Mickie Swall of Cranberry Township knitted 32 hats and donated them to the Mars High School Student Council collection of winter wear for Bundle Up Butler.

CRANBERRY TWP — While retirement for many means treating themselves to the luxuries that time did not permit during the working years, Mickie Swall took the opposite route.

Looking for a post retirement activity, Swall saw an article in the Cranberry Eagle about a Zelienople man who knitted thousands of hats for needy children.

“I wanted to do something for charity because I can only make so many things for myself and my family,” said Swall of Cranberry Township.

Having an overabundance of yarn, Swall decided to knit hats for the needy. After she completed 32 stylish and varying winter hats, Swall saw a story in the Eagle that the Mars High School Student Council was collecting winter wear for Bundle Up Butler at both the school and at the Cranberry Eagle office.

She said some days she would knit almost all day, while other days she would be idle. Swall estimates it take two to four hours to complete one of the hats, which have varying designs, colors and shapes.

“A lot of them I made up as I went along,” said Swall.

Swall said she has made 50 pairs of socks for herself plus various items for family members.

“I can't not knit,” she said.

Swall came up with her first knitted creation as a young child at her family's Thanksgiving dinner. She squirreled away the small pegs used to close the turkey and used them to knit a tiny hat for her doll.

“I already knew how to crochet so I just figured it out,” Swall said. “I still have that little hat.”

She spent most of her fiber-arts life wielding a crochet needle for fun and relaxation, and she worked for Quiltmaker magazine for 11 years.

After working for the magazine and making more than 300 quilts, Swall felt burned out on the medium.

But a trip to the Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Festival in 2010 at the Four Points by Sheraton North in Warrendale reignited her interest in knitting, which eventually resulted in the recent hat donation.

“I hope every hat finds a head to keep warm,” she said.

Swall plans to make scarves and mittens for next year's winter wear collection because mittens will provide her with a challenge.

But for next year, she'll get a head start on the project.

“I'll start making them any day now,” Swall said. “I have to keep busy.”