A group of 36 veterans will be a little bit warmer with a donation of hand-made blankets from a local knitting group. 

The Knit Wits, a West Wareham knitting group, have been making donations of hand knit and crocheted items since 2010. The group provides over 1,000 items per year, from hats and mittens for children and adults to lap blankets for nursing homes and adult day care.

The group’s co-ordinator, Sheila Monaghan, was approached by Judy Nadeau, with Hospice Services of Massachusetts. Nadeau wanted to provide veterans with red, white and blue blankets, and asked the Knit Wits if they would be willing to make 30.

The knitters accepted the challenge, but quickly ran into problems. While Nadeau provided some yarn, and the Knit Wits contributed some as well, it was not enough yarn to get to thirty blankets.

One of the Knit Wits’ members, Carol Henderson, is also a member of the American Legion in Plymouth, and mentioned the problem to them. Beth Lynch, the director ofegion operations, told Henderson the legion would donate money for the Knit Wits to purchase the rest of the yarn.

Ultimately, the Knit Wits were able to make 36 blankets for the veterans. Hospice Services of Massachusetts will distribute the blankets on Veterans Day.

“The Knit Wit members created their own patterns and loved seeing the different designs evolve,” said Monaghan. “More importantly, memories are being made through the combined efforts of Hospice Services of Massachusetts, American Legion of Plymouth and the Knit Wits of West Wareham — building community one stitch at a time.”