Uplift: Hats off for Solveig

When it comes to caring, our hat is off to Solveig Meinhardt.

In fact, about 190 hats and counting are off to 16-year-old Solveig.

You see, Solveig, who lives with Down syndrome, was looking for something to do last November when someone came up with the idea of teaching her to knit using a circular knitting machine.

Since then, the machine is Solveig. She has produced about 190 woolen toques in nine months.

And it is all for a good cause now: the woolen hats made by Solveig are all destined to go to this year’s Koats for Kids charity.

“She does it non-stop now,” Solveig’s mother, Lynn, said recently. “Her teacher told her she can take it to school. It keeps her happy and centred there.”

Solveig’s dad, Bjoern Erik, said when his daughter is doing something like watching TV, she doesn’t stop knitting. “You see it go around and around and around,” he said.

Solveig is so dedicated that, during a recent family driving vacation to visit relatives in Georgia, she took her machine – and her wool – with her.

“She made 19 hats while we were gone,” Lynn said. “(Her relatives) asked if they could have a hat and she said no, you can’t have one. They are all for Koats for Kids.”

Lynn said they’ve purchased wool and they’ve also found leftover wool from various places.

“I have no idea how much wool she has gone through — maybe I don’t want to know,” she said with a laugh.

Now this is where you can step in to help.

Solveig’s father, who is pastor at St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, at 65 Walnut St., recently asked his congregation for donations of yarn in the church bulletin.

“If you can help, please leave yarn in the box located in the narthex,” the announcement said.

We figured we would widen the request so more people can help Solveig in her quest to make more toques.

If you have some wool to donate — or even want to buy some for that purpose — you can bring it down to the church and drop it off. You might want to call ahead to 204-775-6477 to make sure they’re open before you do.

Who knows? If you drop some off, this winter you might see a kid or teenager walking around wearing a hat made by Solveig with your wool.

And that will warm not just a head, but also your heart.

– Kevin Rollason

Shelley Cook, Columnist

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