Chino resident helps knit caps for premature babies

Whether she is watching television, standing in line at the grocery store, or sitting in church, Chino resident and Citrus College employee Glenna Johnson enjoys knitting.

A life-long knitter, Johnson expanded her knitting for the purpose of making beanie caps for premature babies at neo-natal hospitals.

"My sister had given me a calendar for Christmas that featured a new knitting pattern every day.  I was overjoyed and had visions of knitted articles floating around my head," she said.  "One of the patterns was for a beanie cap for a premature baby and it included information about donating the finished cap to hospital neo-natal units."

Johnson, who was looking for a small project to take with her on an upcoming trip, decided to make a beanie cap.

"I grabbed a ball of leftover yarn, and before I knew it, I had one completed and was already working on another one," she said.  "They work up very quickly and take very little yarn, so they are a great way to use up remnants from other projects."

Soon, Johnson was recruiting others to help in creating the beanies.

"When I became bored with the pattern I was doing, I searched the internet and discovered a treasure trove of patterns for baby beanies," she said.  "Now, I have been making them for several years and my daughter has joined in the fun.  We change our patterns and colors for variety and, between the two of us, have quite a collection of leftover yarn bits and knitting patterns."

According to Johnson, most hospitals with neo-natal units will accept donations of knitted items for babies.

"No one exists in a vacuum; each of us has the ability to help others," she said.  "I believe everyone, even children, should volunteer something of themselves so they learn to see beyond their own issues and gain an understanding of their place in the world."