The Crochet Program of OSCI Newsletter - School of Architecture ...

Autumn 2011
The Ladies of Marys Woods
With all that our
crochet program does, it
wouldn’t be possible without
the assistance and donations
from generous donors. One of
the groups that caringly provides
for us is “The Ladies of
Marys Woods Retirement
Home.” These wonderful ladies
meet every Tuesday to
knit squares in the Warm-Up
America tradition. After
which the squares are donated
to us and we crochet them
together, resembling a patchwork
quilt. These particular
completed afghans are then
donated to the Veterans’ Association
Hospital to help the
men and women in our military.
We receive many
donations of yarn from various
people and corporations,
University of Oregon Art Show
I am a folk artist. I never
expected I would be a folk
artist, or an artist of any
stripe—but, then again, I
never expected to be in prison
either. I grew up wanting to
be first a weatherman like my
father, then an astronaut, an
actor, and a writer. Now, because
I crochet, I am also a
prison folk artist.
Earlier this year, when a
group of professors and students
from the University of
Oregon wanted to come in
and have a symposium about
folk arts in prison, I never
imagined that it would lead to
me being included in my first
ever art show. On that day in
early 2011 there were lots of
discussion about the need for
which we are happy to crochet
into hats, scarves, and
afghans. But these fantastic
women decrease the time it
takes us to create afghans,
which allows us to put out
more afghans for those who
serve our county so well. In
2011 we have created 24 afghans
from these squares and
plan to have 24 more by years
end.
By Chain Stitch
outside coordination, organization,
and vision if an exhibit
of prisoners’ art was to be
successful in the community.
We talked, we brainstormed,
they took copious notes, and
then they left. I figured it was
over. Not by a long shot. I
don’t think anyone in the Crocheting
4 Community group
(Continued on page 2)
Volume 1, Issue 2
Inside this issue:
University of Oregon Art
Show
What I learned from
Crochet
Shawls for the Elders 5
Tsunami Relief Project 6
Inside/Out class receives
Crocheted Hats
Hooks, Yarns, & Bars 7
C4C supporters & donors 78
Special points of interest:
Oregon Folklife Network
Betsy—The Simple Life of A
Queen
How to contact Us
1
2
7

The following articles are about some of the charities we work with and why. The bylines
for the articles are the names of crochet stitches because Crocheting 4 Community
wants the focus on crocheting and helping community & various charities.
We encourage all to give back to community and assist those charities who are giving
back in any capacity that they can. After each story, there is contact information.
What I Learned from Crochet
When I started crocheting a few years
ago I almost quit after the first two
weeks. You see, I’ve never considered
myself much of a creative type, so as I
sat there attempting to make my first
square (that evil, evil square!) I became
so frustrated that I just wanted to snap
that little hook and throw it across the
room. Fifty percent of that happened; the
little hook did indeed snap, which drew
the attention of our volunteer who sat
down with me and talked me through the
next hour and a half with a calm, patient,
and humorous manner that not only got
me through the night, it keeps me coming
back as well.
Her understanding gave me the patience
to not only stick with the program but
also to realize that I do have a creative
side after all. Turns out I’d just been
starving the poor thing all these years.
What I do make are hats and
scarves that bring warmth...
Now after several years with the program
I can look back and laugh at my frustration
as well as more fully appreciate why
embracing creativity is so important, no
matter what medium you choose to work
with, whether you paint, cook, sculpt,
write, design a bridge, or invent the better
mousetrap. When we create we are
spinning the stuff of our very dreams into
something that other people can smell,
taste, see, hear, and touch. It feeds the
soul of all involved, which in this world
University of Oregon Art Show
(Continued from page 1)
foresaw exactly what would come out of
that initial visit.
At the end of April a smaller group, including
Emily, Lyle, Kelly, Chelisse,
Lisa, and Lori, came in to the crochet
group on
a Thursday
night
to dialog
with us
about our
reasons
for pursuing
art
in prison
and what
a prison
folk art
show might look like. We did more
brainstorming and conversing, but after
an initial surge of hope and enthusiasm I
cooled to the art show idea, not because I
didn’t want to participate but because so
many “great ideas” never happen in
prison, and I’m tired of getting my
hopes up. But, in this case, I was
proven wrong. The U of O people,
as they’d come to be
known even though
there were at least
two that were affiliated
with UNESCO
and the Oregon Folk
Life Network, won
me over with their persistence,
enthusiasm, verve,
and because they kept coming
back.
One important thing you
should know about prisoners:
we are used to being told what to
do—not that we like it, but it is the norm.
At first, I was put off by the very organic
is no small achievement
indeed.
Please understand that I
do not make the most
beautiful items in the program,
nor do I make the
most original. What I do
make are hats and scarves
that bring warmth to people
who are cold and afghans
for people who are
in need of blankets. I have
the privilege to make
these things for those who
are in need and for that I
give thanks for patience,
my own and Karen’s, because
if not for that I
never would have learned
anything at all.
By Twelve Petal Flower
(I thought they seemed disorganized and
haphazard) approach that the U of O people
seemed to display when they came in
to talk with
us. My
negative
impression
was because
their
methods
were not
what I was
used to:
they didn’t tell us how it was going to be,
what we had to do, and when we had to
have it done by. It was unheard of that
they actually wanted to talk to us and
find out what we thought and felt about
our art show. That doesn’t happen in
prison. There are no dialogs; there are
only top-down directives. After two more
(Continued on page 5)
Page 2 Crocheting 4 Community

