Avid knitter crafting sympathy blankets

REDMOND, Wash. — An avid knitter emotionally stricken by the events playing out at the Crandall Canyon Mine is putting her needles together and asking others to do the same.

The goal is to get enough 10-by-10-inch squares to craft blankets for the families affected by the mine collapses.

Samantha Frey would like each blanket to be made of 30 squares of varying colors and patterns. Knitters can attach notes to the squares expressing thoughts of sympathy. Her only requirement is that knitters use Worsted wool because the squares should be of the same weight.

Frey said it "broke my heart" when the second mine accident happened last week, killing three men and injuring six others.

"Those poor people have been through so much already," she said.

Frey, a medical assistant, said she has been watching television coverage of the rescue efforts since the initial collapse Aug. 6.

Her passion for knitting already had propelled her into her charitable endeavors, including a group which knits items for cancer patients.>She plans to send the finished blankets to Huntington City Hall and is in touch with officials there so the blankets will be appropriately distributed.

Local knitters who want to get involved can find out more by visiting www.floknit.blogspot.com.