Recently I read on a listserv about a need for hats to be donated to a charitable cause.

Hats are fun to make and do not take much time to knit, so I thought this would be a good project for me to take on, particularly around this time of the year in which gift giving is customary.

Off I went to the nearest yarn store and selected some brightly colored yarn.

Following A Pattern

I sat down to knit right away. I had missed knitting. It had been some time since I had made anything, and I always had enjoyed the feeling of yarn going through my fingers. I casted the stitches onto the needles and placed the work in a bag along with a ruler and scissors.

The bag came with me everywhere-one never knows when one will have a few minutes to work!

Almost all knitting is composed of various combinations of two stitches: knit and purl. The sequence of stitches is determined by the pattern, which identifies how many stitches must be cast, or placed, on the needle; the sequence of the knit and purl stitches; and the measurements one must calculate to proceed. My hat pattern calls for 98 stitches, knitted 2 knit, 2 purl, for 9.5 inches.

At that point, one has to reduce the number of stitches on the needles to create the crown of the hat. A few stitches down the edges with a tapestry needle turn the flat piece into a tube, and voila, a hat!

One week after I began this fun project, I had completed three hats and was merrily working away on the fourth. The hats were on their way to their new owners before the holidays. I feel very good about my donation. The yarn only cost about $5, but the hours were what I gave, happily.

Engaging Others

Many of us, in this country as well as in many others, give gifts during the winter holiday season as well as for many occasions throughout the year. Often, our gifts come from the store, but one needn't purchase gifts. One can make them.

The custom of making gifts has become less popular in recent years. But it may be time to renew that custom, especially given the economic problems so many people are encountering.

It is also a wonderful way to engage patients regardless of their diagnoses, genders or ages. There is always someone who needs a gift, if not a family member then a group such as a homeless shelter, women's shelter or special school. Giving, in itself, has a wonderful healing quality.

Baked items are always a popular gift to get. Quite a few years ago, our company used to contract services to nursing homes in the region. Every year, one evening several weeks before the holidays, all of the staff would gather after work at my home to eat dinner and bake together.

We each contributed favorite recipes and, together, baked dozens and dozens of cookies of every description, until we were all covered with flour from head to foot. The next day we would each go to the various nursing homes and place a box of cookies on every nursing station as a way of thanking the nursing personnel for all their help during the year. We never tired of the many thank-you notes we received.

One year I made scarves for the four OTs I was working with. I made each of them in the same color yarn, but with somewhat different patterns to keep my interest up. It was a long project, but since I was using the same colors, the staff probably just thought it was taking me a long time to do one scarf. It was such fun the day I gave each of them their own scarf! Everyone was so surprised.

I still have a pair of wooden sconces with candleholders on my wall that were given to me by a patient. Another patient gave me a ceramic dish, which I treasure. I will never forget these patients for their memorable gifts.

Many of us belong to clubs that have gift-giving events around the holidays. Next year you could try organizing a homemade gift giving with your club. How about making ornaments out of ribbons and sequins on styrofoam balls? Or baking dog biscuits for a dog club?