Beanies from the heart

Dave Brooks

Miki Sessler isn’t just spinning a tall yarn when she says she plans

to provide the entire U.S. military in Iraq with beanies.

The Huntington Beach business owner has launched what she hopes

will become a national movement to create more than 1-million knitted

caps for America’s service men and women, as well as hospitalized

veterans and those living in convalescent homes.

On Sunday, about a dozen of her volunteers met at Central Park to

continue the knitting effort and kickoff a series of monthly sewing

meetings to help reach their 1-million-cap goal. While some of the

women had knitted or crocheted for most of their lives, other

volunteers were picking up a needle for the first time.

“I wanted to do something, so I decided to join,” said first-time

knitter Sally Lao, who worked busily creating a purple cap. “I’m also

learning a great hobby. I can do this anywhere,” she said.

The Huntington Beach group alone won’t be able to sew 1-million

caps, but Sessler and her volunteers hope others around the state and

even the country hear about the grass-roots effort and launch their

own knitting groups. Sessler said senior groups, sewing clubs and

civic partnerships throughout Orange County have agreed to help her

meet her beanie quota.

“It’s word of mouth right now,” Sessler said. “I think it will be

all over the country when the word gets out. It’s really spread

through e-mail.”

Sessler got the idea after losing her husband Bert Sessler, a

former Marine, 14 months ago. Reminiscing how her husband used to

cherish the knitted hats she made for him, she came up with the idea

to provide caps to soldiers fighting overseas.

From her yarn shop on Hamilton Avenue, Sessler created a

collection basket to receive the caps andtyped up a simple beanie

pattern for beginners.

“We give them the pattern for knitting and a free lesson,” said

Sessler’s partner Colleen Rude-Hulbert. “The only thing we ask is

that they return one beanie for a donation.”

After the beanie is created, volunteers are given a membership

number and a special tag to send a message to the recipient of the

hat.

“I hear that the tag is one of the prized possessions of the

soldiers,” Sessler said.

Experienced volunteers can easily make about 50 to 100 beanies a

month, Rude-Halbert said.

“I can do it while waiting in line, sitting in front of the

television or watching a movie,” she said.

Groups all over the country have been contacting Sessler to find

out how to get involved, and military recruitment offices have

requested special orders: Air Force personal prefer light blue, while

Navy recruiters have asked for dark blue caps with a thin yellow

line.

“It’s wonderful to be involved in the beginning of something like

this,” said volunteer Sumiye Ida. “I’m glad that I had a hand in

helping to get this thing rolling.”

Knitter Lisa Kappeler said she got involved to honor the American

soldiers who liberated her home country of France during World War

II.

“I enjoy doing whatever I can to help,” she said. “It’s my way of

giving back a little bit of what I have received.”

The group might even expand its efforts. Rude-Hulbert said the

volunteers are considering sewing bonnets and sweaters for the

children of military, as well as Christmas presents for personnel in

Iraq to send home to their families.

The knitting group meets the third Sunday of every month at

Central Park. Knitters of all skill levels are welcome to attend, but

volunteers are encouraged to bring their own materials. For more

information, call 965-0018.