LOXLEY, Ala. — You don’t expect to find a group of nuts at the Loxley Civic Center.

But they are there.

They call themselves the “Needle Nuts,” and they gather at the Loxley Civic Center every Thursday to learn new techniques from each other.

But, why call themselves the “Needle Nuts?”

“It’s because we’re all nutty,” joked Ruth Davis of Loxley.

Beryl Allen, coordinator of senior activities at the Loxley Civic Center, added that the people who gather at the Civic Center every Thursday at 9 a.m. love to use needles, “but we don’t give shots.”

The group formed in October, and right now, everybody is working on their own projects. Eventually, Allen says the goal is to start knitting and crocheting “preemie” blankets and other items for Thomas Hospital.

The group also adds fellowship to what is ordinarily a solitary activity.

“I’m here because I do this all by myself all the time,” said Grimes.

It’s also a learning experience.

“I’m finding out how little I know,” laughed Eleanor Duke of Silverhill as she unraveled a vest she was knitting. She said she’d been coming to the Civic Center for the painting group and heard about the “Nuts.”

“You make great friends,’ she said.

For LaVonne Blackmon of Loxley, it’s all about learning new things. She has done “Swedish weave,” but, “Now I’m learning to crochet.”

She has a good teacher. Shirley Petelinski of Elsanor says that she has been crocheting for years. Currently, she's s making crochet lap blankets for the residents of a Bay Minette veteran’s home.

“They tell me there are 144 men there and six women,” said Petelinski, her fingers working quickly on a brown tweed-like blanket. She’s using a “double” crochet stitch, and says that she can finish about three blankets a week.

Poppy Pose of Elsanor has started a crochet poncho for her year-old granddaughter. Like Duke, she was doing almost as much unraveling as stitching, but she was confident the poncho would be ready for the holidays.

All the women say that some sort of stitching work before coming to the group, but they are learning new techniques and now have someone to talk to as they work.

“I learned sitting in front of my grandmother,” said Petelinski. Of course, that means that the right-handed Petelinski does things left-handed That’s an advantage when a left-handed member of the group needs help.

Of course finding yarn, embroidery floss and other supplies for the group’s charity work is a challenge.

“We get whatever is on sale,” said Blackmon.

Donations of any supplies needed for knitting and crocheting are welcome. Just call Allen at the Loxley Civic Center, 964-7733 for more information.