne at sastewart@pocahontastimes.com