December 23

We celebrated the upcoming holidays today with gifts and some delicious homemade snacks. Last week the clients were asked to think about and write a knitting wish list. Some of the women wished for circular needles and many for larger needles than they had been using. Many asked for fun fur in different colors. Some wanted yarn for afghans. Each woman was able to receive some of her yarn wishes. After we passed out the gift bags the women were asked to go around and talk about and show the group what they had receivecd. The clients expressed their gratitude to the volunteers for coming each week and for teaching them. The clients have different levels of skill as there are continually new admissions and discharges. Some have been working on many new techniques: short row scarves, vertical scarves, ponchos. The women have enjoyed making gifts for their family members and also in teaching their family and friends who come to vist. I will continue to take photos to display the creations. And keeping with the knitting theme, I am posting a photo of my decorated office door!!! The wreath is decorated with balls of yarn!!!!!!

December 16, 2005

To see more about Joy:
JOYSTYLES.COM

YOU CAN ALSO HEAR HER MUSIC!!!!


THANKS FOR VISITING US!

Today Joy Styles (JOYSTYLES.COM) came to our knitting group. Joy is a JOY! Joy and I met at a knitting group several weeks ago and sang there as we knitted together. Her singing is beautiful, inspiring and uplifting. We invited her to visit our knitting group when she was visiting Philadelphia again. We all enjoyed being with her. The women expressed their appreciation both in words and by their complete attention as she sang Christmas Carols, her own works, and many favorite songs of the women attending the group. Every week our two hour group goes by much too fast. This week, having Joy entertaining us, the time passed even faster. Joy spent time talking individually with many of the women as she signed their books. They spontaneously gave her a gift of knitted scarves which she wore!

The snow melted! Our volunteers were back in almost full force. We started our group by our usual go around with each person displaying what they had been working on during the week. The women's knitting skill is increasing as they try new stitches and designs. Several are making vertical scarves with strips of varying yarns. Fun fur scarves are being made not entirely of fun fur but with different yarns in between.

december 9 knitting group

Today we had our knitting group after a heavy morning snowfall. Because of the weather, only one volunteer was able to make it. I really appreciate the help and support that we have received from our volunteer knitting team. There were many questions about knitting, two new knitters, and many requests for supplies from my office! Many times the women would ask me "when are they coming," as they waited for their special volunteer "friends." I was so grateful when Lucia walked in. (Please snow gods, no more snow on Friday!) I brought my camera, took some photos of their knitted creations, and will try to display some of the work that was accomplished this week. One thing for certain, the volunteers are very appreciated and were missed today.

Article in Inquirer - March 30

New strands of kindness

Mar 30, 2005

By Lucia Herndon

Earlier this month, I was invited to visit Interim House , a residential
facility in Germantown for women with alcohol and drug addictions.

Social worker Kathy Duffy had taught several of the women to knit and, knowing
I'm a passionate knitter, asked if I could stop by and talk about the craft.

I packed my needles and yarn and headed to the house. I was warmly received by
the women, but was disheartened to see their paltry supplies.

I wrote about my visit two weeks ago; what a difference those weeks have made.

Knitters have called and e-mailed. "How can I help?" they wanted to know. Boxes
of yarn and needles continue to arrive, Duffy said. So do financial
contributions. One neighborhood woman walked in and handed them $500. A knitwear
designer has offered not only yarn but her time to help new knitters with
projects.

I was not surprised by the response. I don't think I've met too many knitters
who weren't kind and generous. That they should respond quickly and warmly is to
be expected. Still, it is a good feeling.

I wish readers could see the response. Now there are plenty of needles in
different sizes. Wood, plastic, metal. And lots of yarn, including Fun Fur, the
most treasured novelty yarn, which makes scarf-making a snap.

Several of the women are working on ponchos. Hopefully, the knitting will be
done soon and we can quickly seam and fringe them.

And I have become a weekly participant in the sessions. I help with the casting
on and binding off. I offer lots of encouragement. The women seemed happy that I
continued to stop by for knitting sessions. The truth is, my visits are a new
habit.

Lessons continue. Not just knitting and crochet lessons, but life lessons, for
all of us. They're learning an age-old skill; I'm learning how women whose lives
have taken torturous turns can reclaim themselves with hard work, discipline,
and soothing handwork.

I encouraged the women, once they felt pretty secure in their stitches, to teach
other people.

"How can the art continue unless we take up the responsibility of sharing our
knowledge? " I asked.

One woman said she didn't think she would continue knitting once released from
Interim House .

I assured her it was fine to drop the knitting . "But the skill is yours to
keep," I reminded her. "No one can take that away from you. "

"Are we knitters?" asked one woman, working diligently on a scarf for a
grandchild.

"Oh, yes," I assured her. "You're all knitters. "

In the truest sense of the word.

For information about Interim House 's knitting and crochet project, call
215-849-4606.

Contact columnist Lucia Herndon at 215-854-5724 or lherndon@

phillynews.com. Read her recent work at http://go.philly.com/luciaherndon.