Calling themselves “Knit Wits,” a group of local women have been meeting for 12 years to knit and crochet comfort for children around the world.
The group formed when Jo Knowlton, of Cornish, Utah, and Annie Kurtz, of Preston, decided they wanted a project to work on after their once-a-month Bible study class at the Preston Presbyterian Church.
While reading Guideposts Magazine, the pair noticed a program regarding New World Vision, a Knit For Kids project.
“I said, ‘We can do this.’ We also felt like we needed a gathering with people our age and to create a sense of sisterhood,” Kurtz said.
The New World Vision website explains that the organization is an “international partnership of Christians whose mission is to follow the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed.”
Their mission focuses on the needs of children and assists “people afflicted by conflict or disaster worldwide.”
Within a few months of organizing their group, in August 2006, the Knit Wits sent their first shipment of 34 brightly colored, finished sweaters to Guideposts Knit for Kids. They send their creations to children through international partners around the world sponsored by Guideposts.
Of the original 12 people who formed the Knit Wits, seven are still involved. They have been joined by several other people who love to knit or crochet each week.
Knowlton, assisted by several other experienced knitters and crocheters in the group, not only makes the sweaters but teaches others who want to learn.
“We welcome newcomers,” Knowlton said. “You don’t have to know how to crochet or knit to come. We will teach you how to do it.”
At first, only sweaters were needed, but recently blankets and hats have been added.
“We send three to four boxes of knitted or crocheted items a year,” Knowlton said. “Since we began, we have sent over 600 sweaters, over 400 hats and over 20 blankets. In September this year, our group sent 124 hats, 11 blankets and three sweaters.”
A letter from World Vision/Knit For Kids in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, in 2017 noted that their creations went to children in Albania, Armenia, Bosnia, Burundi, Central African Republic, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Peru, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, Swaziland and Zambia, as well as to children in the U.S.
“We continually hear from our field staff that your knitted donations are received by moms and kids with gratitude for both your time and your talent. We thank you for being a faithful supporter of Knit For Kids and for joining us to cover the world in warmth!” the organizations said in the letter.
Interested persons may visit knitforkids.org for a variety of patterns and requirements.
The Knit Wits also make and donate items locally.
“We knit hats for newborns as well as others for the hospital in Preston,” Knowlton said. “And we enjoy visiting with each other as we work on our projects. These projects can also be worked on at home. But it is very rewarding to come to the group.”
Kurtz said the group has fulfilled her desire for companionship and to do something worthwhile.
“Sometimes when I feel down, I come here,” Kurtz said. “It lifts me up to come. I look forward to it.”
June Butterfield, of Preston, another original member, said she knew how to crochet but learned to knit while participating in the group.
“I like visiting with the group,” she said.
Butterfield moved here from California because her husband and brother both wanted to farm.
Pearl E. Franklin, a member since 2008, crochets blankets, sweaters and hats.
“I watched (my grandmother crochet) all the time. But it was my mother-in-law who taught me how to crochet,” she said.
Penny Wright follows a sweater pattern her mother used to make a sweater she still wears.
“I come when I can,” she said. “I’ve met a few new friends. It also gives me a chance to crochet and to develop my skill.”
A friend told Inge Davis, of Cub River, about the group, and although her friend has moved, Davis has come for eight years.
“I love it. I really enjoy the friendship of the ladies,” she said. Davis learned how to knit and crochet as a child. She prefers to knit sweaters and crochet hats and blankets.
When Kay Laird’s husband was disabled, she would pick out a pattern and yarn that was donated, turned on the TV every night and crochet or knit. When her husband passed away and she retired, she found time to come to the meetings beginning in 2014.
“I get to talk to real people by coming here,” she said. “We have interesting conversations and exchange recipes and patterns. It’s just plain, unadulterated fun to me. It’s amazing what people can do with scraps of yarn.”
The Knit Wits meet each Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church in the Fellowship Hall, 206 E. 200 N. in Preston. The group welcomes anyone interested in joining.
For more information, contact Knowlton at 435-258-5539.