Meghan Durbak
CNHI News Service
Kokomo, Ind.
December 12, 2008 11:25 am
—
Tierney Lawson had trouble putting the final stitches in her blanket.
“There’s thread all in there,” she said hovering over a sewing machine that had stopped working. “It’s all tangled up.”
The small, green blanket Lawson was finishing was one of 40 being made in Joyce Fruth's Textile 1 class at Kokomo High School. The blankets will be given to babies born in area hospitals this month.
The Cheer Guild, which raises money for the hospitals, organized the project.
“We always have to find people to sew,” said Michelle Hayes, a spokeswoman for the group.
Each of Fruth's 21 students worked with the flannel fabric printed in pink, blue, green and white, and decorated with winter scenes.
“Learning service to others is an important part of education,” she said.
Her class seemed to agree.
“I think it’s great for those babies born in December," said freshman April Cast. "It’s a Christmas gift for them from the hospital — and us."
The students also found satisfaction in the work. Alexis Hunter said she was thinking of her family as she finished her second blue blanket.
“Blue is my brother’s favorite color," said Hunter, 17, a junior. "Helping children makes you think of your younger siblings."
Kylie Cox, 14, said it was nice to give the newborns something homemade.
“It feels like it’s coming from your heart when you make it for someone so little,” she said.
Meghan Durbak writes for The Kokomo (Ind.) Tribune.
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.
Photos
Stitching away: Isabella Manfredi sews a seam on a blanket. She is one of 21 girls from Kokomo High School who worked on blankets. Every baby born in December at Howard Regional Health System and St. Joseph Hospital will receive a blanket. KT photo by Tim Bath