Helping hands: Mad Hatters keep knitting needles busy

POST FALLS – Post Falls resident Beverly Browne, who organized the Panhandle Mad Hatters in spring 2006, is expanding the group’s reach to Sandpoint Bonner General Hospital.

The Mad Hatters’ mission, to gather once a month to share laughter while they knit hats for newborns, is infectious. In a year’s time Browne has recruited more than 50 knitters who provide 150 to 200 hats monthly to Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d’Alene.

Sue Ballinger, a Spirit Lake in-home registered nurse, works nights and cannot attend the monthly meetings, but after reading an article about the Hatters, immediately wanted to be involved.

Ballinger and her children have been making weekly trips to Cocolalla’s Southside Elementary School to teach fifth-graders how to knit. The children, who had no prior knitting experience, have learned quickly, and have discovered several techniques to speed the knitting process.

“The children cannot wait to view the newborns on the hospital’s Web site, wearing the hats they have made,” Ballinger said. “It touches their hearts.”

Roland Bispo, a Coeur d’Alene retired Navy veteran, uses a loom, and is the only male knitter in the group.

“I have a strange mind for patterns,” Bispo said. “I like the design process, and besides, it keeps me busy.”

Bispo also makes hats for the Koats 4 Kids program and the North Idaho Cancer Center.

Hauser resident Jenny Jernsvold also saw an article in the newspaper about the group, and decided it was a way to give something back to the community.

“The ladies are lovely, Brown is energetic, and it is a way to welcome the new babies into the community,” Jernsvold said.

Betty Jensen of Post Falls has been knitting since she was 7, and is involved in the Perinatal Loss Group led by Sheryl Hanna of Kootenai Medical Center.

Jensen knits three different sizes of baby outfits and matching blankets, which serve as a keepsake for a newborn’s parents.

“This is a very special remembrance and keepsake during a time of great sorrow,” she said.

Jensen’s husband, Lenn, has recently caught the knitting bug, is learning how to knit, and looks forward to joining the group once he retires.

Jan Javorka, Hayden, has been instrumental in beginning yet another “offshoot” program of the Mad Hattters, according to Browne.

“Javorka beautifully cross-stitches a small baby footprint, which is inserted into a card specially prepared for mothers in the Perinatal Loss Group,” Browne said.

The outside of the card reads: “How very softly you tip-toed into my world; almost silently only a moment you stayed; but what an imprint your footsteps have left upon my heart.”

Many of the Hatters purchase their own yarn, but Browne is always on the hunt for yarn donations of any size.

“Did you know that a ball of yarn that fits in your hand could keep a newborn baby’s head warm and cozy?” Browne said.

Mad Hatter members credit the growth of the group to Browne, who makes “everyone feel valued and special,” but Browne said “the stars really are the babies to whom the knitters give their heart and their hands.”