thedrifter
11-22-08, 06:54 AM
Sewing circle puts knitting needles to work for military troops, families
By FRED SWEGLES
The Orange County Register
When Margo Grube and friends from her water-aerobics class aren't busy stretching their limbs at the Ole Hanson Beach Club in San Clemente, chances are you'll find them sitting around acting like Knit-Wits.
That's the name of the sewing circle that has grown out of the water-exercise class. It's a group dedicated to making life a little nicer for Marine Corps families at Camp Pendleton and for U.S. troops serving in Iraq.
The Knit-Wits sew caps and scarves for Marines overseas. They sew baby items – caps, bibs, booties, afghans, pullovers, quilts and balls – to distribute to expectant mothers at Camp Pendleton.
On Monday, several of the 10 Knit-Wits will deliver their latest batch to a Baby Boot Camp program that prepares young Camp Pendleton women for childbirth.
We asked Grube about the Knit-Wits:
Q. How are you received at Camp Pendleton?
A.They appreciate what we do. They come by and give us a hug and thank you. We certainly appreciate the service they do for our country.
Q. How long have you done it?
A.We started, I think, five years ago. We go down, usually, once a year. This year it has been twice. We went down in May. We have a bunch of eager knitters, and they've really been producing.
Q. What have you done for the troops overseas?
A. This summer we cut and sewed 59 scarfs filled with water-gel crystals for the Marines to put around their neck or under their helmets to keep cool in the 130-degree temperature over in Iraq. I happened to belong to a group called Beach Cites Quilt Guild, and several years ago they were making those. We thought that was a good idea.
Q. Are the Knit-Wits all ladies?
A.There are four men.
Q. How can the public help advance what you folks are doing?
A.They can knit caps for us. We'd be very happy to give them directions on how to knit caps.
Contact the writer: fswegles@ocregister.com or 949-492-5127
Ellie
By FRED SWEGLES
The Orange County Register
When Margo Grube and friends from her water-aerobics class aren't busy stretching their limbs at the Ole Hanson Beach Club in San Clemente, chances are you'll find them sitting around acting like Knit-Wits.
That's the name of the sewing circle that has grown out of the water-exercise class. It's a group dedicated to making life a little nicer for Marine Corps families at Camp Pendleton and for U.S. troops serving in Iraq.
The Knit-Wits sew caps and scarves for Marines overseas. They sew baby items – caps, bibs, booties, afghans, pullovers, quilts and balls – to distribute to expectant mothers at Camp Pendleton.
On Monday, several of the 10 Knit-Wits will deliver their latest batch to a Baby Boot Camp program that prepares young Camp Pendleton women for childbirth.
We asked Grube about the Knit-Wits:
Q. How are you received at Camp Pendleton?
A.They appreciate what we do. They come by and give us a hug and thank you. We certainly appreciate the service they do for our country.
Q. How long have you done it?
A.We started, I think, five years ago. We go down, usually, once a year. This year it has been twice. We went down in May. We have a bunch of eager knitters, and they've really been producing.
Q. What have you done for the troops overseas?
A. This summer we cut and sewed 59 scarfs filled with water-gel crystals for the Marines to put around their neck or under their helmets to keep cool in the 130-degree temperature over in Iraq. I happened to belong to a group called Beach Cites Quilt Guild, and several years ago they were making those. We thought that was a good idea.
Q. Are the Knit-Wits all ladies?
A.There are four men.
Q. How can the public help advance what you folks are doing?
A.They can knit caps for us. We'd be very happy to give them directions on how to knit caps.
Contact the writer: fswegles@ocregister.com or 949-492-5127
Ellie