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Donated yarn keeps woman in stitches

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Photo by Cat Szalkowski-Patneau

Nancy Blumer was displaced by the fire at Arch Street apartments in August and lost many of her belongings, including a large yarn collection which she used to make blankets she would donate through her church to missionaries traveling the world. After the fire, knitting yarns, needles and two knitting bags were given to Blumer by various donors from the community.

JANESVILLE — Nancy Blumer could sit around feeling sorry for herself.

Instead, the 53-year-old Janesville woman, who was among tenants burned out of a South Arch Street apartment complex Aug. 18, continues making baby blankets for missionaries, who distribute them around the world.

Blumer lost most of her belongings, including much her yarn and knitting supplies, in the fire, but she's able to continue her needlework thanks to the generosity of those who donated more than 100 skeins of yarns and other knitting supplies.

Their kindness has helped stitch her broken life back together.

"I've been so surprised. I was about to cry," Blumer said, surrounded and comforted by bags and baskets of yarn.

"They love what I do for the church and the love I have for the babies by making the blankets," Blumer said.

On Thursday, Blumer had been in her new home for only a day. Even though all of her personal belongings hadn't been put away, she sat relaxed in a recliner in a corner of the living room and crocheted her worries away.

"It calms my mind down. It helps me not think about that fire and those two weeks of being homeless. I'm happy," she said.

She was crocheting a baby blanket with colorful donated yarn.

Blumer said her foster mother initially taught her how to make granny squares. Later, she enrolled in a knitting and crochet class at Franklin Middle School. The rest is self-taught.

For years, Blumer made baby blankets for those in need at her church—New Life Assembly of God. Then in 2005, she began making blankets for others around the world. Since then, she's made about 700 blankets for children in seven countries and for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The next recipient of her efforts, she said, would be families that work with the Pregnancy Helpline.

They won't have to wait long. Blumer is hooked on her mission and spends eight to 12 hours a day making blankets.

"The Lord gave me this job of crocheting blankets for babies and children," she said. "I love doing this. It's how I show the love to the babies."