caring hearts: Ladies’ Crochet Club

Founder, Shirley Doub

Baltimore Church U.M.W. Ladies Crochet Club

Baltimore United Methodist Church in the Forbush Community is home to our caring hearts this issue. The church is celebrating its 150th year anniversary. What a perfect time to recognize this ladies group of volunteers.

Shirley Doub, the fearless leader, collected her stitchery army in 2020. Members include Tracy Doss, Christine Martin, Becky Matthews, Betty Wyatt, Debbie Griffin, Kathy Doub, Peggy Phillips, Ann Matthews and Sherry Gibson.

For our interview, the ladies had filled multiple church tables with samples of projects they had already created and distributed to folks in a variety of human resource organizations.While they are currently working on Fidget Aprons, Twiddle Muffs, (colorful, captivating sensory therapy tools made of yarn and other fabrics, knitted, and slipped on one arm of the patient) are next on the list…to keep folks with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, busy with their restless hands, calm and warm. Each Twiddle Muff is unique and can be designed to fit the ever-changing needs of the individual.

Since 2020, the ladies have made 75 afghans for a hospital, caps for newborn babies in the NICU, hats for cancer patients, scarves and blankets, stuffed animals with hats and faces for Brenner’s Children’s Hospital, and small knitted bags for youngsters in transition to Foster care and anyone who needs one.

Extra excitement grew talking about a large, impressive quilt they worked on in the church’s vestibule. Church members were invited to create a square of their own creation. I wanted to pull up an office chair and read the entire quilt as the Crochet Club described every square in the quilt...it was obvious the ladies were close to each other as they give their time for others!

caring hearts

The fabric for this quilt came from the "stash" of Miss Zola Speer who is now in her 90s and was for many, many years a very active member of the United Methodist Women at Baltimore. In honor of her the United Methodist Women are selling tickets for $1.00 each for a chance to win this quilt.

Tickets will be available at all Church events, Cruise-In in late October and at the UMC Chicken Stew on November 12, 2022 when the drawing will take place to see who wins this quilt.