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Cathy Mills of Jaffrey, Sue Sturges of Jaffrey and Judy Hennessey of Jaffrey work on projects. -
LEFT: Cathy Mills works on a scarf at the Hands with Heart group. -
Marcia Murdock of Jaffrey creates a scarf. -
The Hands with Heart knitting and crochet group meets weekly in the Jaffrey Public Library to create items for charity. From left, (back) Eileen Eber, Sue Sturges, Cathy Mills, Judy Hennessey, (front) Nancy Saltz and Marcia Murdock. Not pictured are Ann Marie Given, Diane Given, Erlene Brayall, Joanne Buck. -
ABOVE: Stuffies made by the Hands with Heart group in Jaffrey for the Monadnock Community Hospital. -
Stuffies made by the Hands with Heart group in Jaffrey for the Monadnock Community Hospital.
Every Thursday, the Bean Room in the Jaffrey Public Library is filled with knitters and crocheters. They are making scarves for the hat and scarf rack at the front door of the library, and stuffed animals and superheroes for children at Monadnock Community Hospital to distract them or help them be brave for procedures.
“We have so many missions,” said Eileen Eber of Greenville, one of the group’s organizers. “We’re like an octopus – we have many arms.”
This is Hands with Heart, a weekly group that knits for causes.
Member Marcia Murdock of Jaffrey said that now she is retired, she knew one of the things she wanted to do was to give back to the community. She just had to find a place to do that. When she heard about the Hands with Heart group, it seemed a good fit – she learned how to knit from her mother, but hadn’t had much time for it before her retirement. She said it was a good way to put her skills to use, while bringing back those good memories with her mother.
Eber said the group started about a year ago, and it was originally to fill a rack at the library with scarves, hats and mittens that could be taken by anyone who needed something warm. But it has since participated in many charity projects, both nationally and locally.
Murdock said that one of the benefits of the group is that everyone is willing to help each other in learning and sharing new patterns. There are multiple options for what any one member might be working on that week, of varying difficulties.
They’ve made “Knitted Knockers,” a bra filler for breast cancer patients who have had mastectomies, which were once sent to the national Knitted Knockers organization but now go straight to Monadnock Community Hospital and Concord Hospital.
MCH is a common benefactor of the group, as members also create stuffed animals for children who are in the hospital for procedures. It started with stuffies for children who were getting blood draws, but has since expanded to those coming in for surgery. They also knit hats for premature babies, and for chemotherapy patients, using non-abrasive yarn.
They have also participated in Project Linus, which makes blankets for children, and knitted items for the 100 Nights shelter in Keene.
“It feels good to do something for a purpose,” said Sue Sturges of Jaffrey, one of the group’s members. “After a while, you run out of people to do it for. Everyone you know has something you made.”
“I can only do so much for me, and there are other people out there who need it,” agreed member Cathy Mills of Jaffrey.
One of the best aspects, said member Judy Hennessey of Jaffrey, is coming together to do good as a group of people with a shared hobby.
“It’s just enjoyable to come here every week, and see people doing good,” Hennessey said.
“It’s the high point of my week,” said Nancy Saltz of Peterborough.
Every week, aside from the sound of the click-clack of needles, the room is also filled with bright chatting and boisterous laughter.
“We’ve been told to tone it down,” joked Saltz.
The Hands with Heart group meets weekly on Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. to about 11:30 a.m. They are open to new members, and are willing to help new knitters and crocheters learn patterns and stitches.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.