Knitting is so Therapeutic!

In 1973 Grandma and her friend opened up Needlepoint Junction in Skokie, IL. She was so unbelievably exited about it. Aunt Roni and I worked there and loved every minute of it. We would watch soap operas on the TV in the back room where all the ladies would meet and Needlepoint together.

After several years of selling Needlepoint, Grandma began to sell yarn for knitting when it was all the rage.  You were just a few years old when we would go and visit her at the store and you would play in all of the rooms which housed everything from frames to hundreds of beautiful and brilliantly colored yarns.   Grandma taught you how to knit at a very young age, but you really didn't take it seriously until you got into your late 20's. You always did your own thing, for sure when it came to knitting, you never used a pattern or anything like that. I think that your true knitting career was strictly for therapeutic purposes.  I remember Roni, who is a fantastic knitter and is the only one of us who can really knit well, tried to help you make things look more professional, but you weren't interested.

As you spent time at home and especially when you were forced to spend time in the hospital against your will, (I might add), you would pace back and forth in your room and knit.......all day long...for months! You were so adamant at being there it was all you could do to not go crazy. The knitting kept you sane...

Needless to say we had lots of scarves, homemade creations by Monica! I remember so many trips to the yarn store to get you more yarns. When you were at the last 2 hospitals all you did was knit.  You even made scarves in which the hospital gift shop displayed some of them in their store to sell to the public. I am also posting some of the many items, mostly scarves, in which you created.  I found the knit bandanna for Niblet and also the grey dress you made.

When we were in California at The Compassionate Friends Conference one of the workshops was a beginning class in Knitting. This wonderful woman, who reminded me of a young Grandma brought a starter kit for all in the workshop and taught the people to knit as a form of grief therapy. I am thinking of taking it up myself and knitting more, in between my other projects and art...I just need to find the time. 

  Here are a few cards that were sent to you by your friends at the hospital in Missouri.

 

 

Here you are at Grandma's store one day.

In the upper right hand corner is the dog sweater you made for, I think, Star. Also leg warmers and the bandanna for Niblet is on the left.
Grandma would have been proud of you!

 

 

 

You are greatly missed.....every day......m