Hazel Runke, a resident at Ecumen Pines in Hutchinson, has found an important purpose in her life — welcoming newborn babies into the world with hand-knitted caps and booties.

By Hope Hagert
Ecumen Oaks & Pines Sales & Marketing Manager

Hazel Runke, a resident at Ecumen Pines in Hutchinson, has found an important purpose in her life — welcoming newborn babies into the world with hand-knitted caps and booties.

Seven years ago, she started making baby caps for the newborns  at the Hutchinson Area Health Care Hospital.  To date she has knitted more than 2,500 caps.

But even that didn’t keep Hazel busy enough, and she expressed a desire to be knitting more.  Her grandnephew, Timothy, introduced her talents to the Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, N.D.,  and she started knitting baby booties for all of their newborns.

Last year, she knitted 149 pairs of booties. Since the beginning of this year, she has already knitted over 100 pairs (shown in the picture). The hospitals supply the yarn, and she supplies the loving craftsmanship.

“I enjoy knitting very much,” says Hazel, a Buffalo Lake native who has lived at Ecumen Pines the past two years. “It’s my favorite pasttime. I just love helping keep the babies warm and cozy in their caps and booties.”