Knitting Behind Bars

Listen to our Interview with NPR's Kojo Nnamde

2012-01-23T14:33:00.000-08:00

Click HERE

Knitting Behind Bars Oatmeal Cookies by Sheila Rovelstad and Lynn Zwerling

2012-01-23T06:52:00.000-08:00

This is the recipe for the cookies we took to Kojo. Notice that they are oatmeal cookies, but when you get to know them they have a surprise for you! There is no violence making these cookies! No beating of ingredience, just blending, stirring and folding in. Just like life should be!

1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 pinch of salt
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups regular rolled oats
1/4 cup each: golden raisins, dried cherries, dried cranberries
1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350º. In a large bowl, whirl butter with an electric mixer on medium high speed for 30 seconds.
Add brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Stir until combined, scraping bowl occasionally.
With mixer, stir in eggs and vanilla until combined. Stir in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in remaining
flour by hand. Fold in oats, raisins, cherries, cranberries and white chocolate chips.
Drop dough by heaping, rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake in preheated oven for about 12 minutes or until edges are light brown and center appears set. Cool on cookie
sheet for 2 minutes. Transfer to wire rack, cool completely. Enjoy! Makes 48 cookies.

So many kniters want to donate yarn.....

2012-01-22T15:08:00.000-08:00

We wish we could accept these donatons, but we can't. Storge space is limited, so we cannot accept yarn donations at this time.

You Can Help Knitting Behind Bars

2012-01-22T14:40:00.000-08:00

You can purchase these items to help us fund Knitting Behind Bars.

"I Fought the Law And the Law Won" Sock Yarn. This is a hand-dyed sock yarn from Wüllenstudio by Sheila Rovelstad Designs.
To purchase, click HERE

Silver colored, handmade yarn ball bead, with Sterling Silver necklace. From Coppatina by Sheila Rovelstad Designs.
To purchase, click HERE

Copper, handmade yarn ball bead, with Sterling Silver necklace. From Coppatina by Sheila Rovelstad Designs.

To purchase, click HERE

Silver colored bead with Sterling Silver chain, very linmited quantity.
To purchase, click HERE

Listen for Sheila on The Kojo Show Monday 1/23

2012-01-22T14:30:00.000-08:00

Listen live at 12 a WAMU which is 88.5 FM or go to the website and listen there.
click here

Look for Knitting Behind Bars on Facebook

2012-01-06T23:27:00.001-08:00

Here's the link for the video by Bus 52

2012-01-06T23:10:00.000-08:00

Cllick here

Press

2011-11-29T16:49:00.000-08:00

From Facebook to Vogue Knitting to California, the Baltimore Sun article written by Jill Rosen began a whirlwind media blitz that will absolutely thrilli our knitters. A fan , Kathy, from Mercy Hospital, is making photo copies for all the guys. Calls from a nun, a couple of teachers, my sister of course, a cousin of mine who wants to make the project into a Broadway musical, all have been appreciated.

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-11-21/features/bs-ae-knitting-behind-bars-20111111_1_assistant-warden-needles-wool#.TtWGB7GaVgI.mailto

Many knitters , who are notoriously the most generous people, have wanted to donate yarn. Wish we could say yes to all, but we have some very specific requirements. It must be Vanna's Choice, take that Deborah Norville, new complete skeins, and bright colors. The guys are partial to a manly black....ugh.

Our biggest restriction is space. We used to have a supply closet for on site storage, but lately have had to check all supplies in and out every week. So it's a matter of space and taking time away from our allotted 2 hours.

In addition we have received some cash donations, which are always appreciated, because we try to send each former offender a knitting care package, with the hope that he'll continue practicing the zen of knitting. I told Sheila, I'll handle the woo woo, and she'll handle the cash!

Thank you all for you support.