Volume 1, Issue 2
Donation Form Sign-up sheet
American Cancer Society-Relay for Life
Arches (Hats & scarves for the homeless)
Doernbechers Children's Hospital
Our House
Angel Tree
Disabled Veteran’s
Donate in the name of...
Name
Address
Phone
Email
Baby booties $
Preemie blanket $
Hat and Scarf set
Hat or scarf
Lapghan
Afghan
Quantity
Method of Payment
Check
Subtotal:
Total:
Money Order
Price
I would like to donate to the following charity:
Name of Charity
Contact Person
Phone
Email
You can contact Crocheting 4 Community at:
c/o Kimm Hollingsworth, Transitions Coordinator & Staff Advisor
Oregon State Correctional Institution
3405 Deer Park Drive SE
Salem, Oregon 97310
Phone: 503 373-0194
Fax: 503 378-5113
Email: Kimm.M.Hollingsworth@doc.state.or.us
$
$
$
$
2 for 1
Special Offer
Do you want to help support
Crocheting 4 Community, and
another charity at the same time while helping a person
in need at the same time? Donate to C4C and
designate what charity you would like. C4C will crochet
an item and send it to that charity in your name
and send you a photo of the item crocheted and donated.
10 dollars—pair of baby booties and hat
20 dollars—preemie blanket
25 dollars—hat or scarf
35 dollars—hat and scarf set
50 dollars—Lapghan (lap afghan)
100 dollars—Afghan
Karen Bennett
Can be contacted at
Karen.auntellapathway@gmail.com
503.339.7743
Page 3

C4C accepts yarn as well as monetary donations
(we would rather get the yarn.) If you would like to
make a donation to support our efforts please contact
Kimm Hollingsworth or Karen Bennett
Karen Bennett
Can be contacted at
Karen.auntellapathway@gmail.com
503.339.7743
Transitions Service Division
You can contact Crocheting 4 Community at:
c/o Kimm Hollingsworth, Transitions Coordinator & Staff Advisor
Oregon State Correctional Institution
3405 Deer Park Drive SE
Salem, Oregon 97310
Phone: 503 373-0194
Fax: 503 378-5113
Email: Kimm.M.Hollingsworth@doc.state.or.us

