Wrapped up in love

Carol Maplethorpe explains her project, Knit for Kids, done through World Vision. She has made over 200 sweaters since she retired that have gone all over the globe to keep kids warm. (Photo by Gail Peckler-Dziki)
Carol Maplethorpe explains her project, Knit for Kids, done through World Vision. She has made over 200 sweaters since she retired that have gone all over the globe to keep kids warm. (Photo by Gail Peckler-Dziki)

Knitting group creates comfort for those in need

By Gail Peckler-Dziki

Correspondent

Shakespeare tells us that it is “sleep that knits up the raveled sleeve of care,” but the women of the Antioch Area Health Care Accessibility Alliance knit and crochet group will tell you that their handiwork wraps up others in their warm love.

Five of the regulars were on hand Oct. 13 at the Antioch Untied Methodist Church to knit and crochet together. They meet the second Monday of the month from 1 to 3 p.m. While they are all members of either the United Methodist, St. Ignatius Episcopal or St. Stephen Lutheran Churches, there is room for anyone to join them.

These experienced knitters and crocheters work on their own projects and are willing to teach others or help them figure out where things went wrong. They also work together on special projects for people and causes near and dear to their hearts.

Since she retired from teaching Spanish at Antioch High School 25 years ago, Carol Maplethorpe has knit over 200 sweaters for the World Vision Knit for kids project.

“I saw an ad for this in Guideposts and wrote in to get the pattern,” she said. “Friends and relatives have also knitted sweaters. When I started it, the pattern was very simple, like a T-shirt.”

Over the years, Maplethorpe and others who participated in the project made suggestions to lengthen the sleeves and add ribbing to the bottom of the sleeve and body. This allows the sweater to hug the body and keep the child warm.

“Everyone uses the same pattern,” Maplethorpe explained. “But we can make each different in color and use different stitches.”

Sally Todd knits hats for Open Arms Mission in Antioch. She has 75 hats ready to go this year and has knitted more than 500 over the years. Another knitter, Ruth Beemis, knits hats for Providing Advocacy, Dignity and Shelter for the homeless.

While each woman might have a particular mission, they all contribute their handiwork – including hats, scarves, mittens and afghans for area nursing homes, PADS and Open Arms, and baby afghans for the newly baptized babies.

During the recent group gathering Shelby Wais was busy creating a prayer shawl. In 2009, Northern Illinois University asked for prayer shawls on the first anniversary of the 2008 campus shooting. These were given to people who were involved in the shooting. Everyone began work to produce them.

Those 19 shawls were the beginning the group’s Prayer Shawl Ministry. Since then, over 300 shawls haven been sent to Grace Children’s Hospital in Haiti, Red Bird Mission in Kentucky, Bethany Methodist Communities, homeless shelters in Chicago and many other places.

Jeanine Leonhart makes the prayer cards that are attached to pocket prayer cloths crafted by the women. The 3-by-3-inch squares have a raised cross pattern in the middle. Each of the three churches has a basket that is regularly refilled.

Parishioners are free to take a cloth to give to anyone they know who is in need and might benefit from a reminder of God’s comfort and care. The Sequoit Auxiliary Veterans of Foreign Wars sent packages overseas and 125 of these prayer cloths were included.

The first pocket prayer cloth pattern was knitted and network nurse and fellow crocheter Gloria Stevens translated it into a crochet pattern.

Every few months, these gifts of love made by the group are blessed before being distributed, often in a joint service.

Wais explained, “This is a self-supporting ministry. We accept monetary and yarn donations, however, most of our shawls and items are gifts from the individual knitters and crocheters who make them.”

Antioch United Methodist Church is at 848 Main Street. Those interested in joining the group may enter at the door marked church office by ringing the bell. For more information, call Gloria Stevens at (847) 395-1259.

 

 


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