:: November 2004 
Advice
Making Time to Share Needlework in the New Year
Think about visiting a retirement home in the new year for the purpose of getting together with senior citizen needleworkers. You may be surprised by the high level of skill still apparent in their handwork.
The quilt in the photograph is being made by a member of the ‘Busy Fingers' sewing guild at the Glenaire Retirement Home in Cary, NC (see Feature). She is making it for her son's fiftieth birthday in five years' time. When asked why she started work on it so far in advance, she explained that she has a degenerative eye condition and is determined to finish the quilt while her vision is sufficient for the task. The quilt depicts her son's family tree and will surely be a treasure to him for years to come.
Good eyesight is a blessing at any age, and diminished vision leads to diminished ability to enjoy doing needlework. When you visit with elderly needleworkers, consider taking yarns and fabrics that are pleasing to touch, and pass them around for those with impaired vision to enjoy handling