Shawls for the Elders
This year I had the honor do be asked to make shawls for
our Native American club here at
OSCI, Inipi Oyate Ki (People of the
Sweat), which were to be given to
some of our women elders and volunteers
at the upcoming 2011 Pow
Wow. It was mid January and the
event is in late September, so I figured
that I had plenty of time to do
the work, and to spare. Fate can play
funny tricks on you.
I had finished (almost) five shawls on the morning of
March 29 th when one of those aforementioned funny tricks
struck like lighting. The Native circle was hosting a change of
season’s meal that night and had come up with a great idea: to
give some of the shawls out early. This left me in a bit of a
quandary as none of the shawls I had done so far had been
fringed yet (remember how I had plenty of time for this pro-
University of Oregon Art Show
(Continued from page 2)
ject…ha ha ha) which can take a wee bit o-time. Needless to
say I, and Abdur Rashid, went into
fringing overdrive to get them all
done in the next few hours. We were
finishing the last two in the back of
the room while the meal was taking
place, and drawing the occasional
glance of curiosity from all present.
With but minutes to spare before the
giving of gifts we slipped the last
stitch and were done. I had never
imagined that crochet could be a timed event with a speed
round.
In the end the ladies were delighted with their gifts
and I learned a valuable lesson: fringe your shawls! Always
fringe your shawls.
By Twelve Petal Flower
visits—with cameras, release of information forms, questionnaires, and audio recorders—I believed that the art show was actually
going to happen.
The last time they came back I was all in, I was enthusiastic, and I was ready. I believed I was a folk artist, and I had an afghan I
wanted to display. It had taken me 5 months to crochet that particular afghan, and
I really liked the idea that it would be part of the exhibit. The art show was May
20-22, 2011, in Mt. Vernon, Washington, and from what I’ve heard—it was a
I never imagined that it would lead to
me being included in my first ever
art show.
rousing success. Our Crocheting 4 Community coordinator, Karen Bennett, attended
and came back with a very favorable impression of the organization and
care that was shown in displaying our crocheted items and all the other prisoner
artworks that had been sent from OSCI. She said we would be very pleased with
how it looked, but that we didn’t have to take her word for it since the U of O
people would be coming back on July 28 th to show us pictures of the exhibit, tell
us how it went, and talk to us about future shows.
As a result of the art show there was a transformation that happened inside my
own self-confidence. For me, to go from simply enjoying crochet because of the myriad of colors and textures of the yarns, to believing
that I am an artist is a remarkable thing to have happen in the course of several months. For years my depression refused to allow
me to see any good in me at all. It is a real confidence boost to get validation from others for the items I crochet even as I serve out
my time in prison.
Crocheting 4 Community is made up of fantastic artists, and as artists we are connected to a much larger community—a community
that connects prisoners with people on the outside in healthy and affirming ways. For that, every member of the group is extremely
thankful to everyone who was involved in the preparation, organization, and culmination of that show. We are hoping that there will
be many more exhibits in the future.
By Treble Stitch
Page 5 Crocheting 4 Community

Tsunami Relief Project
Cars drove and people ran for the dry land. Some of them made it
there. But the massive tsunami wave of water moving inland swallowed
some. Cars, houses, boats and people disappeared under the violent water.
It was extremely painful to watch people on the corners of streets
stranded in the freezing winter days that followed, aimlessly looking for
any signs of their missing loved ones or homes. And then it snowed.
In my youth I visited the area
devastated by the Tsunami ...In the
summer time the beautiful country is
warm and filled with festivities.
Page 6
A couple of inmate
crocheters put
a Tsunami Relief
Project in motion as
soon as they heard
the news. As a crocheter
and a Japanese
man whose
family still lives in
Japan, I felt some
relief and worthiness
thinking that our
time and effort would give some comfort to the homeless and people
who live at shelters. Everyone pitched in. They made hats and scarves
that filled up the big bags fast.
We hoped to relieve some of their pain with our gifts as early as
April. However, because of the long distance and chaotic situation in the
disaster area that did not work. Now thanks to Betsy Queen our hats,
scarves, and afghans were hand delivered to shelters in September.
In my youth I visited the area devastated by the Tsunami and resulting
earthquakes. In the summer time the beautiful country is warm and
filled with festivities. Fall quickly brings in cold freezing air coming
down from the high mountains. We wish all the victims and their families
warmth, comfort, and especially hope.
By Popcorn Stitch
For more information and photos of various acts of kindness delivered
by Betsy Queen, you can visit betsythesimplelifeofaqueen.blogspot.com.
Ishinomaki
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
A ship on dry land
A trunk full of assistance
Betsy—The Simple Life of a Queen
Hats for help
Afghans to keep warm
A huge pile of debris that has been collected
Good Morning! This morning I want to tell you a bit about Ishinomaki. The two towns Alex and I visited were Ishinomaki and
Kamaishi…These towns are very close to the Sendai area that was on the news so much.
We delivered the knitted items to a gentleman named Fumito Suzuki. He told us his story of the day the tsunami hit – riding his
moped to try to warn people and almost getting swept away himself by the giant wave. He said when he finally escaped; he
looked back and saw people being washed from cars and being swept away.
He opened up his home to over 40 people after the disaster. That was amazing when you think about how small most Japanese
homes are. He spends his days trying to help the many, many people still in shelters. He is a photographer by trade, but feels bad
about charging people in these difficult days so he is working mostly for free. Fumito is an amazing man who is just trying to get
by day to day and help those who lost everything. He feels guilty and humbled by turn to still have his home and possessions so
does whatever he can for others.
For more visit Betsy Queens’s blog at betsy-thesimplelifeofaqueen.blogspot.com
Crocheting 4 Community

