Hands helping others
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Love is crocheted into every loop of the yarn by Loretta Stephens. At 90, her hands continue to bless others.
Just recently she helped WAGS (Where Animals Get Saved) of Bledsoe by raising $1,005 towards its dream of building an animal shelter in Bledsoe County. She crafted four different afghans – a dog and cat, a dog looking over a fence, deer head, and butterfly. Loretta not only stitched the individual afghans, she set up her donation booth in front of Piggly Wiggly over a 4-day period, in the heat. She also took a day to set up at the Pikeville Farmers Market pavilion during the week.
The names of Judy Swafford, Nigel Chadwick, Jan Donnelly, and Ken Platts were drawn to be awarded one of Loretta’s afghans.
“WAGS is really trying to build an animal shelter,” said Loretta, “that’s why I got involved with them.”
Fostering stray dogs is nothing new to Loretta. Over her lifetime she has fostered more than 100. This particular project is dear to her heart for just that reason.
“The people here are just awesome,” she said. “If you’ve got a problem, they come help. They are very friendly and willing. When they find out what you are trying to do, they get behind you 100-percent.”
Several years ago, Loretta helped raise funds for the Dr. John Ross House and Museum.
“When people found out,” she said, “we raised $3,000 to help them keep the house open and the history there not get destroyed.”
Loretta said she started crocheting when she was around 20. A Norwegian woman taught her to knit without knotting the yarn. This was especially helpful for when she makes afghans that the crocheted figures can be seen from both sides.
Her afghans sell for $100 each, Loretta said. It takes about $80 worth of yarn and the rest is labor.
Many people have donated skeins of yarn for the projects she crochets including the octopus yard dolls she makes, which are a kid favorite. Each one has a little note attached to it that has a website to go explore and learn more about octopuses.
She has raised five children – four girls and a son, who passed away from cancer. Her daughter Betty lives in Pikeville too, and crochets and does quilting. Her other daughters, Katherine lives in Alabama, Patricia lives in North Carolina, and Rebecca is a school teacher.
One year Rebecca asked her to make 100 girl and 100 boy octopuses for her students, which she said the children loved.
Loretta is also known for her Kitchen Angels that she crafts out of a dish towel, hand towel, and potholder.
“During the interview, she made one for me,” said Publisher Sandy Dodson, with The Bledsonian-Banner. “It was amazing to see her hands work and craft the Kitchen Angel in minutes.”
She has been part of the painted quilt square project for the community. Loretta, Joyce Bounds, Sherry Paglen, and Judy Yates worked with the Pikeville-Bledsoe County Chamber of Commerce who was trying to raise funds for a kids play area during the fall festival. As she called her group of friends, “Diva Sisters”, they got to work designing, painting and hanging quilt squares. Many businesses and individuals purchased a square and hung it for all to see. A driving tour of the squares was also introduced.
Her imagination flows and one of her bucket list projects is to get a cabin erected built out of glass bottles. It is a way to recycle and beautiful, noted Loretta.
“It would be nice to have it in a City park, if they get one,” said Loretta.
Loretta is always looking for ways to contribute to her community and is proud to live where people are always willing to help others.
