MARY BALDASANO / Special to the PVT Knitting Nancys gather to discuss the next group project. Advertisement

Joan Kennedy thought she was just teaching a few friends how to crochet, but word spread and it wasn't long until the few friends became a group of over 15 ladies.

Kennedy has been knitting for more than 30 years with her projects sent to merchant seafarers, nursing and children's homes, hospitals and church-managed children's clinics.

The really great part is that she hasn't had to buy her own yarn for a very long time -- it's all donated.

Kennedy came from England over 50 years ago with her husband. After a brief stop in Canada, the couple moved to Las Vegas, then on to Pahrump to retire.

Her sister, Sylvia Lambert, followed a similar route. Several members of the group are post-World War II immigrants.

Kennedy said, "I have always loved to knit and have been doing it for many years. There are a lot of folks out there who are happy just to receive a warm blanket."

Seafarers who go to the cold sea climates have written with gratitude about a simple hat. She added, "There are so many needy people out there like those in nursing homes that it's easy to think of things to knit."

Joyce Ashworth also followed her husband from England. Many came from other countries such as Romania and states such as California and Wisconsin to retire to a nice quiet environment.

Lisa Whitney commented that she "only asked Joan to teach me how to crochet. It just kind of grew from there."

Dotti Webb also asked Joan to teach her how to knit or crochet and quickly became a member. "It's a lot of fun and gives a group of women an opportunity to sit and chat," said Webb.

Other members of the group include Alyce Isenhower, Carole Slaughter, Ann Menica, Penny Penington, Dolores Isenhower and Joyce Wood.

In the last few years, the group has knitted hundreds of hats, scarves, blankets, lap robes, baby items, and slippers; and, has collected calendars for the Seafarers Mission in Seattle, Wash. Another place of special interest is the St. Andrews Crippled Children's Clinic in Nogales, Ariz.

"Many of these children are orphans or have been crippled due to birth defects or disease. We just try to make them feel a little better," said Kennedy.

One does not need to belong to any specific group to join in the fun. They meet every Tuesday at 1 p.m. at 2151 Pahrump Valley Blvd in the clubhouse.

To date the group has put together 100 scarves and 141 hats to be sent to the needy.

Knitting has a very long and interesting past. The earliest historical, example of true knitting is a pair of patterned cotton socks found in Egypt, dating back to A.D. 1100 (only 900 years ago). It is thought that knitting was actually invented by the Arabian nomads, who brought it to Egypt.

Different types of knitting come from diverse areas of Europe with Fair Isle knitting, which uses two colors stranded into intricate patterns, began on islands north of Britain. The earliest museum example of this is thought to have been knitted around 1850. The style came to the United States around 1750.

This long-established craft is forever documented in the picture of the knitting Madonna, "The Visit of the Angels," painted around 1390 by Master Bertram of Munich.

The industrial revolution nearly ended the home made version with the invention of the knitting machine. Today, techniques from different parts of the world are being combined into wonderful new techniques. Knitting, and other fiber arts, is just beginning to be accepted in art circles as pieces of worth.

Ladies, just keep on knitting, you're making history.