Nancy Wolford, Midge Magee, Kathy Meyer and Carol DeWitt, from left, share a laugh as they compare each other’s work during a recent session at Hannah’s Hands, a group that meets twice monthly at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Denham Springs to create handcrafted items that are donated to others.
Judy Knecht, Laura Tate and Janie Rainey, from left, look over the knitted squares that will be made into a quilt for a cancer patient. The three are members of Hannah’s Hands, a group that meets in Cameron Hall on the campus of St. Francis Episcopal Church to create items that are donated to others in need.
David Roshto, a member of Hannah’s Hands, a group that meets twice monthly at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Denham Springs, embroiders part of what will eventually become a quilt. He donates his creations to fairs and other events that help raise funds for the church.
Nancy Wolford, Midge Magee, Kathy Meyer and Carol DeWitt, from left, share a laugh as they compare each other’s work during a recent session at Hannah’s Hands, a group that meets twice monthly at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Denham Springs to create handcrafted items that are donated to others.
Judy Knecht, Laura Tate and Janie Rainey, from left, look over the knitted squares that will be made into a quilt for a cancer patient. The three are members of Hannah’s Hands, a group that meets in Cameron Hall on the campus of St. Francis Episcopal Church to create items that are donated to others in need.
David Roshto, a member of Hannah’s Hands, a group that meets twice monthly at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Denham Springs, embroiders part of what will eventually become a quilt. He donates his creations to fairs and other events that help raise funds for the church.
Drawing inspiration from one of the Biblical heroines, Hannah, who gave her first son, Samuel, to be a prophet and a leader of his people, a group of women and a man devote their time and talents with needles and threads, in giving to others who might be in need of the items they create.
The group, Hannah’s Hands, meets the first and third Tuesdays of every month at 10 a.m. in Cameron Hall on the campus of St. Francis Episcopal Church in Denham Springs where they knit, crochet, embroider and create a variety of cloth items that find a ready reception from a number of recipients with various needs.
Judy Knecht, an active member of the group, said Hannah’s Hands began its sewing and knitting mission about 15 years ago. Over the years, the group has attracted a steady number of women who enjoy the opportunity to share a common interest in creativity that serves a common good.
“Our inspiration started with Hannah who not only gave up her son to be a prophet but who also made the garments he wore. Our group uses the talents that we have to make lap blankets, throws, caps, scarves and other items that can be used by residents of nursing homes, persons who are ill, babies, and others. We cherish the time that we spend together,” she said.
The Rev. Dan Krutz, pastor of St. Francis Episcopal Church, said, “The members of Hannah’s Hands have been meeting for much more than a decade and through their ministry that are showing how much they care about the needs of others. I am proud of this group and am impressed with the fact that they have persevered in using the talents they have to improve the lives of others. They are an inspiration.”
The group, which averages about 10 participants at their gatherings, began by making caps and scarves for seamen as part of the Christians at Sea ministry, said Midge Magee, one of the knitters. She said the caps and scarves were greatly appreciated by the seamen who frequently had to sail on frigid seas in different parts of the world. They have since made items for nursing home residents, shut-ins, people with special needs and others.
The members continue to make caps of all sizes and scarves, but they also create more elaborate items. Spread out on a table at the meeting place during a recent session were dozens of knitted squares with a common theme that will be turned into a quilt for a cancer patient who is in need of such an item to help brighten each day.
Laura Tate, who was working on the quilt, explained that each square was knitted with a ripple effect and that when complete, the quilt will, “give the person the feeling that each ripple leads to something else … much like a ripple in water can lead to something new in every direction. We will add small knitted flowers to each square, and the flowers will bring beauty to the quilt.”
The group began knitting the squares in mid-April and they hope to finish the quilt by the end of the summer. “Each square takes a few hours to complete and the quilt is made up of 48 squares so it takes quite a bit of time to finish the project,” she said. Once all the squares have been knitted, they will be sewn together by hand to complete the quilt, which is a work of art and a testimony to the skill, creativity and perseverance of the group.
Janie Rainey, who has been a part of Hannah’s Hands for a number of years, said the group has created different objects over the years. In addition to the knitting, the artisans do needle work, beading, crocheting and sewing. Over the years, they have created Anglican rosaries, doorknob hangers with a religious message, wash cloths, “scrubbies,” refrigerator magnets and, at one time, a specialty item.
“Our church was the host for an annual gathering of congregations from a number of churches in the area and we were asked to make personal keepsakes for the visitors. We wound up making more than 80 of the things,” she said.
Nancy Wolford, one of the seniors in the group, said that at one time the members made lap robes for residents of St. Anthony’s House, a refuge for people suffering with HIV. “The recipients of our work were very appreciative and they thanked us for showing our care for them. One man took us on a tour of the facility,” she said.
Several members of the group said that the twice-a-month sessions are about more than just the sewing. For Wolford, Hannah’s Hands is about fellowship.
"If I have something that I want to talk about I know that I can share my thoughts, my joys, and yes, my sorrows, with the our group," Wolford said. "From time to time, we all need someone to talk to, someone who will make you feel better if your need some support and someone who can share your happy moments.
"That’s what makes this group so special. … We have the opportunity to share our life experiences with each other and someone almost always comes up with something humorous and uplifting that makes us all feel better.”
Kathy Meyer, who moved to Denham Springs from out-of-state, said the group has been a family to her. "I very much enjoy our time together. We learn from each other, we are inspired by each other and our creativity grows from our interaction. We share ourselves with each other.”
David Roshto is the only man in the group and his specialty is embroidering. While stitching a pattern, he explained that it will eventually be part of a quilt. He said that he gives away all of his creations and that his quilts, donated to the parish fair, help to raise money. He said he sees nothing wrong with a man being part of Hannah’s Hands. “We all share a common bond; we all enjoy being creative together; these sessions are fun and they add something special to our lives. Besides, what’s wrong with spending time with a group of women?”
Knecht pointed out that the group is “ecumenical” and that not all participants are members of St. Francis Episcopal Church. She said all are welcome to join the group regardless of their religious affiliation.
The group has had to overcome challenges over the years, not the least of which was the 2016 flood when the church and the accompanying buildings were flooded. Over time, the campus was restored and Cameron Hall, where the group meets, was rebuilt. More recently, Hurricane Ida claimed the church’s education facility.
Through it all, Knecht said, the group has continued their mission, which is to use cloth, needles and thread to make the lives of others more comfortable.
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