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Teen weaves worthy cause

Date: 9/1/2009

By Natasha Clark

Assistant Managing Editor



LONGMEADOW While many youth most likely spent their summer days palling around with friends, camping and getting in cool waters whenever the weather allowed, 14-year-old Corinne Fisher has been using her fingers to the brim creating hats.

So far the teen, thanks in part to her family and friends, has knitted, crocheted and loomed about 500 hats since spring. The winter hats are a part of Corinne's project, "1,000 Hats for the Homeless."

After learning to crochet a year ago, the teen began making items for family and friends.

"I found a hat pattern and made one for everybody. It is really fun and inexpensive," Corinne said. "I thought to make 100 for the homeless for winter. Then I thought, 'why not go for 1,000?'"

She ended up crocheting 100 hats by July, and the project just took off. Her younger brother Thomas didn't catch on to crocheting as easily as Corinne, and found loom knitting a simpler way to create hats. A loom is a device for weaving thread or yarn.

Corinne discovered that she was able to weave up to four hats a day in less time when using a loom, and switched over to the hand-held device.

The story behind the teen's decision to learn crocheting in the first place is just as remarkable as the project itself. In 2008 the Fisher family's Longmeadow home was damaged due to a fire. For 10 months they made a home out of hotel rooms and space offered to them in the houses of friends and relatives.

During this time of difficulty, Corinne took up knitting in order to keep busy. She knows what it feels like to be displaced, and it got her thinking about those who do not have the advantage of returning home, as her family did when the renovations were complete.

"A little girl can make hats. She can't get them houses, but she can make hats," her mother Dawn said, adding that she was proud a good thing such as "1,000 Hats for the Homeless" came out of their misfortune. "I'm proud of her. She's a good girl."

So far she has knitting groups from surrounding communities donating hats to their cause. They are still seeking more people and organizations to help them reach their 1,000 hats goal. They are not looking for financial contributions, just hats, new or handmade, and yarn.

They are also willing to teach children, who are interested in donating their time, to loom knit so they can help make hats.

"It's a good feeling to know someone enjoyed your time [and effort]" Corinne said.