Diane Blakely Saulnier has always loved helping others and creating with her hands. She knits “Helping Hats,” warm yarn hats that she sells through local galleries to raise money for Food Bank of the Rockies. In October, she delivered her first donation check for $240.

“I can’t donate that much money to such worthy causes by myself,” said Saulnier, 83, “but I can knit and make a product that is useful. Then generous folks buy the hats and, all together, we can make a difference.”

Her hats are available at Orbit Art Space, 138 S. Park Square in Fruita, and Craig Gallery, 128 E. 3rd St. in Palisade. They are $20 each.

“I don’t think any two are the same. I think I have sold about 20 hats so far. I have fun mixing the colors,” she said. 

Saulnier knits most days in a cozy, sunny corner of her home. Knitting, she said, is both relaxing and practical.

 “For me, knitting is relaxing and productive—back to my grandmother’s mantra: ‘Idle hands are the devil’s workshop,’” she said. “I like knitting and crocheting. I have done both for many years. Lately, knitting is easier on my arthritic hands.”

She learned to knit from her mother around age 10, starting with simple projects before moving on to mittens, which she liked because they were small and easy to take with her.

About 20 years ago, Saulnier received a small knitting machine and used it to make 144 hats, which she donated to Catholic Outreach. After the machine broke, she continued making hats by hand, knitting throughout the year and donating them each fall. HomewardBound has also received many of her donations.

 Saulnier is an artist who works in a variety of mediums, including watercolor, oil, acrylic and pastel. She and her husband, Norm, grew up in Massachusetts. They moved to Loma in 1991 and to Fruita in 2004.

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