Anna Schmitt works on crocheting a project during a Mars FiberKnots session at the Mars Area Public Library on Monday, Dec. 16. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

MARS — Ali Hertweck, of Valencia, attended a Mars FiberKnots session for the first time Monday, Dec. 16, bringing with her little knowledge of the crocheting process, but a handful of hooks and yarn so she could learn.

Hertweck was initially concerned that her left-handedness would make it difficult for someone to teach her how to crochet, but the veteran crafters in the Mars FiberKnots were able to show her the ropes — or yarn.

Monica Palmer, the leader of the Mars FiberKnots for about 10 of the group’s near 12 years of existence, said she could teach just about anyone how to crochet, even left-handers.

The group meets every Monday evening at the Mars Area Public Library to not only crochet, but to teach others the art and to collaborate on projects that could one day be donated to people in need.

“I’ve been here since the beginning,” Palmer said. “Another woman created the group to teach people to crochet and have a group of people who like to crochet could meet and work together.”

Babies and children in the area could unknowingly be carrying around a blanket right now made by a member of the Mars FiberKnots, because the group has pivoted over the past several years to making items for charities, churches, schools and more. People visiting Mars during its annual Light Up Mars on Nov. 30 may also have seen the group’s literal handiwork laying in public spaces around the borough — hats available for people to take, should they need one.

On Monday, the group members worked mainly on individual products, but reflected on some of the projects they took on over the year, including the donation of dozens of blankets to Over the Moon Daycare in Cranberry Township.

“Initially, we were a group that just met to crochet, teach people to crochet, show them patterns and work on our own projects,” Palmer said. “Then we found different charities over the years that needed help, and we do probably at least five different charities a year.”

The Mars FiberKnots placed handmade hats around Mars on Saturday, Nov. 30, for people to take if they got cold at Light Up Mars. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

Palmer said the Mars FiberKnots is an informal group that welcomes anyone with an interest in yarn work. About a dozen people attended the session Monday, Dec. 16, but Palmer said the meetings can get as many as 30 people, many from the area but representing many ages.

“We have about six teenagers who come, when jobs and homework permit; we have every age up to the 80s,” Palmer said. “It’s a great support group, we help each other and everybody becomes friends.”

Palmer’s goal is to have enough people attend a FiberKnots session to fill up both community rooms of the Mars library. Sometimes the meetings are more full when the group has a project to finish, and sometimes, a group of friends or family attend to learn how to crochet.

While crocheting is the main method used by many members of the Mars FiberKnots, Palmer said, some of them know how to knit, so knitters are also welcome to attend Monday sessions.

“A lot of times, when you learn one or the other, you kind of stick with it, but we do have some that do both,” Palmer said. “I always think crochet is a little easier, but I think it really depends on what you learn first.”

According to Palmer, the Mars FiberKnots donates to several organizations and even schools, including Zachary’s Mission, the Lighthouse Project, the Still Remembered Project and St. Kilian Church. Additionally, the group embarked on a project several years ago to crochet plastic bags into mats, which were given to a local homeless shelter, Palmer said.

Pat Auld, who has been attending Mars FiberKnots sessions for about three years, said she has made friends through attending Monday evening sessions, and has also been able to make items with a purpose thanks to Palmer’s outreach.

“It’s a nice group,” Auld said. “A lot of credit goes to Monica, she’s responsible for finding a lot of the projects we work on.”

Kristin Grossman works on crocheting a project during a Mars FiberKnots session at the Mars Area Public Library on Monday, Dec. 16. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

The group has donated to Over the Moon Daycare, which has some foster children in its care — a demographic that can especially benefit from being gifted items like handmade blankets and clothing, according to the day care’s owner, Jodi Coe.

“A lot of children use blankets as a form of comfort or support to them,” Coe said. “Children that are in foster care find comfort in having a special blanket of their own that can move with them if they get placed in other homes.”

Coe said she is a foster parent herself, so the day care offers spots for foster families that may get a foster placement or emergency placement. She said she and the families who get handmade items from groups like the Mars FiberKnots are appreciative of the donations.

“Having a soft blanket can help children with stress, anxiety or trauma they may be experiencing,” Coe said. “Receiving a blanket or any item can be a great way to show a child that someone cares about them and that they are being thought of.”

Zachary’s Mission is a nonprofit that supports families of medically fragile children by providing basic necessities, financial assistance and programs that nurture emotional well-being. Its executive director, Patricia Vince, said the organization gives families in three Pittsburgh-area hospitals care packages on major holidays, and the Mars FiberKnots provides baby-sized hats to those packages each time.

Vince said the small, handmade hats are as much comfort items for parents as they are for the children who wear them.

“Bonding with your child seems natural, but it's often a very scary environment. We provide these pieces for them to dress their baby,” Vince said. “It means a lot, it makes a difference, it lightens their day to day. The hats are just a special part of it because they are handmade and adorable.”

While the crochet crew didn’t initially start out as a philanthropy group, Palmer said, its members have been happy to take on projects so their handcrafted creations will be used by someone who could use a warm hat or blanket over the wintertime. The group gives people a creative environment as well as an outlet for their creations.

“We just have a great group of people who are very giving with their time and talents to give to others,” Palmer said.

The Mars FiberKnots meets from 5 to 7 p.m. every Monday at the Mars Area Public Library, 107 Grand Ave., Mars, and there is no cost to join the group.

Some members of the crochet and knitting group Mars FiberKnots include, front, from left, Anastacia Nelson, Robin Shemela, Kristin Grossman, Ali Hertweck, Pat Auld, Monica Palmer, Noreen Leaser, and back row, Anna Schmitt, Diana Mastovich, Joyce Echtler, Bev Riley, Lucy Harrison and Bonnie Bender. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Diana Mastovich uses a single hook to crochet during a Mars FiberKnots session at the Mars Area Public Library on Monday, Dec. 16. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Joyce Echtler helps Noreen Leaser in measuring during a Mars FiberKnots session at the Mars Area Public Library on Monday, Dec. 16. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Diana Mastovich, left, shows a picture to Bonnie Bender, as Anna Schmitt, center, crochets, during a Mars FiberKnots session at the Mars Area Public Library on Monday, Dec. 16. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Diana Mastovich, left, and Anna Schmitt look at one of the projects done during a Mars FiberKnots session Monday, Dec. 16, at the Mars Area Public Library. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Joyce Echtler, right, helps Robin Shemela with a crochet project during a Mars FiberKnots session at the Mars Area Public Library on Monday, Dec. 16. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Joyce Echtler lays out some crocheted projects during a Mars FiberKnots session at the Mars Area Public Library on Monday, Dec. 16. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Joyce Echtler, right, helps Robin Shemela with a crochet project during a Mars FiberKnots session at the Mars Area Public Library on Monday, Dec. 16. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw