Lawbreakers Told to Mind Their Knitting

MARQUETTE, Mich. — Needles are the newest criminal sentence in Marquette County.

A few people convicted of misdemeanors have been handed knitting needles and told to knit and purl away their debts to society.

“I tell them this is a way to help make up (for their offenses),” District Judge Patricia Micklow said.

Using yarn donated by a church, six offenders are knitting afghans, hats, scarfs, mittens and such for the needy.

“These are things I can use any time,” said Sister Johnice Borer, a Franciscan nun with the Marquette Catholic Diocese Outreach office, which distributes the knitted goods to the poor.