Pittsfield woman leaves knitted hats, scarves for those in need

Posted Friday, February 19, 2016 4:14 am

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Photo Gallery | Hats and scarves for Pittsfield

Video | Cindy Thomson leaves handmade hats and scarves in downtown Pittsfield for people who need them

PITTSFIELD — Cindy Thomson's newfound knitting skills brought color and warmth to the downtown on Thursday.

Late morning at Persip Park, the Pittsfield woman clothes-pinned 24 winter hats to the black fence and tied 14 scarves to the posts and railing of the open-air stage.

The attached notes urged those in need to take the hand-made cold-weather garb she and her grandchildren made on a knitting loom from donated yarn.

Thomson's homespun goodwill met with an immediate response at the corner of North Street and Columbus Avenue.

"I already gave a couple away," she said to an Eagle reporter and photographer.

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"Hopefully they will all be gone soon; if not, I will take them down if it snows so they won't get wet."

Thomson says she borrowed the charitable act from a warming trend that began last winter when much of the United States and Canada battled long stretches of sub-freezing weather. Various groups and individuals in major cities across North America began hanging hats and scarves on trees, fences, lampposts and other free-standing structures in public places to ensure the homeless and those in need had the proper winter wear.

Thomson has been loom knitting for about a year, a skill she learned after her mother, Dorothy Daoust, passed away in December 2014. Thomson had been Daoust's primary caregiver for almost two years before she died.

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"My mother told me I would need a hobby after she was gone and someone told me using a loom was an easier way to knit," she said.

Thomson found her granddaughters, Kaitlyn Thomson, 9 and her sister Ashley, 11, were quick studies and helped their grandmother make the collection of hats and scarves.

"It was a little tricky at first; the yarn kept coming unwrapped [from the loom]," Ashley said.

The girls' brothers also helped out with Dylan, 12, designing the color scheme of the clothing and Deven, 4, providing moral support.

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The family philanthropy has its roots with Daoust.

"My mom was a very giving person; that's where I and the grandchildren get it from," Thomson said. "I hope people who learn about this maybe will donate to a charity or make their own hats and scarves."

Contact Dick Lindsay at 413 496-6233

Content of notes ...

The hats and scarves all had a note attached carrying the following message:

"I AM NOT LOST. If you are in the cold and need me, feel free to take me. Please pay it forward in some way. Love, CT and family."