Anchorage Daily News

Many aspects of everyday life are changing: more darkness, colder weather and snowfall, less fun money and more bills. It's enough to make me want to stay home, hunker down and knit. I want to share ideas for getting out of the doldrums by focusing less on what we don't have and more on what we do have.

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I don't lack needlework projects, that's for sure. My stash is pretty well stocked. I have wonderfully gorgeous projects piled up, waiting for attention. I have piles of knitting books, knitting patterns and crochet patterns that I long to try. I have more ideas than time and money to complete them. Why, I feel rich! Focus more on others and what they might need, and you will begin to feel just as wealthy as I do.

We should all have an interest in making sure that those who live in this community are warmly clothed, dry and fed. This year, with the high cost of heating homes in the Bush, the high price of groceries and gas, and rising unemployment numbers, there are more Alaskans straining the sources of social support in our cities. These people can use warm hats, mittens, gloves, sweaters and scarves to help them through difficult times. Even if you have only a little time, you can turn your stitching passion into warm things for the good of our community and warmth for your soul too.

The Anchorage School District is always happy to accept donations of hats and mittens, and you can drop them at any elementary or middle school. Catholic Social Services could use more coats, hats, mittens, gloves and scarves for children and adults. You can donate knitted clothing to most churches, the Brother Francis Shelter or to the AWAIC shelter for victims of domestic abuse and their children. You can find places where your warm, hand-stitched clothing will be more than welcome.

As the election nears, our attention often turns away from the war and the families who have loved ones serving in the military, but they need a bit of warmth in their lives too. Every Thanksgiving weekend, Anchorage's first lady, Deborah Bonito, hosts a Christmas party for the families of those serving in the military.

Three years ago she asked the knitting guild for donations of scarves, hats, mittens and slippers to be gift-wrapped and handed out at her Military Family Appreciation party. Donations from needleworkers were so plentiful that tables were heaped with presents. Military families who attended shared heartfelt thanks and said they felt welcome in this warm, friendly city so far from home.

I have mentioned before that one of those young women even decided to learn to knit after she received a knitted scarf. In other words, those knitted and crocheted stitches enriched the lives of others in many wonderful ways.

There will be another Military Family Appreciation Christmas party this year, so you might want to get those needles and hooks busy. Thanksgiving isn't that far away.

Don't despair: You can feel prosperous this fall just by stitching up something warm for others to wear.

Interior designer, artist and professional knitwear designer Catherine Hollingsworth is past president of the Alaska State Yarn Council and Knitters of the North. E-mail her at twosticks@adn mail.com.

Knitters of the North events

• OPEN GUILD MEETING: 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Pioneer School House, Third Avenue and Eagle Street.

• KNIT OUT, CROCHET 2008, co-hosted by Ididachain Crochet Guild. Learn to knit or crochet; supplies furnished. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 18, Pioneer School House. Free. Information: Janice Chulick, 561-3933; groups.yahoo.com/group/Knitters_North.

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