Knitters to decorate Bloomington trees

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) - Several trees in downtown Bloomington will be getting some new apparel come October as a fundraiser brings colorful additions to city tree trunks and adds funds to Middle Way House.

At least 40 local knitters and crocheters will be handcrafting "tree sweaters" to decorate downtown trees as part of "Knitting to Heal," a new fundraiser for Middle Way House's child care program, according to Yarns Unlimited owner Mary Ann Gingles. Downtown businesses have thus far agreed to sponsor nine tree sweaters — which will be placed on trees for four to six months starting Oct. 5 — but Gingles and Middle Way House Director Toby Strout are hoping to increase that number to 20.

"We need to have an organization like Middle Way House in our community" because it helps people who are victims of domestic violence, particularly children, Gingles said. "It's a good thing to support."

The idea for the sweaters stemmed from a worldwide phenomenon known variously as "yarn bombing," ''yarn storming" or "graffiti knitting," in which artists wrap trees, statues or any other stationary objects in their textile creations. Inspired by that idea, Gingles decided to adorn the tree outside her own business last winter.

"I was walking by one day and I saw (the tree), and it's beautiful," Strout said. "And I marched right in and said, 'Mary Ann, I see a fundraiser.' And she said, 'I'm in.'"

Strout and Gingles are asking local businesses to donate $500 to Middle Way House to sponsor a tree, or $275 each if two businesses want to share sponsorship or $200 each if three businesses want to share. Funds generated by the program will benefit a child care program offered by Middle Way House to the children of its clients, something that will be especially important following a recent state decision that cost the program $45,000 a year in funding, Strout said.

"We feel (the child care program) is so integral to our mission because if we want to end violence against women and children, we have to work with the next generation, because domestic violence is transmitted generationally," Strout said of the program, which offers individualized education plans to each of the children it serves.

Gingles said she needs to have sponsors in place before the end of August because volunteers will need at least a month to craft the sweaters.

Business owners who sponsor a tree can collaborate with the teams of crafters — so far about 40 have volunteered, ranging in age from children to retirees — to help come up with designs for the sweaters they are sponsoring. Sponsor Sharon Fugate, co-owner of the downtown furniture and women's apparel store Relish, said her team will be creating a sweater using muted colors and a "lacy technique" to parallel the types of fashions available in the store.

"I think the first part was that it was a project that would end up being a collaborative effort, which is always inspiring," Fugate said of her reasons for sponsoring a tree. "And then the idea that there was a way to give back to the community in a creative way. It's kind of win-win."

Though the sweaters will be up for a total of four to six months, Gingles said she believes they will especially add to the festive mood downtown around Christmas and could even draw more people into the city to see the displays.

"I think it will be a good complement with the lights during the holidays," said Gingles, who noted that she has checked with the city's tree expert to be sure such sweaters would not harm the trees.

Anyone who wants to get involved can visit knittingtoheal.org for information on how to sponsor a tree or volunteer their crafting skills, Gingles said. People can also help by donating supplies such as yarn, as none of the proceeds of sponsorships are being used to buy supplies.

"For me, the No. 1 thing is the fun aspect: having some kind of public art and having a lot of people involved," Gingles said of the program. "Secondly, it's for a good cause. I think it will add a lot of whimsy to downtown."