Thousands Of Hats Donated
When Ezra "Ez" and Elizabeth Stoltzfus talked about moving from a farmette to Fairmount, Ez was concerned that he might not have enough to do at their new home. To assuage his concerns, Elizabeth taught Ez to make hats on a loom, a craft she had been introduced to by a Farm Crest apartment resident around 2011.
"I got an interest in it because it was something to do," said Ez, but Elizabeth sees her husband, now 92, as doing more than just staving off boredom. "Ez is an artist," she noted. "I never taught him (to put colored) stripes in, but he does."
"I don't want to keep it all one color," said Ez. "When I get so far, I trade off to another color. (I choose) something that will blend together (with the main color)." Ez's understanding of blending colors goes beyond making hats. He took painting classes in the past, and in 2000 he painted a winter scene from his imagination. The painting hangs on the wall over the chair where Ez works with his hand-held loom, turning out about one adult hat every two days. Elizabeth finishes the tops of the hats for him, and the pair estimates that he has made and donated thousands in the 10 years he has been producing them.
Elizabeth did not stop with teaching Ez. In the last year, she has taught several other residents to make hats on the loom, and the group - called Knitting Together - meets on Monday evenings in the lobby of the Wheat Ridge apartment building. The hats they make are distributed to Moldova, orphanages in Romania, and to other places where they are needed. A large number reach their final destinations via the Lamb's Loom, a Texas-based ministry. Hats are also given to the knitters' families and friends. Elizabeth happily displayed photos of children and others who have received the hats in locations around the world.
Elizabeth explained that the hats can be made in four sizes, ranging from infants to two intermediate sizes for children and then adults. Knitting Together will accept donations of yarn but noted that cotton and wool are not preferred. Ez favors Orlon acrylic by Red Heart. Elizabeth noted that if a special color is needed, she and Ez will purchase it. Those who wish to donate yarn may call 717-723-2242 to make arrangements.
Knitting Together held its first meeting in October of 2020 after a Fairmount activity director challenged members of an exercise class to try something new. Elizabeth recalled that one of the residents said she was frustrated in her attempts to learn to knit on a loom. "My ears perked up," said Elizabeth. "I made it known to her that I could probably help." When more residents joined in the conversation, Elizabeth arranged for her and Ez and the others to meet in the lobby, and the group was formed. Members, in addition to Elizabeth, include Ruth Weaver, Elsie Stauffer, Anna Groff, Esther Becker, Ann Rathman, Edie Lausch, Edith Lorah, and Carol Sensenig. "We're knitting together socially and spiritually," said Elizabeth.
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