- November 26, 2024
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As a group of ladies gathered Thursday, Sept. 6, the meeting room at the Flagler County Public Library slowly overflowed with yarn and laughter. Not unusual for the monthly meeting of The Blanketeers, which fluctuates from 30 to 60 attendees depending on the season.
“Knitting is such a lonely activity; there isn’t much interaction with someone else,” said Diane Laukzemis, who has been in the club since it began 10 years ago with only five members. “Here, so many people have been through their own things in their lives, and, chances are, someone else in the room has been in the same situation.”
But the knitting club is not just about socializing. The group creates blankets, hats, shrugs, scarfs and chemo caps to be donated throughout Flagler County and beyond.
In August, the group delivered 56 blankets and quilts, 34 hats, 11 scarfs, three shrugs, two chemo caps and one sweater to 18 different organizations, including the Alpha Pregnancy Center, Flagler Pines, Florida Hospital Flagler, Grace Community Church, the Jewish Federation and the S.T.U.F.F. Bus. At the September meeting 116 items were distributed to 16 locations.
“I wanted to do something worthwhile for people other than family members,” said Peggy Pangburn. “These people don’t care what you give them, but we try to make them attractive and colorful. It makes you feel good to give back.”
The club, which welcomes knitters of all skill levels, does not give gold stars for the prettiest or the best creation. If you can finish it, someone needs it, Laukzemis said.
The group, which is run under Flagler Volunteer Services, doesn’t have any restrictions on what its members can make, and accepts donations of yarn.
“The volunteers here are amazing,” said Suzzy Gamblain, executive director of Flagler Volunteer Services. “They give away thousands of blankets a year to everyone from premature babies to teen moms to hospice patients.”
The Blanketeers meet the first Thursday of the month, at the Flagler County Public Library.
