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| Knitting a tighter connection By Stacy Trevenon [ stacy@hmbreview.com ] Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 2:09 PM PST By Stacy Trevenon [ stacy@hmbreview.com ] It was while browsing in a San Francisco yarn shop that Carol Davies’ life changed: she spied an Afghans for Afghans postcard. In partnership with the San Francisco office of the American Friends Service Committee and other agencies, this humanitarian and educational project, inspired by Red Cross volunteers who knitted for soldiers and refugees during World Wars I and II, seeks hand-made knitted or crocheted blankets, hats, socks, mittens, sweaters or vests for those in need in Afghanistan. Little wonder the notice caught Davies’ eye. Caring had been her profession, as a nurse in the Stanford Hospital intensive care unit and the Coastside Adult Day Health Center. Knitting was an avocation she taught herself, to have something to do while listening to taped lectures. She jumped in, getting in touch with Afghans for Afghans organizer Ann Rubin and visiting the American Friends Service warehouse. There, she was “flabbergasted” by the sheer volume of items created by knitters from across the United States and Canada, being shipped to Afghanistan. And she broke out her needles. She has produced three afghans so far. “I can’t stand the idea of a baby not having a blanket,” she said briskly. “There’s a need, and I’m more than happy to put in my half-penny’s worth.” In so doing, Davies joined dozens of local women and men who meet to knit, purl, chat and parlay love of yarn into helping others. From teens to seniors, beginners to teachers, they gather wherever there are chairs, refreshments and an atmosphere congenial to quiet, busy work. One such group grew out of the Half Moon Bay Library. Library assistant Mary Wilmes, having heard of Afghans for Afghans, sent e-mails to friends and helped start them on 10-inch squares, which she sewed into full-sized afghans. One went to San Francisco for shipping in late October, and Wilmes is collecting for more. “I feel I’m doing somebody some good,” said Wilmes, who also knits caps for patients in chemotherapy and Blankets for Babies, which provides cozy blankets for babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto. Wilmes’ excitement rubbed off on Moss Beach resident Giulie Peterson, who was inspired to spread the word when Wilmes visited Half Moon Bay knitting store Fengari, where Peterson works. “When Mary picked out beautiful, bright colors to do her squares, I thought, that’s something I can do,” Peterson said. “I can’t imagine being displaced from my home. What we’re doing is so little but means so much.” |