U of O Inside/Out Russian Literature Class Receives Crocheted Hats
In Spring 2011, Professor Steven
Shankman of the University of Oregon
brought an honors Russian literature
class to OSCI, as part of the Inside-Out
Prison Exchange Program. Thirteen students
from the Eugene campus and
twelve students from within the prison
came together for a ten-week class and a
An inside student & Professor Shankman
shared experience unlike most in college.
Professor Shankman has taught
other Inside-Out classes before, but this
was his first at OSCI. It was also the first
time that he combined ethics and literature
by using The Brothers Karamazov
by Fydor Dostoevsky and Ethics and
Infinity by Emmanuel Levinas. The two
worked well together reinforcing what
the other was saying. With an overall
focus on every individual’s responsibility
(or response-ability according Levinas)
to all others, everyone in the class
learned a lot. The lessons sometimes
Hooks, Yarns, & Bars
It all started with a Folk Art symposium
held at OSCI early this year (see UofO Art Show -
page 1). It was sustained with a showing of prison
art at an international corrections conference in May
of this year. Now Oregon Folklife Network will be
“presenting the works, images and thoughts of the
members from Crocheting 4 Community…”
This art show will be held at The Laverne
Krauss Gallery in Lawrence Hall, University of Oregon
from October 17 th through the 21 st , 2011. There
will be an opening reception October 17 th from 5-
7pm. Interested individuals can see more at
aaablogs.uoregon.edu/hooks-yarns-bars/.
came from unexpected
angels,
teaching the students
more about
themselves than
they had expected.
All but one
of the inside students
had taken
at least one
other Inside-Out
class before, and
they all said that this class was
uniquely different. The combination
of the subject matter and the open
discussions led by Professor Shankman
created an atmosphere that was
very encouraging and thought provoking.
Several students, both from
inside the prison and from the campus,
stated that this class was a lifechanging
experience.
Albeit well printed many of the
outside students express an interest in
having something more than the class
“anthology” to remember their shared
experience. Hearing this and realizing the
difficulty that the students would have in
purchasing items from OSCI’s inmate
Hobby Shop, one inside student who is
also part of Crocheting 4 Community
(OSCI’s Crochet Program) sought permission
to make hats for all the outside
students and the professor. The administrators
of the Inside-Out Program and
OSCI agreed that it would be all right. So
14 hats with the U of O school colors
...students, both from inside the prison
and from the campus, stated that this class
was a life-changing experience.
were made and presented to each of the
outside students plus the professor during
the final class celebration.
Professor Shankman plans to
return to OSCI for another Inside-Out
class in the Spring of 2012, and possibly
a third time the year after that. As the
head Chairman of UNESCO, he has also
become involved in Crocheting 4 Community’s
art exhibits at the UNESCO
conferences.
By Relief Stitch
Page 7 Crocheting 4 Community

You can contact Crocheting 4 Community at:
The Crochet Program of OSCI
C/o Kimm Hollingsworth, Transitions Coordinator
& Staff Advisor
Oregon State Correctional Institution
3405 Deer Park Drive SE
Salem, Oregon 97310
Phone: 503.373.0194 Fax: 503.378.5113
Email: Kimm.M.Hollingsworth@doc.state.or.us
Or through our “outside” advisor:
Karen Bennett
Karen.auntellapathway@gmail.com
Donors
Aunt Ella’s Pathways
Anita Clifft
Susie Mosley
Mike & Mary Lewis
Fosters’ Farms
Patty Milner
Michele Powell of Fiber Nooks & Crannys
C4C Mission Statement
The mission of Crocheting 4 Community,
the Crochet Program of OSCI is
to provide assistance to encumbranced
individuals in the outside community.
It is with this assistance that we
hope to restore justice, a little of what
we have taken and what many have
lost, a true balancing of the scales, so
to speak. We also hope to encourage
others to help those they see struggling
and restore a little humanity to
our society as a whole.
We like to give thanks to those who have donated & supported C4C
Angel Frutose
James of Alcoholics Anonymous
The Women of Mary’s Woods
Molly Schnell
Susan Gould, Volunteer Coordinator of
Washington County Sheriff's Department
In 2011 to day we have donated
over 872. In 2010 we donated
approximately 800 items.
Inside Donors & Supporters
Supporters
Kimm Hollingsworth, our staff advisor
Karen Kettler, our founder
Linda Miles, our spiritual crochet guru
Carla Padilla, our first & strongest pillar
OSCI Administration (past & present)
Wendy Hatfield
Michelle Jimenez
Michele Powell
Our friends at the University of Oregon
...And we would not be where we are
without the incredible dedication of
KAREN BENNETT!
And all the inmates that assist us, purchase our wares, support our fundraisers,
and keep us in their prayers and thoughts.