Knitters create friendships

Kristal Singletary has fun helping other people.

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Kendrick Brinson/Staff

Kristal Singletary (left), organizer of the Memorial Circuit Stitches for Missions, laughs with Theressa Wilcher as she loom knits a hat at the one-year celebration of the knitting group that makes items for newborns, abused children and others.

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Kendrick Brinson/Staff

Janie Maddox is framed by the knitting loom of Jane Barnes as they knit at Pierce Memorial United Methodist Church.

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Kendrick Brinson/Staff

Balls of yarn sit in a box for the Memorial Circuit Stitches for Missions knitting group that makes items for newborns, abused children and more. The group knits at Pierce Memorial United Methodist Church in Augusta.

In July 2007, Mrs. Singletary organized the Memorial Circuit Stitches for Missions. The group is a joint effort of Mann Memorial and Pierce Memorial United Methodist churches.

Each week, the group meets to loom-knit, crochet, needle knit and quilt items for children and adults, including hats, booties, blankets, quilts, socks and diaper covers.

"We complete 20 to 25 items a week, and once we get a box full of items we donate them to area hospitals, shelters and agencies," Ms. Singletary said. "It makes us feel good to be able to do this for our area. That feeling keeps us going."

The knitters also enjoy the fellowship, she said, comparing it to pioneer days, when women met to teach one another to sew and knit, and to build friendships.

"One thing that hasn't changed from the old pioneer times is that we still get together to fellowship and support each other," she said. "Some weeks, the hats, blankets (and) booties are a secondary benefit."

During the past year, the mission has also been adopted by church and community groups in south Georgia and in Utah.

"I couldn't imagine that it would go as far as that," she said. "I feel that it's been God's hand pushing this mission."

She hopes that others in the Augusta area and in other states will join in.

"It's not a church mission. It's a people mission," she said. "We don't need to forget other people, because we don't want people to forget us. This is a way to show them how much they're loved."

Reach Nikasha Dicks at (706) 823-3336 or nikasha.dicks@augustachronicle.com.