Meet Your Neighbor: Woodville woman has been crocheting since childhood.

Rene Dix
·4 min read

WOODVILLE - Lois Toensing crochets hats, gloves, scarves and blankets, just to give them all away.

Most of what she creates is donated to local nonprofits that provide warm clothing to those in need.

“Lois is one of those unique individuals who not only has a heart of service,” said Susie Perry, founder of Susie’s Coats for Kids, a nonprofit that provides winter apparel for children whose families need a little extra help. “She is exceptionally skilled at creating beautiful items for use by several local public charities.”

Toensing learned to crochet as a child with some assistance from her mother.

“I started buying afghan kits and mom helped me with them,” Toesning said.

Her paternal grandmother also crocheted and Toensing remembers helping her stretch and block many of the doilies her grandmother made.

“I don’t make doilies," she said. "That kind of work is too tiny and my stitches are too big."

Although her granddaughter has mentioned she would like to learn, at the moment she is busy with soccer, so Toensing is the only one in her family who still crochets.

Lois Toensing crochets hats, gloves, scarves and blankets, just to give them all away. Most of what she creates is donated to local nonprofits that provide warm clothing to those in need.
Lois Toensing crochets hats, gloves, scarves and blankets, just to give them all away. Most of what she creates is donated to local nonprofits that provide warm clothing to those in need.

Toensing also works at Woodville McDonalds

Toensing grew up in Luckey. She and husband, Elmer, moved to Woodville after he was hired at Atlas when their children were young. Crocheting was something to do after their son, Patrick, was born.

Toensing has worked at McDonald's for over 30 years. She started at the Genoa location while her children were in grade school and eventually worked her way up to crew manager. After the owners built a McDonald’s in Woodville, she moved to that building and became a manager.

A few years ago, Toensing decided to work only part-time and reduced her hours. She will think about retiring sometime in the next few years.

According to Toensing, “It all depends on my health, and how life goes.”

And what kinds of stitches does she prefer?

Toensing has not tried her hand at crocheting clothing, but she does enjoy making blankets and other items to keep warm, and once even crocheted a set of Care Bears. Her favorite stitches are granny squares, ripple stitch and shell stitch, but she still has not figured out the long stitch. She admitted she has a whole bag full of crochet hooks, some of which had belonged to her mother.

Toensing usually has an old episodes of a television series playing on DVD while she works on her latest project.“It keeps me from snacking while I watch,” she said with a smile.

Her favorites are crime dramas such as CSI and NCIS, most of which she checks out from the library.

When she does not have a crochet hook in her hand, Toensing enjoys reading and puzzles. The most challenging puzzle was a nearly 4-foot-tall working grandfather clock. She worked on the puzzle for three months, and once finished, it was glued together and displayed at the nursing home where her husband resided prior to his death in 2019.

Lois Toensing crocketed these little characters for the Woodville Library to share with its young readers.
Lois Toensing crocketed these little characters for the Woodville Library to share with its young readers.

Toensing makes, donates 200 scarves to Susie's Coats

Several years ago, Toensing made and donated over 200 scarves for Susie’s Coats. In just the last two years, Toensing has crocheted 85 blankets for Bags of Love, an organization that makes and fills drawstring bags with warm clothing, blankets, personal hygiene products, school supplies and a toy or a book “to bring a little joy” for those in need.

Bags of Love often provides Toensing with yarn that has been donated to their cause, which she transforms and gives back in the form of more blankets.

“People don’t see how much yarn costs,” Toensing said. “They don’t want to pay $30 to $40 for a blanket, so I just make blankets and give them away.”

A few years ago, she made a dozen afghans to give to a family with five children.

“Mom loves making blankets for everyone. It keeps her busy,” said Toensing’s daughter, Beth Tallman. “She’s been crocheting as long as I can remember. She enjoys making blankets, scarfs or whatever she can make and either donates it or sells them to people.”

Tallman’s employer holds a yearly charity raffle for which Toensing makes items. She also crocheted small prizes for the library’s summer reading program.

Woodville residents who know about her work often donate yarn for her projects. Toensing said she appreciates all the yarn and support she has received from friends and neighbors over the years.

“Everyone has been so generous and has even donated yarn so she can keep making blankets,” said Tallman. “This is what I love about my mom, making stuff for people, doing something that she’s always loved.”

To donate yarn for Toensing’s projects, contact Susie’s Coats for Kids or drop it off at the Woodville Public Library.

“She is loving, caring, talented, selfless and one of the most humble people I know,” said Perry. “Every item she creates is made with love and makes a profound difference in the lives of our children.”

Contact Rene Dix at 419-307-0914 or via email at rene.dix@email.com.

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Woodville's Lois Toensing crochets scarves, blankets for those in need