Aunt Bonnie, flanked by brothers (from left) Richie, Peter, Tommy and Neil
T HIS WEEK HAS been all about knitting for the sisters of TSP. We’re all excited about the launch of our gallery show featuring the fine handiwork of the Mason-Dixon knitters. Paige, Marion and I all agree that knitting is the best thing you can do to keep you fingers from freezing in a New England winter. While Margaret hasn’t knit a stitch in her life, she’s been using more than her fair share of knit puns in the last few days (oh, saying things like how we’re all just so closely “knit,” wink wink). So in light of all this stichin’ I’m sharing with you one of my all-time favorite sisters (whom I’ve rarely seen without knitting needles in hand), my lovely and talented Aunt Bonnie.
Afghan made by Bonnie.
As the tale goes, Bonnie’s been knitting rows since grade school, when her second-grade class knit squares to be made into blankets for the Red Cross. She’s always told me that knitting is like a tranquilizer for her. (Although I’ve never seen her get too riled up–but maybe that’s because of all the knitting!) With four wild (and I think “wild” is an understatement here) younger brothers, I’m sure a little tranquilizing was just what she needed. And the four unruly brothers bit really just scratches the surface of the fabled mayhem of Aunt Bonnie’s youth. There were dogs and cats and chickens–there was even a juvenile alligator being raised in the bathtub! If this isn’t a testament to the calming power of some simple yarn and needles, I don’t know what is.
A matriarch in her own right, Aunt Bonnie has looked after and worried away at her roost of brothers (and all their many children). Over the years she’s knit them all gifts, her most special being beautiful afghans. I am the proud (and cozy, might I add) owner of one of Aunt Bonnie’s famous afghans, in a beautiful eggplant purple. Her gentle manner and kind spirit are woven into each stitch, with just the right amount of fiery redhead warmth in the mix.
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Anna – wish I had your talent for writing! I’ll teach you some tricks in knitting if you’ll guide me in writing the story of our family! Thanks for your glowing words. I’m so glad that you’re my neice.
Juvenile Alligator could easily be the name of successful band. Maybe JuveNILE Alligator?
But seriously, I’ve always admired my mother’s knitting ability and her quilt making. I’m definitely jealous of your Aunt Bonnie’s skills.