Local knitters make scarves for Special Olympic athletes

When you see special Olympians wrapped in their warm blue and white scarves, applaud the fact that almost 300 were knitted by the Merry Makers, a group that meets at the Wal-Mart in St. Charles.

The Boise, Idaho, games will be a televised event Feb. 7-13. But the suburban group has been knitting since September as part of the international Special Olympics Scarf Project.

The Merry Makers celebrated the success of their local project Saturday, Dec. 13, by honoring seven local special Olympians, who each got a scarf to mark their participation in local games.

Bindu Gupta of Bartlett, a member of the St. Charles group, learned about the project from a knitting newsletter.

"When I found out what Bindu was doing, I thought, 'Why can't we all make the scarves?'" said Joan Machin of West Chicago, who spearheaded the project. She is a tiny lady who enthusiastically greeted each special guest. "They are called special Olympians because they are special."

The scarves are all made of special blue and white yarn, but they have different patterns.

"These scarves are a wonderful and thoughtful gift," Susie Doyens of Sycamore told the group Saturday. She is a special Olympian who speaks on behalf of the Special Olympics for mentally challenged adults. "I invite you to watch the winter games on television. It will warm your hearts as much as the scarves will warm the athletes."

The Merry Makers are a group of about 25 knitters and crocheters who meet between 2 and 9 p.m. Wednesdays. The group includes special athlete Lora Lee McArthur of St. Charles, who made 35 of the scarves.

"We have mentally challenged adults in our group," said Linda Schoen of Batavia. "We have so much fun. Anyone is invited to join us and learn. If a pattern is giving you fits, bring it in, and we'll figure it out."