Lisa Weiss welcomes visitors with a smile as warm and soft as the balls of yarn she skillfully transforms into hats and mittens for the homeless.
Ten steps into Weiss's brightly lit office, a brilliant display of more than 100 multi-colored hats, gloves and scarfs knitted by student and faculty members of the Knitwits lays neatly arranged, begging to be stroked, snuggled and worn.
The Knitwits are a small, but quickly growing, group of faculty, staff, alums, community residents and students who knit hats, gloves, scarfs, afghans, slippers and even baby sweaters for the less fortunate.
Weiss, the University's graphic designs office manager, works with Mary Price, assistant director for the Institute for Humanities, to coordinate the Knitwits.
"We've proven that students, along with faculty and staff, can get involved with many kinds of volunteer services, and that we're also eager to," Price said.
This group of crocheting cronies started two years ago when Weiss wanted to find a way to help Project Serve even though she was not able to travel to Alternate Spring Break destinations. She decided to put her kniting talents to work for the good of those in need of warmth.
By the time spring break rolled around, Weiss had single-handedly knitted more than 60 hats for distribution by Project Serve.
"My hands hurt," she said, smiling. "I asked for help the next year."
Help was just what she got, and a lot of it. More than 100 people came to Weiss's aid last year.
Almost 700 hats, gloves and scarfs made by the Knitwits were distributed to many charitable organizations across the nation last year, including Boys and Girls Clubs in Denver and New York City, The Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota, Hmong refugee children in St. Paul, Minn., and the Bahweting Anishnabe School in Sault St. Marie.
This year, the Knitwits passed out more than 100 knit kits at Festifall to students interested in knitting hats for the Prospect Place homeless shelter in Ann Arbor. Weiss and Price said they were both overwhelmed by the large amount of student support they received.
LSA first-year student Jessica Kelly picked up a knit kit at Festifall, and has since knitted seven hats.
"I usually find the time to knit right after class," Kelly said. "I lay on the floor with the yarn and avoid homework."
Kelly, who has taught her boyfriend, roommate and several curious bypassers in her dorm how to knit, said she feels positive about the group's mission.
"It really doesn't take too much out of your day," she said. "One hour or so out of your afternoon is gonna make the difference for some little kid walking to school."
The Knitwits are now more than 200 strong, and more than half are students. There are no meetings, no dues and no board of directors.
Local members receive e-mail announcements on what their next projects will be, when they are due, and where to come pick up yarn, needles and instructions for knitting each item. The yarn and needles for their various projects are usually donated by other charity organizations as well as local stores such as Meijers and Target.
Meijers donated the yarn for the latest project, knitting slippers for local nursing home residents.
The Knitwits are not only a local group. Thanks to the World Wide Web's Charity Knitting Network, there are also members in Texas, Oregon and Vermont.
The items created by the Knitwits have been distributed both locally as well as internationally, through Alternative Spring Break.
Anita Bohn, the director of Project Serve, said she is more than appreciative of the work the knitwits have done for ASB.
"It's a good way for students to use their hobby to help other people," she said.
Because the number of knitted items was so high last year, the Knitwits have outgrown ASB. This year they will collect two drives of knitted wear. One drive, at the end of November, will go toward local charities, and the second, before spring break, will be distributed by Project Serve nationwide.
Anyone interested in becoming involved with the Knitwits can come to Weiss's office in 3410 Michigan Union before Nov. 21 and pick up a knit kit. Interested students can also e-mail the Knitwits at knitwits@umich.edu, or call Price or Weiss at 936-3518 or 763-5493, respectively.
SARA STILLMAN/Daily
Sanjay Patel (behind), an LSA senior, and Charlie Walker, an RC junior, display hand-knitted hats, which they deliver to the needy.