For most in the southwest suburbs, memories of the summer of ’95 include the tough business of keeping cool in record-breaking temperatures.
For others, it was business as usual–working to keep America warm. With needles, hooks and yarn, the volunteers worked in their homes and at their Orland Park base, designing and putting together colorful patchwork afghans.
The group participates in a national effort that has produced an estimated 16,000 afghans since 1991. The “Warm Up America!” program taps the skills of knitters and crocheters as well as their reserves of leftover yarn. The afghans are distributed to residents of homeless and domestic violence shelters and to victims of natural disasters.
Bea Doctor, owner of Knitting Etc. Inc., an Orland Park knitting supply store, first learned of “Warm Up America!” from its originator, Evie Rosen of Wausau, Wis. Doctor introduced the program to her customers in January 1994.
“The response and involvement have been amazing,” Doctor said. Area volunteers have completed 91 afghans, and recipients of their handiwork include the Crisis Center for South Suburbia in Tinley Park, Morning Star Mission in Joliet, St. Coletta of Illinois in Palos Park and the Orland Township Pantry. Another 50 afghans, which are sized for adults, youths and babies, are completed and ready to be distributed this fall, Doctor said.
“People who knit and crochet never throw yarn away, but they’ll give it away,” she said.
The patchwork element adds another dimension. “So often you’ll hear people say, `I have a half ball of this yarn and one of that yarn,’ ” Doctor said. “And the colors may not coordinate. But when you get everyone’s colors together, it’s wonderful to see what you can do.”
According to Doctor, assistance is always welcome and involvement varies. Those with limited time to spare may donate a skein of yarn. Others may have the time, skills and materials to make an entire afghan. It’s not unusual to receive donations of yarn from family members sorting through the belongings of deceased loved ones. And, on occasion, patches arrive via the mail from crafters who are unable to drop in.
Some participants were drawn by Knitting Etc.’s display of completed patches. Enthusiastic volunteers and store employees also spread the word and recruit new volunteers on a regular basis.
Ray and Lucille Bumba of Orland Park became involved with “Warm Up America!” when they saw another knitter working on a patch and followed up with a call to Doctor to learn more about the program. “It’s a very worthwhile project. If you can help someone keep warm, that’s important,” said Lucille, a veteran knitter who joined in effortlessly and taught her husband the basics.
“I’m not that speedy,” admitted Ray, who has completed 130 patches to Lucille’s 300 since their involvement in the project began in December 1994. The retiree said he has found knitting to be therapeutic, strengthening his hand and finger movement. He has also discovered that he likes to design patterns.
“It’s surprising what you can get out of two stitches. It’s like art. I like a lot of changes in the patches,” he explained.
From two to six volunteers meet at the store every Tuesday to design, piece together and add finishing touches to each afghan. Doctor requests that each rectangular patch be one color and have ample beginning and ending yarns to enable the sewers to piece the patches together. A finished adult afghan measures 49 by 63 inches.
A good deal of thought and effort goes into each patch and the creation of the final design. “Our feeling is that the recipients have enough confusion in their lives,” Doctor said, explaining that they try to create interesting patterns and textures and color combinations that are pleasing to the eye. The goal is “always a product that is well-crafted,” she said.
While Lydia Wouda of Palos Park started making patches at home, she said she enjoys the camaraderie at the shop, where she pieces the patches together with a simple whip stitch. Her enthusiasm is contagious; she recently enlisted the knitting assistance of her sister from California while they vacationed together.
The reward of such work is the knowledge that someone is warmed and comforted by the effort. For the babies and children at St. Coletta, the afghans are a welcome addition.
“We absolutely love the afghans. They’re very special,” said Sister Lois Justen, director of children’s units there, where 55 wards of the state are housed. “Done in bright colors, they perk up the room. You know a lot of love went into making them.”
The national program started with Rosen’s desire to do something for the homeless. As a businesswoman and knitter, she approached a local business and professional women’s club to explain her project. The idea caught on, and the production of patches and afghans began. With funding from the National Needlework Association and the Hand Knitting Association (both now defunct), Rosen began to publicize the project in needlework stores across the country.
Today, the program is sponsored by the National Craft Yarn Council. A national “Warm Up America!” week, scheduled for Jan. 21-27, will further raise public awareness, Rosen added.
Although the program is national, need is determined locally. Regarding distribution of the finished product, Rosen explained, “We leave it in the hands of local people to donate their afghans to area agencies. However, if they have saturated their area, we’re always glad to help give them ideas.”
With a recent connection to the American Red Cross, Rosen pointed out, afghans will be made available to more individuals “wherever a need exists. The afghans will be ready. We’re so pleased to be able to alleviate the discomforts of people and to help.”
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Those interested in assisting the Orland Park group can phone Doctor at 708-349-7941 for information on making patches or assisting in afghan piecing. Participants in the Orland Park group are entered in a quarterly drawing for a store gift certificate.
For additional information on “Warm Up America!” write to Rosen at 2112 Grand Ave., Wausau, Wis. 54403, or the National Craft Yarn Council, Box 9, Gastonia, N.C. 28053.
