My grandmother (Margaret Wirtz) married my grandfather (Franz ChristKriszt) in Hatzfeld and then he preceeded her to America, in 1910. Either while she was languishing without him for months, or soon after getting settled in Rochester, NY, she knitted a two piece lacy cotton bedspread that I have inherited. The main section is about 70" x 80" and the piece that goes over the pillows is about 20" x 100". In the process recently of trying to find someone to restore it (there are some smallish gaps where the threads have worn through or come undone) I have come to appreciate what a treasure it is, and that it might now be 100 years old! All the knitters who have seen it so far have admired it very reverentially, and I started feeling really sheepish that I had been using "Grandma's old bedspread" as a throw! I'm meeting tonight with someone from a state-wide Knitting Guild to see if they might help me. But I'm now curious to learn from the LIST if anyone else has items like this, and if they are part of the cultural heritage that we share? Both my grandmothers were from the Banat, and were each avid knitters and crocheters. They did try to teach me, and while I got the knack of crocheting for a while, knitting was beyond me! I also have a number of their large star-patterned doilies that I'm going to starch and display somewhere. If there are others who have similar items or skills or traditions, I'd love to learn more about them and perhaps to exchange photos. Many thanks, Marilyn

I have a picture of my great grandmother hanging in the kitchen in the same position over my kitchen sink that my mother had it for years in her kitchen. My great grandmother was in her older years when the picture was taken. I had to run and take a closer look at it after reading this. She is knitting in the picture with small size needles. My great grandmother came to the United States with her husband in 1894 from Kathreinfeld, Banat. My grandmother was 8yrs old at that time. They had three children, the youngest of my great aunts was an infant then. One of my older mothers sisters was an avid knitter and crocheter. I have some baby items that she made my oldest daughter when she was born. My mother always told me that she learned to cook, can, play cards, sew, etc from her Grandmother. My great grandmother was also a midwife in ND before they moved to CA in the 1920's where my mother, the youngest of eight, was born. Mother taught me the card game they use to play when I was very young. She called it Bait. I barely remember it but you have four or five cards in your hand. Years back I read threads on the list regarding card games. Sheila Rose-Switzer(Kirschenheiter/Schutz/Orzo) -----Original Message----- From: Marilyn Fedewa <mhfedewa@comcast.net> To: Banat@rootsweb.com Sent: Wed, Apr 28, 2010 11:20 am Subject: [BANAT-L] Knitting arts in the Banat? My grandmother (Margaret Wirtz) married my grandfather (Franz ChristKriszt) in Hatzfeld and then he preceeded her to America, in 1910. Either while she was languishing without him for months, or soon after getting settled in Rochester, NY, she knitted a two piece lacy cotton bedspread that I have inherited. The main section is about 70" x 80" and the piece that goes over the pillows is about 20" x 100". In the process recently of trying to find someone to restore it (there are some smallish gaps where the threads have worn through or come undone) I have come to appreciate what a treasure it is, and that it might now be 100 years old! All the knitters who have seen it so far have admired it very reverentially, and I started feeling really sheepish that I had been using "Grandma's old bedspread" as a throw! I'm meeting tonight with someone from a state-wide Knitting Guild to see if they might help me. But I'm now curious to learn from the LIST if anyone else has items like this, and if they are part of the cultural heritage that we share? Both my grandmothers were from the Banat, and were each avid knitters and crocheters. They did try to teach me, and while I got the knack of crocheting for a while, knitting was beyond me! I also have a number of their large star-patterned doilies that I'm going to starch and display somewhere. If there are others who have similar items or skills or traditions, I'd love to learn more about them and perhaps to exchange photos. Many thanks, Marilyn ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to BANAT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message