The Knitter

My great-grandfather, my Grandma Sophie's father, was a professional knitter from Odessa who came over to the USA. He had a hunched back and therefore was considered deformed so he had to come through Canada to get into this country. I used to have a sweater he made and I wore it all the time. 

My grandmother was also an amazing knitter and she would knit in the movie houses in the dark for hours, click click click, sometimes staying through the replay of the film. She made scarves, sweaters, a dress and poncho for me and a matching dress and poncho for my doll! This was a large doll called the Crissy doll that had short bobbed hair but would grow a long ponytail if you pressed the belly button. I wanted this hairstyle someday too. Grandma lived on Brighton Beach near Coney Island next to the boardwalk.

I feel like I am a knitter too (Grandma taught me how) but now I knit with words.