Manor of the Plains artist Irene Hastings

Manor of the Plains artist Irene Hastings.Irene Hastings taught herself to knit and crochet many years ago. Now she’s teaching others.
Her latest student is Activity Director Lisa Montoya of Manor of the Plains.

“She is teaching me how to make dish scrubbers,” Lisa said. “She made one and gave it to me. I asked her, how did you make that?”

The round scrubbers are about 4 inches wide. They are crocheted from nylon netting, so they’re easy to rinse and reuse. Irene also showed Lisa how to make crocheted dishrags.

Lisa said she already had yarn for the residents to use, so it was easy to get started learning the basics of crochet.

Irene said she actually prefers knitting, but it’s easy to crochet small things to give as gifts. A year ago, Irene’s knitting skills earned her second place in the annual Art is Ageless competition. She entered a brilliant red prayer shawl that she knitted with her church group.

“We started doing them to give to people who were in the hospital or home sick,” Irene said. “Several of us worked on them.”

Irene said she didn’t have time to do a lot of knitting when she was working, but she enjoyed it when she could. She recalled that her mother-in-law made sweaters for her husband and son.
This year, Irene said she will sit out the Art is Ageless competition, but others can enter through March 4. The exhibit will feature works from local artists who are 65 and older, including a few Manor of the Plains residents. The public is welcome to visit the community to view the exhibit of acrylics, oils, photography and various other mediums, ranging from amateur to professional levels.

The show opens March 14 and runs through March 24, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. A reception to celebrate the winners will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on March 24.

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