Go to Wullenstudios to purchase the new yarn

2011-06-21T19:21:00.000-07:00

Proceeds will benefit our program

Sheila's new yarn - I Fought The Law And The Law Won

2011-06-21T19:13:00.000-07:00

“I Fought the Law and the Law Won” is the latest color addition to the Wüllenstudio Sock line! The color entries were made by Twiceteller. The first skein is on its way to her!! The knitting men of the Jessup Pre-Release Unit chose her entry because if best described their lives: “grass green and sky blue with bars of black between them to symbolize what was taken away.” Many thanks to all of you who participated in the contest!!!

We will be selling this yarn on the Wüllenstudio Website. The profits from the sale of the yarn go to help support the Knitting Behind Bars Program. For those of you who live out of the the US and would like to purchase this yarn, please PM SheilaR here on Ravelry.

We would like to share with you the friendships we have made, the accomplishments of the men and their adventures through the process of returning to the outside world.

Jessup Pre-Release is a facility where the men may spend up to 3 years before they are released from their incarceration. It also houses men who are handicapped and serving longer sentences.

We have never asked these men what they did to put themselves behind the razor wire. They often tell us what they did when they are ready to trust us. We accept them as they are now, and help them establish friendships and the satisfaction of learning an awesome skill…….KNITTING!

We would like to share with you their personal triumphs and their life accomplishments. We hope you are as proud and astounded as we are. There is no prison reform in Maryland or much of the United States. Certainly not many programs that promote self-esteem, personal development or anger management. We also have begun to develop a mentoring program

Often the conversations we have with them are the same ones we find ourselves having with our other knitting friends in our various other knitting groups! Ooh! What yarn is that? What makes this fiber so soft? Can you teach me to pick up stitches after I drop them? Do you have a pattern for that scarf? How many beads do I put in this section? I just know I need to learn how to knit socks!

Through the generous contributions of the Knitters in Columbia, Maryland, we have contributed over 2,000 books to their once non-existant library, including a full law library! This is a on going venture.

We are self-funded. If you would like to help support our endeavor, you can visit our Etsy shop or our blog, Knitting Behind Bars, or PM me here on Ravelry!

We have been sponsoring this weekly group since November 2009. It is the highlight of our week! Please join us in our journey with the men of JPRU!

Wish we still could bring a camera.

2011-04-28T21:35:00.001-07:00

I'll try to describe tonight as best I can. The 20 male inmates came into our space, quickly and quietly. They gathered up their project bags, and just like knitters everywhere, they sat down and began knitting. The quiet and order belies the setting, after all this is jail and these men are all incarcerated.
Before our two hour session ended we looked over where four guys had gathered around one another in a circle. They were intently knitting and we marveled at their concentration. Now these guys are some of our roughest ones, most in need of some anger management therapy but there they all were quiet and polite, knitting and purling and happy as clams. I suspect there are more tattoos per square inch here than anywhere in the world! And best yet, as it was time to clean up and clear out, Speedy, was, like any knitter anywhere, pleading for "just one more row!"
Wish we were still allowed to bring in our camera.....

Sheila has started a forum on www.ravelry.com

2010-08-09T18:28:00.000-07:00

Knitting Behind Bars, a program developed by LynnZ to bring the zen of knitting to male inmates at the Jessup Pre-Release Unit (JPRU) in Jessup, Maryland.
group details
Join us as we knit with our Thursday evening Knitting Group, the men of Jessup Pre-Release Program in Jessup, Maryland.

We would like to share with you the friendships we have made, the accomplishments of the men and their adventures through the process of returning to the outside world.

Jessup Pre-Release is a facility where the men may spend up to 3 years before they are released from their incarceration. It also houses men who are handicapped and serving longer sentences.

We have never asked these men what they did to put themselves behind the razor wire. They often tell us what they did when they are ready to trust us. We accept them as they are now, and help them establish friendships and the satisfaction of learning an awesome skill…….KNITTING!

