WhimsicalWigs

Imagine you are a child with cancer. You are losing your hair or have lost your hair.

Now imagine being gifted a beautiful, crocheted hat in a design of one of your favorite characters — Jack Sparrow, Rapunzel. Elsa, Sleeping Beauty, Moana, Snow White, Barbie, etc.

Whimsical Wigs, started in 2018, is a notfor-profit workshop led by Gwyn Yuhanna who meets with interested groups around central Minnesota. In January of 2024, I was able to attend one of these group gatherings at Carol Nelson’s Craft Camp in Pillager where a group of ladies, organized by Becky Miller, had come to do their part in making these gorgeous wigs come to life.

Becky had originally connected with Gwyn online and even went to her home in Andover to take part in her first workshop. Becky, to pun a crochet term, was hooked. She began to connect others to participate in closer-to-home workshops, held in Connie Nelson’s barn as well as Carol Nelson’s Craft Camp. Gwyn explained how it all comes together.

While Gwyn worked with another group when she originally started designing the wigs, those wigs did not necessarily stay in Minnesota. Gwyn found it important that they did stay local, and began to create her own groups to do just that.

“I have a group of dedicated ladies that crochet the beanies. They bring me beanies all the time and these are what I bring to the workshops,” Gwyn states. “You do not need to have skills in crocheting; there is something for everyone to do from braiding yarn, adding embellishments, etc. It’s a lot of fun!”

Most of the wigs are Disney characters. Barbie was just added to the options. When finished, each wig is packaged and has a small card included that says who made the wig. Wigs, when completed, are delivered to places in Minnesota including Minneapolis Children’s Hospital, Rochester Ronald McDonald House, U of M, Rochester – St Mary’s and Duluth Essentia Clinic.

A monthly workshop is at the Centennial Library in Circle Pines, Minnesota, as well as additional workshops when Gwyn travels around to reach other groups. There is no cost to participate, however donations are always appreciated as this becomes money for restocking the yarn and accessories to continue to make more.

In 2023, more than 700 wigs were made and donated. An estimated cost to make a wig is $50, but really in Gwyn’s eyes, for what this does for the children receiving the wig, it’s priceless.

For Gwyn, this is a project of passion. “It’s my way to volunteer and be at home with my kids at the same time. I love it.”

Youcome firstatAsteraHealth. Dr.HalaMadi,OB/GYN, canassist witheverythingthatwomenface, nomatterwhatstageoflife.From familyplanningtomenopause, Dr.Madiishereforyou.

Her Table

+ summer recipes

BY SUE READY