A group of Chilliwack knitters and crocheters is warming hands, heads and hearts this holiday season.
Simply known as the Craft Night Crew, the 15-member group has made about 250 crocheted and knitted toques and pairs of mittens, plus some scarves and head warmers for people in need this year.
The idea came about last year by member Shonnet Allen after she heard about a church group in England who had knit 78 toques and hung them on a Christmas tree for those less fortunate to take.
She asked her group if they wanted to do the same, and they did.
“So we started knitting and ended up… with 300-350 last year. We just did toques last year.”
They put pompoms on all every single hat last year and then donated them to Cyrus Centre, Ann Davis Transition Society, and Chilliwack Community Policing.
“Last year we were worried that people would feel left out if they didn’t have a pompom,” Allen said with a smile.
But, it turned out toques without pompoms were preferred as they fit better underneath the hoods of sweatshirts and coats.
One of the groups that received the toques mentioned that mitts would be very useful as well, so this year the crew crocheted and knit 92 pairs of mittens and more than 150 toques.
Many of the items were made with donated yarn.
“We do have bits and pieces (of yarn) so right now I’m making ‘frankenmitts,’” said Loralei Dean who made 80 of the pairs of mittens herself. ‘Frankenmitts’ is a term she uses to describe mittens made with a bunch of different smaller balls of yarn that aren’t enough to make a full pair of mitts.
The group started up about 20 years ago when they gathered at one member’s house to finish up their Christmas projects. They soon began to knit prayer shawls together.
They started inviting more people and the meetings would rotate between houses. They moved to Zoom meetings during COVID, and then they started gathering every Monday at Community of Christ Church so they could spread themselves out during the pandemic. They’ve been at the church ever since.
Soon, the cupboard was stuffed with prayer shawls and they wanted to make something different, so they started making the hats last year for charity.
They’re donating this year’s mittens and toques to Ann Davis Transition Society, Chilliwack Community Policing and Griffin Security. Each spot has a handmade wooden Christmas tree that has been wrapped in chicken wire on which the knitted and crocheted items will be displayed.
Anyone who would like to donate yarn for the Craft Night Crew’s cosy project can drop it off at the church (9845 Carleton St.) during the following days and times: Wednesdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and Mondays during the Craft Night Crew meetings from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Additionally, folks can arrange for Shonnet Allen to pick up yarn donations by calling 604-798-4909.
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