- by Marty Mortensen -
An advantage of each interest group at University Village is the potential for making new friends. So it is with the "Needle Crafters," a group of ladies who meet every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. in the Crafts Room, with the common bond of working on various projects that call for needles.
Some of the women – men are welcome, but so far none have ventured forth – are working on projects started years ago, for which they found no time to complete until now. Others knit just to participate in the interesting conversations that are never boring.
Projects span the simple to the complex. Betty Barrington works on a beautiful needlepoint pattern; Phyllis Hubbard, Evelyn Spindt and Alice Brown do difficult, tiny, counted cross stitch, which demands sharp eyesight. Claire Drewes has the sobriquet "the fastest fingers in the West" for the short time it takes her to complete a project. Marian Shull quilts, while multi-talented Mary Ellen Kircher works on varied projects. Ann Temshiv knits attractive gift scarves; Jean Bardgette works her special talent with boiled wool. Super knitter Joan Funk, using her many knitting skills, manages to locate our dropped stitches and untangle our mistakes.
The rest of us form the "Square Knitters" brigade. We knit 6x6 inch squares of various colors, in simple to complex patterns, for baby blankets or lap robes which each consist of thirty-six squares. Jennie Weaver crochets around each one to complete the product. We have sold these at meetings of the California Retired Teachers' Association, San Fernando Valley chapter, donating the money to the chapter's scholarship fund to assist two CSU Northridge students planning to enter the teaching field. Each receives $1500.
In 2008-09, the Square Knitters produced 462 squares – nearly enough for thirteen lap robes – plus scarves, baby blankets and baby head covers which, when sold, added $378 to the scholarship fund. The ladies are pleased to have a part in this program.
In addition to those already mentioned, regular Tuesday "Square Knitters" are Elaine Ehrlich, Marty Mortensen, Ellie Rosenstein, and Alice Sage. At-home "Square Knitters" are Doris Heller, Betty Seccombe and Kay Wilson. Other UV women drop by from time to time, and all Villagers are invited to join us. We plan to have some of our hand knit items for sale at a Women's Breakfast Club meeting, to benefit the Employee's Recognition Fund. Come by to see the articles we make – and consider bringing your own project any Tuesday morning. You are always welcome.