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Faithful knitters make prayer shawls for veterans
By LINDA M. LINONIS
BOARDMAN
The benefits of knitting go two ways in the eyes of a group of knitters at St. James Episcopal Church.
For the women who gather in the welcoming parlor at the church, 7640 Glenwood Ave., knitting together revolves around fellowship and friendship and is a relaxing activity. The prayer shawls they make provide comfort to those who receive them.
Ann Sitler, a 75-year member, is coordinator of the Knitters for Veterans group she organized in January 2015. “I was participating in a knitting group at the Ursuline Center, and thought this would be a good idea for St. James,” she said. She now is involved in the two groups.
On a recent afternoon, Sitler along with Regina Jenkins, a 15-year member; Mary Ellen Maruschak, a member for 19 years; and Wealthie Prince, a member since 1962, talked about the project. Also knitting in the group are Florence Hosler, Becky Borman and Paula Ulicny, all longtime members.
The prayer shawls that the faithful knitters craft go to men and women veterans at Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Sitler said before the shawls are boxed and shipped off, they are blessed by the Rev. Shawn Dickerson, priest in charge at St. James.
So far, the knitters have sent shipments of 39 and 19 prayer shawls and have another 11 completed in the newest batch. The finished shawls are displayed in a basket in the chapel. To each prayer shawl, a paper tag with the message “Made with love by the knitters of St. James
Episcopal Church, Boardman, Ohio” is attached along with a small cross and medal that reads “thanks,” referring to their service to the United States.
“We started with what we had,” Sitler said of yarn that knitters had on hand. “We had a generous donation, and that has helped a lot.” Each knitter selects the colors in a shawl she’s making.
The group gathers at 1 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of the month at the church, and most knit at home as well. Sitler brings another connection to knitting to this effort – during World War II, her mother headed a group of knitters at the church.
Prince, the oldest church member at 91, said, “I’ve always had to have something in my hands to work on. My grandson is in the Marines, and I’ve made him an afghan.” She also has made watchman’s caps in an array of colors and other caps and scarves for her grandsons, and she’s heard many favorable comments about them.
The military connection with a grandson is one thing that motivates Prince to participate in the project.
“Knitting relaxes me,” Prince said. She explained that her mother taught her how to knit when she was about 7, and she’s knitted ever since. “I’ve made a lot of baby clothes,” she said.
Prince said with a smile that she sometimes promises something will be “done for Christmas,” but it doesn’t work out that way. “My family kids me about the ‘after-Christmas’ gifts,” she said.
“When’s she’s sittin’, she’s knittin,’” Sitler said of Prince.
Maruschak said when the knitters gather together, there‘s “nice conversation.” “You also have a sense of accomplishment knowing that you’re making something for someone who has served our country,” she said.
“Knitting is therapeutic ... if you’re wound up, it helps de-stress,” Sitler said. “Knitting with the group gets you out, and it’s good fellowship. You know you’re making something useful for someone who needs it,” Sitler added.
The knitters all bring different approaches to the project. “I knit the European way, which is backwards from the American style,” Maruschak said. “I started knitting at 16 and have made hundreds of sweaters.”
Jenkins, who has knitted about three decades, said she liked the idea of “doing this to help someone.” In addition, she said, “It’s a nice social time.”