QUILCENE — The Quilcene and Brinnon Community Knitters crafted 60 hats using donated materials for workers of Jefferson County and Mason County public utility districts. The group also donated several items to Dove House Advocacy Services.

About 20 knitters made 30 hats for the two PUDs. While Jefferson PUD is the primary provider for the county, Mason PUD serves Brinnon, said Lise Solvang, owner of Fiber and Clay and founder of the knitters group.

Yarn that was used to create the hats and items for Dove House was donated by community members and distributed to the various members of the community group, Solvang said.

Last year, the group made hats for first responders of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Quilcene and Brinnon fire departments. This year, one of the members suggested making them for the PUD workers, since they are also some of the first to respond to emergencies, such as tree limbs on electrical lines.

“It’s amazing the kind of work they do no matter what,” Solvang said. “Everyone is so humble.

“They’re all amazing human beings, and here we get to learn their first names.”

Donated yarn and knitting needles are dropped off at her store in Quilcene, and the members drop by to pick up the materials they need, Solvang said.

“Yarn has been dropped off left and right,” she said. “We haven’t been able to get together since February, but we’ve all been connected anyway.

“That’s what I love about this. It’s been a full on community project.”

Solvang appreciates the work that Dove House Advocacy Services does. She started a therapy knitting and crocheting group in California for women in recovery from domestic violence, drug and alcohol addiction, so she wanted to be able to assist the local organization’s clients during the winter months, especially in light of the pandemic.

She put out a call for materials earlier this year, and the group made and donated 12 lap blankets, 40 scarves, 15 shawls, 20 cowls and a few fingerless gloves and leg warmers, Solvang said.

The group has now set to work making caps for local female cancer patients and are organizing next year’s Christmas project, Solvang said.

Knitting for others is an act of love for the Solvang and the group, she said.

“Knitting is love made visible,” she said.

“Every stitch goes a long way and, in the end, love wins.”

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Jefferson County reporter Zach Jablonski can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 5 or at zjablonski@peninsuladailynews.com.