In 1997, the Boulder fiber community was asked to propose a project at the Boulder County Jail that would allow inmates to work with yarns. Initially, it was conceived as a program of knitting for women and weaving for men, but the Jail staff thought that, given the abundance of programs for men, it should be just for women. In February, 1998, the program began, with women learning to use inkle looms (to weave belt fabric) and a Schacht Baby Wolf loom for larger projects, and with knitting instruction. The women made items for themselves, though it was planned that eventually they would make sellable items.

It quickly became apparent that there was one problem with weaving: the turnover of inmates often meant that one person did part of the warping of a loom, another finished warping and started weaving, and a third finished the project, while knitted pieces were begun, but usually not finished. Clearly, people usually weren't in the jail long enough to complete a project. And there were inmates requesting crochet hooks because they knew how to crochet.

Across time, the project evolved into crocheting as the primary skill taught, which had a several advantages--inmates could teach each other, and when inmates were discharged, they could continue the craft at a very low cost. Inmates were taught to make lap robes for nursing homes residents, and jail staff handed them out at Christmas time, providing a handmade gift for many people who otherwise would have little.

Recently, experienced crocheters have been encouraged to learn to make hats, scarves, and eventually mittens, for the homeless. Because most women in the program have done no other fiber arts and have difficulty learning to read patterns, beginners are encouraged to make a lap robe as their first item and then branch into other items.

Each Tuesday volunteers from the Handweavers Guild of Boulder (typically two members) teach a morning and an afternoon class. Sometimes inmates are allowed to work on projects without instructors, at the discretion of Jail staff. Occasionally an experienced knitter is among the inmates requesting the program, and knitting materials are provided.

Support for the project comes from the Handweavers Guild; from Shuttles, Spindles and Skeins in Boulder, from Schacht Spindle Company, and from individual guild members. The Boulder County Commissioners provided a start-up grant in 1998. Individuals from all over donate yarn for the project, but much yarn also is purchased, allowing inmates some chance to plan projects in colors they find pleasing.

Yarn can be donated to the Boulder County Jail or Shuttles, Spindles and Skeins. Because yarn must be washable, the guild requests it be synthetic and worsted weight.

Jean Cleavinger is a member of the Handweavers Guild of Boulder.