08 Sep 2010

Hand-Knit Hats Top Fall Offerings at Monkeys' Uncle

Lucy Matuszeski, 20 months, models one of Nelson's creations at Monkey's Uncle

Lucy Matuszeski, 20 months, models one of Nelson's creations at Monkey's Uncle

The cutest little hats for Hill babies, toddlers and even some lucky adults are now in stock at The Monkeys’ Uncle, hand-knit by expert knitter and long-time resident  Elizabeth Nelson. First the hats, then the full Nelson.

Hats: OMG, the hats are exquisite little gems of needlework meant for heads as small as a babies’ and as big as a mayoral candidate’s! There are about 40 in stock, with patterns I will call classic,  Byzantine, Ming Dynasty and, Nouveau Pirate. Some of the simpler, smaller hats can be completed in six to eight  hours, but most take 10-12 hours or even a bit longer, all proceeds go to Maury Elementary, and they are priced between $10 and $15, depending on size and complexity. This is The Monkeys’ second year working in collaboration with Maury and Nelson.

Nelson: This lady is a neighborhood benefactor to Maury and its greater community. She is a long-time volunteer who has been at Maury longer that any other individual — faculty or staff. She is also a master gardener.

Last year, Nelson asked the guys at Monkeys’ Uncle if they would sell a few hats as a fundraiser for Maury, which they did.  This year they surprised  her by offering to do it again, she said. It should be no surprise! Jay Keegan, co-owner with his partner Michael McFadyen, does it out of kindness and support for Hill schools, he says.  “It gives me a great deal of pleasure to make them and to see them on the street.  I’m super glad that ‘my’ school is benefiting and totally grateful to Monkey’s Uncle for being such good sports,” Nelson says.

Nelson says her grandmother taught me to knit when she was about 13,  making bandages for lepers.  “No exercise will give you perfect tension quite like knitting a 3 ft. by 4 in. swatch using size 0 needles and crochet cotton.  I enjoyed it but didn’t really get into it (partly because it can be a very expensive hobby) until I “inherited” a giant box of yarn some 30 years later,” Nelson said.   I decided to “knit up” the contents and by the time I was finished, I was hooked –- totally addicted,” she said.

One wonders how she does so many and offers them for free, as a way  for one of her favorite places to raise money. She is admirably generous, and she just now cannot stop!  “Like a chain smoker, I need to do it constantly, while walking, riding the bus, even while dining out or at parties.  I enjoy knitting for children much more than for adults, especially small items like hats and mittens.”

Disclosure: I am a Maury Elementary parent, The Monkeys’ Uncle consigner and a fan and neighbor of Nelson.

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One response to “Hand-Knit Hats Top Fall Offerings at Monkeys' Uncle”

  1. Heather Schoell says:

    Liz, I can’t believe you got through this without using the word “haberdash” in one form or another. Elizabeth Nelson rules!

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