COEUR d'ALENE - There will soon be a few more tiny, newborn heads for a group of voracious North Idaho knitters to think about keeping warm.

That's OK, because members of the Panhandle Happy Hatters are as compassionate as they are deft with needles, hooks and yarn.

Since 2005, members of the group have been knitting and crocheting hats for newborns in Kootenai Medical Center's nursery. The hospital is preparing to be able to handle more premature babies in 2012.

"People don't realize how many needy people there are that frequent the hospital here," said Happy Hatter member Marie Landstrom. "Some of the women that come into the birthing center have nothing to take their babies home in. They have nothing special for their new little children."

Lori Schneider, director of Women's and Children's Services at the medical center, said the handmade hats keep the babies warm while they are adjusting to life outside the womb.

Schneider recently visited with the Happy Hatters at their monthly meeting and told the knitters about the changes being made at the hospital. Plans are in the works to increase the hospital nursery's level of care so they will be equipped to handle babies born up to eight weeks early and provide ventilator support if necessary, Schneider said.

Right now, KMC's Level 1 nursery can care for babies born up to six weeks early. The hospital has added two neonatologists to its staff who are helping develop a Level II-B Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

"In a nutshell, it will allow us to keep more premature babies here with their families instead of being separated and cared for in Spokane," Schneider said.

Last year, KMC had to send 20 babies to hospitals across the state line. With the new program they are developing, 10 of those babies would have been able to remain in Kootenai County.

Landstrom said the Panhandle Happy Hatters, formerly named the Panhandle Mad Hatters, try to give 150 hats per month to KMC.

Since the group organized six years ago, Landstrom said they have donated more than 12,000 hats to the hospital.

Landstrom said she does it because she cares about the community and the hospital.

"Kootenai has helped me through three illnesses. I almost died," Landstrom said.

She has been a volunteer at KMC for the past five years and sits on the board of the hospital's auxiliary.

"I want to give back, and most of these women in the Panhandle Happy Hatters want to do the same thing," Landstrom said. "Many of the women are older, and they don't have family here any longer. They're keeping themselves busy."

Members of the group also make layettes and knit little pants, she said.

Not all of the Happy Hatters can make it to meetings, but that doesn't stop them from contributing. Landstrom said one housebound member creates "beautiful" fleece blankets with satin trim for the babies at the hospital.

"She sewed 177 blankets in one year," Landstrom said.

Landstrom herself began sewing afghans for KMC's oncology patients a few years ago.

"I've given out 600 afghans," she said.

The group also knits and crochets items they donate to CASA (Court-appointed Special Advocates) children and homeless veterans.

The knitters pay for nearly everything themselves, Landstrom said. They do accept yarn donations.

The Panhandle Happy Hatters meet the third Tuesday of each month at 1 p.m. at Community United Methodist Church, 1470 W. Hanley Ave., Coeur d'Alene.

Information: 762-9623