We would like to share with you their personal triumphs and their life accomplishments. We hope you are as proud and astounded as we are. There is no prison reform in Maryland or much of the United States. Certainly not many programs that promote self-esteem, personal development or anger management. We also have begun to develop a mentoring program

Often the conversations we have with them are the same ones we find ourselves having with our other knitting friends in our various other knitting groups! Ooh! What yarn is that? What makes this fiber so soft? Can you teach me to pick up stitches after I drop them? Do you have a pattern for that scarf? How many beads do I put in this section? I just know I need to learn how to knit socks!

Through the generous contributions of the Knitters in Columbia, Maryland, we have contributed over 2,000 books to their once non-existant library, including a full law library! This is a on going venture.

We are self-funded. If you would like to help support our endeavor, you can visit our Etsy shop or our blog, Knitting Behind Bars.

We have been sponsoring this weekly group since November 2009. It is the highlight of our week! Please join us in our journey with the men of JPRU!

KnittingBehindBars group now on ravelry

2010-07-30T18:42:00.000-07:00

If you are a member of Ravelry, check out our new KnittingBehindBars group.

The Sentinel

2010-07-30T18:41:00.000-07:00

The Sentinel
Click above link to view a recent newspaper article.

We have opened an Etsy Gift shop

2010-07-11T20:30:00.000-07:00

Please go to
www.etsy.com/shop/KnittingBehindBars
Donate $25 and receive a Comfort Doll while supporting our project. We are self financed and purchase yarn so that only clean, unused yarn is used. We also purchase the needles and fiberfill so that we get a consistent doll to give away to traumatized children

2010-07-11T19:36:00.000-07:00

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2010-07-11T19:32:00.000-07:00

A prison in NY state has asked to join our project.

2010-07-11T19:31:00.000-07:00

We've sent the Comfort Doll pattern and will love having them join us in this project.
Below is the pattern:

Comfort Doll Pattern - adapted from Ravelry.com

Materials: Dark brown worsted weight, assorted bright colors for clothing
Needles- size 7 or 8-
Yarn needle
Fiberfill for stuffing

To begin: The basic method for making each doll is the same. Begin at the feet and knit a rectangle with a decrease at the top for a hat, (stockinette stitch- knit 1 row, purl 1 row), changing colors for each body segment. The head is stuffed and the neck formed by pulling in with a gathering thread. When the body is stuffed, the feet are formed by pulling in a gathering thread at the ankles. The arms and legs are defined by stitching through all layers after the doll is stuffed. The number of rows in each section can be increased or decreased depending on the individual design. The finished height as written is about 5 inches.

To make: Work in stockinette stitch throughout. Cast on 32 sts.
Work 4 rows for feet. Change yarn.
Work 14 rows for pants. Change yarn.
Work 12 rows for shirt. Change yarn
Work 8 rows for face. Change yarn.
Work 11 rows for hat as follows:
Rows 1-4: Work evenly.
Row 5: Decrease 5 sts evenly across row (27 sts). Row 6 P across row.
Row 7: Dec 5 sts evenly across row (22 sts). Row 8: P across row.
Row 9: Dec 5 sts evenly across row (17 sts). Row 10: p across row.
Row 11: (K1, K2tog), k last 2 sts.
Cut yarn leaving long tail to sew up back. Draw yarn thru remaining stitches on needle and gather.

To finish:
1. Fold inside out and sew down back to form center back seam. Turn right side out.
2. Stuff head. Weave a strand of matching yarn thru first row of face. Gather in to form neck and secure ends.
3. Repeat for body, drawing in at the ankles.
4. Stuff feet and sew up bottom, gathering is as much as possible.
5. With matching yarn, form arms with small stitches thru all layers from waist to 2 rows below neck. Define legs the same way, from bottom to just below waistline.
6. Embroider hair and face as desired.

Here are some recent photos taken at JPRU

2010-06-04T14:00:00.001-07:00

We have had some new knitters join us and they are all doing well, learning to knit and also learning to relax. They cannot believe me when I tell them that knitting is relaxing. The regular knitters say it's the best 2 hours they have all week.

