By Seraine Page

The Kitsap Fancy Crocheters Guild has an entire storage locker full of yarn that’s been donated for their use. Floor to ceiling, the five foot by 10 foot space is filled with every color of the rainbow.
“I had to pick between yarn and my husband,” jokes Beth Boshears, president and founder of the guild, which donates pieces to charity.
Ultimately, her husband won and the yarn got kicked out of the house. But she still didn’t give up her love for crocheting.
Nearly 10 years ago, Boshears decided to stop sending her crocheted pieces to the National Crocheters Guild to be mailed to someone she would never meet. She thought those pieces should go to someone locally.
That’s when the Kitsap Fancy Crocheters Guild was born. The group thrives on creating items to comfort those in the Kitsap community. They work together on the hopes of making a difference with donated yarn.
As a veteran’s wife, Boshears chose hats for veterans to be one of the first projects the guild worked on together.
“We live in a military community,” says Boshears. “We all look out for our veterans. It is our way to let them know the community is here. We make it a top priority and the best quality we can do.”
Early on, the group “adopted” building nine veterans at Washington Veterans Home in Retsil, which houses transitional homeless vets.
This year, the group has 85 hats to make, a huge increase from previous years. It will take most of the year to craft them before the donation drop at Christmas time.
“When I’m working on a project for a veteran, I’m thinking about them the whole time,” says Boshears. “We pick only the best of the best for the vets.”
The “best” usually means conservative colors and acrylic yarn that can be easily washed in industrial washers at the home.
“It’s an acrylic hug,” says Maurine Howard, vice president. “If we had more people, we’d have so much more. It’s fun. It’s community and it’s helpful. We just want to keep people warm.”
Even after putting hours upon hours into the hats, most times the members don’t see the veterans who receive the hats. Usually one designated member will drop off the hats to the home, but sometimes more will go if they have time.
Because it is usually a holiday donation, it is all the more special for veterans who might have otherwise thought they were forgotten.
“Just being the conduit for the gifts and seeing the faces of the veterans is the biggest reward,” says Ray Switzer, program manager-transitional housing for building 9. “The veterans who come to building 9 are always amazed that some unknown person or group commits to the time to make and give a handmade gift to an unknown person with numerous challenges.”
Because so many are needed for this year, members are starting early. They gather together every Wednesday from 3 to 5 p.m. at Cafe Noir in Silverdale, chatting and crocheting as they work. When members aren’t making hats, they are handcrafting afghans, gloves, scarves and other items for those who need comfort.
The group doesn’t sell its items.
Those who join as members know every item is going to someone in need, which is the best part for some crocheters.
Member Maggie Jones made one of the first hats of the year. Jones, a Scotland native, has been at the craft since she was five years old.
“I love to crochet, and it’s for a good cause,” she said. “We get together and chat. It’s fun.”
Last year, Jones ­— who others claim is the fastest crocheter in the group — made around 20 hats. She’ll easily finish a hat within four hours, but it comes easy when you enjoy it, she says.
She’s got one directive for those who want to help but can’t crochet.
“Give us your yarn and we’ll do it,” she says.
Want to crochet or donate yarn? Contact Beth Boshears at rezist@msn.com or call 360-830-3360. The public is welcome to join the group at Cafe Noir in Silverdale on Wednesdays.