Retirement, shared interest, ministry leads these women to knit
WARREN
They’re a closeknit group in more ways than one.
A shared interest brought the Thursday knitters at Grace United Methodist Church together and made them a family. The group meets weekly, weather permitting, from 10 a.m. into mid-afternoon at the church, 1725 Drexel Ave. NW.
Roberta Davis, a church member, coordinates the group she founded in 1984 after retiring as a home economics teacher in LaBrae Local School District. In retirement, she wanted to do something to occupy time, be creative and constructive. She decided to organize a knitting group at the church as an “outreach program.” News of the group spread by “word of mouth.”
A recent Thursday, 11 women sat around tables put together, working on various projects; the number of participants fluctuates. Some also participate in the Witty Knitters, which meets at 7 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of the month from September to May at the church, and the prayer shawl ministry.
The Thursday knitters have knitted clothes for teddy bears, which were donated to Warren and Warren Township police departments.
“They’re given to children who have been in a traumatic experience,” Davis said.
Preemie hats, caps for kids, cancer hats and blankets are among projects that the knitters have done and continue to do as part of their charitable efforts.
Read more about the group and how Davis started knitting in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.