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Below are some recent photos

2010-06-04T13:26:00.000-07:00

News and press

2010-05-03T11:50:00.000-07:00

In order to see the photos, once you open the link, use the arrow at the top of the article to scroll through the pictures.

Also an article from an Eastern Shore newspaper. Open this link to read

Press release

2010-04-06T13:02:00.000-07:00

Contact: Lynn Zwerling
Knitting Behind Bars
Phone: (410)997-3965
Mobile: (410-868-5129
lynnz@comcast.net

12110 Blue Flag Way
Columbia, MD 21044
www.knittingbehindbars.com KNITTING BEHIND BARS
PRESS RELEASE
Knitting Behind Bars:
Inmates are knitting toys for children and learning vital life skills in the process
Columbia, April 6, 2010: Walk through the corridors of the Jessup Pre-Release Unit on a Thursday night and you may come across a scene that has shocked even the guards and inmates of this all-male minimum security facility: Gathered before you are about a dozen inmates. They’re holding pointed sticks and hooks, and they’re determined to get what they want—to learn how to knit and crochet.
The men are crafting “comfort dolls”—knitted stuffed toys that first responders will give to children in crisis situations. The project is part of Knitting Behind Bars, a program launched by local volunteers to help incarcerated individuals learn social skills while making a contribution to the community. Knitting Behind Bars was the idea of Columbia-resident Lynn Zwerling, the organizer of a large local knitting group. She launched the project in 2009 with the sponsorship of Ann Hosmer of Power Excel, a Baltimore non-profit that helps at-risk youth increase achievement and reduce anti-social behavior.
For 2 hours each week, Zwerling and volunteers Sheila Rovelstad and Lea Hiers meet at the 600-man facility and provide knitting lessons, support and encouragement to the men. The men use the gathering time to not only master the craft, but to also share stories about their families, the books they are reading, and their plans for the future. They are meticulous about their art—carefully choosing their yarn and not satisfied until their work is nearly perfect. They find the repetitive, yet creative, act of knitting to be a calming meditative process. “I tell them that knitting is the ‘new yoga’”, says Zwerling.
Photos on the Knitting Behind Bars blog, www.knittingbehindbars.com, tell the story best. One former participant, recently released to a halfway house, uses the blog to keep tabs on the progress of his knitting buddies.

Knitting Behind Bars is currently competing in the Pepsi Refresh project, an effort that helps fund ideas with a positive impact. Zwerling’s knitting group, Columbia Sip and Knit, has also contributed more than 300 books to the Jessup facility.
The men don’t want the program to end. “Who are you kidding?” said Ryan Barber, who made woven crosses and a star of David to show his appreciation to the volunteers. “This is the best part of our week.”
# # #

Check out our knitters at JPRU

2010-04-05T16:38:00.000-07:00

And the results are in.....

2010-04-01T05:07:00.000-07:00

Knitting Behind Bars has made the finals for the Pepsi Refresh grant competition.

Now, there is the voting....which takes placed all month. Please give me your vote go to
http://www.refresheverything.com/knittingbehindbars
You will have to register but it is painless.

Saturday Sheila and I were the guests at Toastmasters

2010-03-29T14:52:00.000-07:00

We brought our husbands and we all were so impressed with how well our guys communicate. From composing a song to the perfect first date to a talk on Shakespeare, it was a terrific morning spent at JPRU. They even managed to get me to give an impromptu speech.

These inmates never cease to amaze us. There is so much potential.

So many of the Toastmasters came forward to thank us for the gift of books. They really do appreciate this small gift.

In appreciation

2010-03-06T19:10:00.000-08:00

Sheila and Lea, thanks for giving so graciously of your time.
And to Ann Hosmer, I really appreciate Powel Excel's efforts at getting our Knitting Behind Bars Project established. Without your effort, Ann, I would still be wandering around trying to sell this excellent idea.
To all the knitter at the Columbia Sip and Knit, I thank you for collecting and passing on all of those books. You cannot know how greatful the men are having these books. If you are housecleaning and looking to rid yourself of magazines in addition to any books you have, think about sending them our way as well. We will be careful to remove all personal information.

