A great yarn about needlers

These needle-toting grandmothers are "hooked" -- and proud of it.

The addiction they share is the desire to help the needy, elderly and homebound by giving of their sewing, knitting and crocheting talents.

Affectionately known as "The Granny Squares," the small but dedicated group gathers for a few hours each Wednesday morning in the parish center of St. Margaret Mary's Church in Albany. That's when the retired female parishioners transform countless yards of yarn into everything from dainty baby booties to sturdy tote bags and plush lap robes for nursing home residents.

Connections

Founded a year and a half ago by Carol Hook, faith formation coordinator at St. Margaret Mary, the Granny Squares fill a vital role in the parish's outreach ministry. Their hand-crafted goods have already reached recipients in such diverse settings as Farano Center for Children, the Equinox Domestic Violence Shelter and Mercy Life Center.

Prone to good-natured needling and frequently in stitches as they work, the dozen or so members of the Granny Squares happily admit they're a closely knit group. In fact, one might easily conclude these senior parishioners have been kindred spirits for decades.

Wrong. Even though the women belong to the same parish, the majority of them never met until they joined the group. In that sense, the members are literally strengthening the ties that bind its older parishioners together.

"The friendships that have blossomed because of the Granny Squares are at least as important as the beautiful work the members have produced," says Mrs. Hook. "This group fills not only a very important outreach role in the parish, but also an important socialization one."

Close-knit group

Present on the day of The Evangelist's visit were Fran Allen, who recently retired from the IRS; Mitsuko Hagiwara, a retired Japanese-American translator; Clara Leville, a retired State Division for Youth employee; Winifred Sheehan, a retired Albany County Department of Social Services employee; and Alberta Rosenthal, whose career included stints as both a professional seamstress and a Catholic school librarian.

Members kid Mrs. Rosenthal, who will soon be celebrating her 83rd birthday, that's she "a baby" compared with the group's "senior-senior," 86-year-old Helen O'Brien.

Rounding out the group are Betty Burns, whose specialty is sewing tote bags for walkers and wheelchairs; Anne Delehanty, dubbed "The Knitting Guru" for her ability to knit complicated designs into sweaters -- even without a pattern; Mary Liese, who crafts delicate baby items; and Ann Roher, valued for her fabric cutting and assembling abilities.

In stitches

Quipping that her years as an IRS supervisor made her proficient at "barking orders," Mrs. Allen said she enjoys helping match members of The Granny Squares" with the multitude of projects at hand.

"Besides," Mrs. Allen chuckles, "after all those years of having a job that makes you feel like you're taking from people, it's nice to do something where you know you're giving for a change."

Sharing yarns

The parish enters into the outreach program by donating the supplies, ranging from yarn and thread to fabric and knitting needles. That's important since a number of the retired women are on fixed incomes.

"Some of our members are so enthusiastic that they continue working on their projects at home between meetings," Mrs. Hook notes. "This wouldn't be possible if they had to purchase all of the supplies themselves."

Parishioners have also proven to be generous. The group was especially touched by the donation of eight storage boxes filled with yarn from a gentleman who had recently been widowed. He felt his late wife would have wanted her wool put to good use.

(Those interested in joining the action at The Granny Squares can call Mrs. Hook at 482-4497 or stop by St. Margaret Mary's Parish Center some Wednesday between 9:30 a.m. and noon.)

(02-20-97) [[In-content Ad]]