Knitters stitch together comfort for soldiers

SPARTA — Sparta knitters have been hard at work in recent weeks creating an afghan, to brighten a soldier’s holiday this year. These talented ladies are members of a knitting group sponsored by Sparta Friends and Neighbors, a local women’s club (www.spartafriendsandneighbors.org). The knitting group, affectionately known as Chicks with Sticks, meets once a month to knit, share helpful tips, and learn new needlework techniques. For this project, Chicks with Sticks joined forces with several members of the Sparta Library group (To Knit or Not to Knit) in order to complete the afghan by the Dec. 1 deadline. The afghan project was the brainchild of Chicks with Sticks co-chair, Marie Eisenhardt. She learned of the need for blankets through an organization called Soldier’s Angels, a volunteer led non-profit whose mission is to provide aid, comfort and support to the men and women serving in the armed forces (www.soldiersangels.org). Bed blankets are used for transporting injured soldiers home and the lap style are designed specifically for use in a wheelchair. Knitters contributed a red, white, or blue square, which were then stitched together to make an afghan. The finished product measures 3x4 ft, the dimensions required for a wheelchair blanket. The women who participated in this project see their efforts as a labor of love and hope the afghan adds cheer to a soldier’s holiday this year.