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MANSFIELD - There is very little free time for Beverly Hyde, even though she's earned it.

Whenever the 63-year-old Mansfield woman has a free moment, she is knitting. And knitting. And knitting.

Because of her, the heads of more than 150 newborn premature babies stay warm, as do more than 250 pairs of little feet.

Hyde - who lives at the Village at Willow Crossings - has knitted more than 150 hats and 250 pairs of matching booties for newborns at Women and Infants Hospital in Providence.

The tiny yellow, blue, green and pink bits of clothing, which fill bags and bags and plastic bins in her room, are part of a volunteer program at the hospital known as Operation Warm Head Start, which aims to prevent hypothermia in newborns. Hyde - a lifelong homemaker with four children, including daughter Dena O'Neil of Mansfield - said she decided to make the hats and booties for the babies when she heard how important it is for newborns to maintain body heat through their heads.

This information has changed her life at Willow Crossing and the lives of so many others.

SUN CHRONICLE: Why do you do this?

BEVERLY HYDE: Because Marie Donnelly of the staff came to me, and asked me if I would be interesting in doing this, and I said, 'Yes.'

SUN CHRONICLE: When did you first start to knit?

BEVERLY HYDE: I started when I was 6. My grandmother used to have me sit on her lap and say, 'Granny is going to teach you how to knit,' and that's how I learned.

SUN CHRONICLE: So, you've been doing this for 57 years?

BEVERLY HYDE: Probably, about that. I don't know. I don't count the years.

SUN CHRONICLE: How long does it take you to make one hat or bootie?

BEVERLY HYDE: Well, if I just do it continually, knitting and doing nothing else, I make one a day. I made 250 booties this time (over the last few months). SUN CHRONICLE: Did you always knit things for your family over the years?

BEVERLY HYDE: Oh, yes, sweaters, hats, mittens. They all had tons of mittens And gifts for others at Christmas.

SUN CHRONICLE: Is wool the only ingredient in making these hats and booties?

BEVERLY HYDE: Orlon. I don't like to work with wool It breaks me out (laughs).

SUN CHRONICLE: So, Orlon is the only ingredient?

BEVERLY HYDE: Orlon and love. I love the babies. I love them all.

SUN CHRONICLE: Do you ever get to meet the babies wearing your clothes? Do you get to go to the hospital unit?

BEVERLY HYDE: I saw them in the hospital. They were so cute. One little girl had on a hat and a full head of hair and she twisted her hat off and you could see that full head of hair!

SUN CHRONICLE: Is there anything else you'd like to knit for them?

SUN CHRONICLE: Hats and booties are all I could knit. I'd knit sweaters, but I can't put buttons on them. I can't see them too good. On other sweaters I made, I put a little ribbon on top, so they can tie it like a bow.

SUN CHRONICLE: How long will you do this?

BEVERLY HYDE: How long will I do this? If the Good Lord is willing, as long as I live.

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