Creative Pursuits at The Templeton of Cary Help Greater Community
April 12, 2023
Reminiscent of an old-fashioned sewing bee, some residents of The Templeton of Cary regularly gather together to knit, crochet and quilt in the senior living community’s spacious arts and craft room. It’s a way for residents to socialize and to do good for the greater community.
The group of about 15 residents makes baby hats, sweaters, and blankets. These are donated to newborns and adults who are being treated at WakeMed Health and Hospitals, which has a hospital across the street from their community.
Avda Bartsch, who enjoys crocheting or knitting sweaters and blankets, is a founder of the group that started three years ago. “I do whatever the yarn calls me to do,” she says, explaining what inspires her creative juices.
The group has two sub-sections. One is devoted to quilting, and the other does crocheting and knitting. Each group meets every other week to have fun and work on their projects. One needs no prior experience to join.
“It’s a very active and joyful group,” Bartsch says. “We help each other, and we’ve taught each other how to knit and crochet.”
One of the members is Jean Hetherington, who specializes in making baby caps, not only while she’s meeting with the group but also when she’s at home relaxing or watching television. She usually makes ten hats a week, but her record is 19. She estimates it takes her about two hours to make one cap. “I’ve always been a knitter,” she says. “But you run out of people to knit for. You can only make so many scarves.”
Hetherington’s mother taught her how to knit, a hobby she has enjoyed throughout her life. “If I am sitting, I’m knitting,” she jokes. “I find it relaxing. I can’t just sit still and do nothing.” She has even taught her friend and fellow resident, Harvey Lane, how to make the pom pons that are attached to the hats. “I just wanted to help with the production,” he says. “It’s time-consuming, but it gives me something to do, and it’s for a good cause.”
Bartsch says the group often uses yarn and other materials that are donated. She’s impressed with the quality of the items the groups produce. “It’s amazing what can be done with leftover scraps,” she says. “They [the hats, quilts and other items] are just gorgeous.”
She and Hetherington like meeting to work on their projects as a group. “It’s a lovely social occasion,” Bartsch says. “People are sitting around and knitting, crocheting or quilting. It’s like an old-fashioned sewing bee.”
Bartsch says donating to others also warms her heart. “It’s a very nice feeling that we can bring some joy –especially to people who are ill,” she says. The Templeton of Cary.
The Templeton of Cary is a luxury rental retirement community located on a picturesque campus in Cary, North Carolina, named by Money Magazine as one of the “Top 50 Best Places to Live,” and lauded for proximity to world-renowned medical centers and universities. The Templeton of Cary offers independent living that supports a vibrant lifestyle for active seniors. Swift Creek Health Center, located onsite, offers assisted living, memory support, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing care for both residents of the community and surrounding area, thus providing a continuum of care for seniors. The Templeton of Cary is owned and operated by Liberty Senior Living, LLC, a division of Liberty Healthcare Management that specializes in senior living and retirement communities. To learn more about The Templeton of Cary, visit www.thetempletonofcary.com. To learn more about Liberty Senior Living and the communities they offer, please visit www.LibertySeniorLiving.com.