NeedleTime

Needle-Time is a fictional piece written to bring to life the magic that surrounds the love of carrying on the tradition of the needlearts from generation to generation. Join me for a new story each issue that will reflect the strong bond formed between Aunt Lilly and Molly through their special needle-time.  

Last issue Molly taught Aunt Lilly about the power of choosing a wise attitude. Join us this issue as Aunt Lilly learns the virtue of patience.    

“The Virtue of Patience” 

Aunt Lilly watched Molly plunge her needle to the back of her fabric and hold the end into place as she stitched her first few x’s. Today they would both stitch a small basket design and then each give it to a good friend.

But instead of the experience being a fun one, Molly stitched in silence. Her nose scrunched with each new stitch and her usual rosy cheeks sloped downwards into a worried frown.

“What’s on your mind, Molly?”

She shrugged off the question and blinked her eyes rapidly never letting them leave her design. “Nothing.”

Something was weighing heavily on her mind, and Aunt Lilly had every intention of finding out just what it was. “Did something happen at school this week?"

Molly shrugged without answering. She paid careful attention to her needle and thread.

Aunt Lilly always prided herself on being the auntie that Molly talked with about anything. She placed her right hand over Molly’s stitching. “Molly, let’s stop stitching and talk, sweetie, okay?”

Molly brushed her hand away. She held the needle at a ninety-degree angle from her fabric and twisted her thread around it three times. Molly could create a French knot with great ease. “I don’t want to talk about anything. Can’t we just stitch, Aunt Lilly?"

The forcefulness of her words caught Aunt Lilly off-guard. Not wanting to push her away too far, Aunt Lilly picked up her scroll frame and threaded her needle. Something was bothering Molly, and it saddened her that her little niece didn’t want to confide in her. “Of course we can stitch.”

They stitched for another hour in silence. The only sounds heard were the crackling of the pipes and the ticking of her old clock, reminding her that their precious stitching time together would soon end. Molly had completed the basket and flowers before she did. She had never seen the little girl stitch a design so fast.

“How do you want to finish this one, Molly?”

Molly stretched the design out at arms length. “I was thinking I could add a border of the Treasure It Diamond Beadlets to dress it up a bit. What do you think?” The anger in her little voice had disappeared and was replaced by her usual sweetness. 

“I would say the diamond beadlets would look the nicest and you can even place a few dimensional threads along with the beads to really finish it nicely.”

“What colors would you use?” Molly asked her.

Aunt Lilly saw the return of her smiling face and bright eyes. Amazing what stitching could do for a person’s spirit. But she still wanted to know what was on Molly’s mind, and she hoped her patience would win her the reward. “I would say pink.”

“Pink will work.” Molly lolled her head up and down with a look of confidence that can only come from someone who believes in her work.

“Can I help you with it?” Aunt Lilly asked.

“Of course! You can place the Treasure It Treasure Tape. You’re better at that than me.”

“Not better, just older finger tips that don’t stick as well.” Aunt Lilly stretched her hands out wide to examine their dryness. “Do yourself a favor. Start nourishing your fingers early with an ointment.”

Molly’s laughter returned as she and her auntie worked the border just as planned.

“Aunt Lilly, I’m a good friend, right?”

She stopped pressing the beads with her fingertip and looked into Molly’s concerned eyes. Maybe her patience had paid off after all. “Of course you are.”

And just as fast as a time-elapsed image of a seed growing into a full grown flower, her words spilled out of her little mouth. “Brianna doesn’t think I am. Krystal told her that I didn’t like her, and now Brianna doesn’t like me anymore. I like Brianna. You know I was even going to give her my basket design. What should I do?”

Aunt Lilly’s heart swelled with love for her little niece. She wished she could swipe away all the pain that she would undoubtedly experience in her future. But for now, she was simply grateful that Molly trusted in her enough to open up and unleash that which was hurting her. It just simply had to be on her own time. Thankfully stitching together offered them plenty of time for bonding opportunities.

Aunt Lilly stood and placed her arm around Molly’s shoulder, ready to offer her guidance in any way she could. “I once had that same experience.”

Molly looked up at her with her big blue eyes waiting for more. “Really?”

“Really.” Aunt Lilly kissed the top of Molly’s curls. “And you know what I did?”

Molly rose and took Aunt Lilly’s hand and walked her over to the couch. “I want to hear all about it.”

And Aunt Lilly thrived as her little niece gifted her with her full attention, allowing her to build an even stronger bridge of trust between them.