More Comfort Doll photos to share

2010-03-05T12:58:00.001-08:00

We have ten completed Comfort Dolls, all finished with faces and hair and many 5 or 7 more that need finishing. I marvel at how unique and special these dolls are becoming.

We are eager to plan a reception where these Comfort Dolls can be presented to the first responders.

Some of our knitters will be writing stories to accomply each doll into the hands of a traumatized child.

Here are some more photos

2010-02-28T10:06:00.000-08:00

Featured is Lea working with Mr. Moody, who is the one of the crochet-ers. There's also a photo of Sheila who is our quality control department. She stuffs the Comfort Dolls with fiberfill and sews them up. Lea leads the cosmetic department, working on hair this week. Eyes and mouths to follow.
Lynn is showing both Jeremy and Mark how to "purl".

When you hear that one picture is worth a million words, I think these radiate with the pride our knitters are feeling.

More photos

2010-02-28T09:41:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to share some photos with you.

2010-02-24T09:27:00.000-08:00

As you can see, there is a great deal of pride in how the Comfort Dolls are coming along. The guys are so proud to have learned how to knit and look forward to our weekly sitting and knitting.

Pepsi Refresh Project

2010-02-07T12:42:00.000-08:00

Pepsi Refresh Project

4 dolls are now complete

2010-02-07T12:33:00.000-08:00

We have completed 4 or 5 Comfort Dolls. Photos are problematic. It's a prision after all. But we have consent forms and hopefully I will be able to post photos soon.

One of our participants told me how much, no kidding, how much this knitting behind bars has changed his attitude and relationships. I accuse them of kissing up to me, but many have told me that they have shared their knitting stories with wives, oh, okay, their old ladies, and grandmothers. One of my favorites, Mr. Cheeseball (they all have nick names)told me his wife went to his probation hearing and told them he has been knitting.

Sheila, Lea and I all admit that going to our project is a highlight of our week.
It's just so simple and so gratifying.

Smaller crowd, all are knitting or almost knitting

2009-12-14T12:58:00.000-08:00

Thursday we had an additional volunteer, sip and knit's own Lea Hiers, so there were four volunteers. Sheila took those needing more lessons, Lea had those as well. JoAnna circulated but mostly stayed with her buddy from BCDC. Ann opened up the session with a guilded imagery and some music and guess what? It worked. The smaller crowd immediately calmed down and allowed the few minutes of centering to work.
Lynn took the ones who had knit just a bit the last time.
But the very best was that one of our participants, volunteered to teach his fellow inmates how to crochet.
I looked around and all, every single guy was actively knitting and intent upon beginning to make our Comfort Dolls.
Those learning to crochet were circled around our volunteer making circles. Yes circles.
Just having our inmate volunteer has made this project a success!

Thanks to the volunteers and a goodbye to JoAnna who will be traveling but who will also continue her Knitting Behind Bars program in the Baltimore County Detention Center.

Ann went home and began practising and she has now officially joined the ranks of the knitters!

Thursday we'll arrive again and hopefully some of the dolls will be underway.

Hopefully Ann will take some photos and I will post them here.

One lonely doll looking for comapny

2009-12-01T18:59:00.000-08:00

4 Brave Volunteers are set to arrive at Jessup Pre-Release Unit on Thursday

2009-12-01T18:51:00.000-08:00

Here’s the plan. We’ll arrive at Jessup Pre-Release Unit at 5. Sheila, JoAnna and I will meet at the Panera’s in Dobbin Center near the Wal Mart at 4:15 so we can all go together. The road is windy and dark and I had a fit getting there two weeks ago.

