Whitefish Bay Woman Knitting for New Moms

Twenty new moms will soon receive hand-knitted baby blankets from TMJ4’s Community Baby Shower through the crafting efforts of Whitefish Bay resident Brenda Hurd.

Knitting the blankets is a year-round hobby for Hurd, who has donated blankets to the Community Baby Shower for the past five years.

“I’ve always enjoyed making blankets for our family and friends, and this seemed like a great way to continue doing it,” said Hurd. “I usually knit in the evenings, and it takes me about a week to make each one. Whenever my 7-year-old granddaughter visits, she always looks in my knitting basket to see what baby blanket I’m making next.”

Hurd uses soft, washable baby yarn in pastel colors to create the blankets, which measure roughly two feet by three feet. She learned to knit from her Aunt Trudy, a native of Switzerland, when she was eight years old. Though Hurd has completed sweaters and hats over the years, baby blankets remain her favorite project.

“There’s a huge variety of baby yarn available, and I love choosing the prettiest ones,” said Hurd. “As a mom, being able to wrap your child in something soft and warm is a good feeling. This is my gift to new moms.”