The Oklahoma City bombing happened 20 years ago on Sunday, and one woman who was injured by the blast has knit a special sweater that holds the memories of those who were lost and what has happened since.
Priscilla Salyers fell five stories and was trapped in rubble by the bomb, and though recovery workers found her yarn basket, she didn’t knit again until during Timothy McVeigh’s trial. The large cardigan she created includes a depiction of the memorial and the Survivor’s tree, a fence design on the back complete with charms, a teddy bear for the children who died and a heart for each person who died, including two of her co-workers.
The sweater has been touring around the country with a former police chaplain, but Salyers says she has some more details she’d like to add.
Female prison inmates in Maine are learning to knit and using donated yarn to make blankets and teddy bears. The projects are then given to Bikers Against Child Abuse, where they can help kids who need comfort. Women in the program, which is new to the Alfred facility, say they like being able to create things and share with others even while behind bars.
And finally, the New York Times has a piece about a woman encouraged to take up knitting by a friend while she was undergoing treatment for cancer. The author, Christina Baker Kline, resists the idea and is reminded of her mother, who taught her to knit and also is the reason she no longer does so. It’s an interesting read about legacy and what becomes important and why. You should check it out.
Looking for more Knitting patterns for Teddy Bears? Check it out here.