All the supplies will be packed in my rolling suitcase. Supplies have been cleared by Ms. Chippendale, the warden, but I am expecting a bit of a shakedown at the entry point. Remember bring only your picture id, lock your cell etc in the car. The first few times through security will be alittle confusing but once they get used to us, it will not be a problem.

I will make a chart of how the doll is constructed and we’ll display it somewhere in the room.

Once we get there, we’ll have introductions and then we’ll have the participants count off, 1 to 4. Each of us will be assigned a group. How I see it is this,
Sheila will teach her group how to cast on.
JoAnna will do a mediation, a yoga or breathing exercise.
Lynn will begin teaching her group to knit. ( will have cast on 8 sets of needles)
Ann will take her group aside and begin planning how we can hand off these items to the community.

The goal of this first session will be to get those knitting skills locked down. We’ll talk about the dolls, but basically we’ll learn to knit and build a confident group of knitters.

After a period of time, say 20 minutes, the groups will rotate to the next station, 8 new participants to JoAnna for a meditation and yoga section, 8 to Sheila for casting on, 8 to Lynn for knitting and 8 to Ann for discussion of what’s up with the project, where it goes and how it works. We do this every 20 minutes or so until everyone has been in everyone’s group.
Hopefully there will be some knitting going on and all of us will circulate, encouraging the knitters and helping those who are struggling.

We’ll end the session with comments, hopes and a general debriefing. We are responsible for getting all supplies collected and that’s where the zip locks come in. We cannot let the participants leave until we have all of the “needles” (which actuatilty are 13” long, almost as thick as pencils and pretty innocent, badly named as needles, I think we should refer to them in the future as sticks or pins.)
Sheila will again go over the basics of casting on, I will give my in through the front door mantra, Ann will summarize the discussion of the future of the project. And finally JoAnna will give a closing breathing exercise and we’ll leave with our plan to return next week with more of the same.

How does that sound?

Knit and Be Happy,
Lynn

So, here's what a Comfort Doll looks like

2009-11-19T17:09:00.000-08:00

Please note that no two dolls are alike. Each has its own character and style.

25 guys are ready to begin The Comfort Doll Project

2009-11-19T16:21:00.000-08:00

Twenty five guys, all inmates from the Jessup Pre-Release Unit, decided tonight to begin The Comfort Doll Project. This project is a program under the auspices of Power Excel. http://www.powerexcel.org/

The Jessup Pre-Release Unit is located at the intersection where Howard County meets Anne Arundel County.

All participants will learn to knit and make these small and comforting stuffed dolls to be distributed to the Howard County and Anne Arundel County first responders. These comfort dolls will be offerred as an aid to communicate with and comfort traumatized children.

When asked why he would like to start making these comfort dolls, one inmate expressed the desire to give back to the community. Another explained that there is nothing but time "behind these wall". Others wondered if they might be able to make a doll for one of thier children.

After all explained, Lynn, the driving force behind this project, you guys won't be incarcerated forever and here's an easy, small step to help you jump back into the community. But we're starting small. First, we'll learn to knit, then we'll make a doll or two and see if we can finish enough to invite those first responders in to accept this community gift.

The guys were familiar with knitting and almost all admitted to having seen a grandmother knit. Amazingly many already knew that knitting wasn't "woman's work" and that it had originated as a male skill, maybe when a fishman started by knitting his nets to catch fish.

Knitting is not for the faint of heart but hopefully patience, anger management, goal setting and pride will be the result of learning this new skill.

The goal of this blog is to document this program; to encourage the community to accept and understand these gifts and to reward the inmates for the effort to produce these dolls.

Here's a call for bamboo needles, size 7 or 8 in a short length. And of course any donation would be appreciated.

Yarn is not an issue, but volunteers would be wonderful. Simply contact lynnz@comcast.net

At it stands, we will be meeting at the Jessup Pre-Release Unit, weekly on Thursday nights from 5 until 8. Anyone interested need only identify yourself, provide me with your full name and your social security number and jump in.