Knitting Through It: Inspiring Stories for Times of Trouble

by Lela Nargi (Editor)

Most knitters Getting through a difficult time often means knitting through it. Its this home truth--and all the homespun wisdom behind it--that comes through clearly in the writings gathered in this book.

These pieces--some by contemporary writers like Donna Druchunas and Sherri Wood, others excerpted from the WPAs Federal Writers Project--tell stories of knitting through adversity as widespread as war or the Great Depression, as personal as political anxiety, as unyielding as a prison term, and as tenacious as the hardships endured by the Native American community over centuries.

Men and women, young and old, rural and urban, white and black--their knitting narratives are poignant, often lyrical, rich with personal and cultural history and vivid imagery. They conjure hardscrabble lives and immigrant experience, the work of anxious hands kept busy creating warmth and beauty or earning desperately needed money. Along with the stories from the WPA project, the book features black and white photographs from the Library of Congress archives, as well as a sampling of patterns to help knitters through their own difficult times.

Genres: Knitting, Nonfiction, Crafts

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

I’m a writer of books for adults and children living in a leafy corner of Brooklyn, NY with my daughter, my husband and my dog.

Reviews

[Louise Armstrong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rag Bag, is the craft-related term that sprang to mind to describe this book. I am passionate about knitting, but even so I found some of the bits somewhat random. The photos are rather small and only black and white, and yet, if you love knitting, there's enough in here to keep you happy.

I think the by line 'Inspiring Stories for Times of Trouble' is perhaps a mistake - it sets up expectations for more tales of how knitting helps people and fewer historical scraps.

I did like the historical items & might read more about knitting in the past.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this anthology because my friend, Barbara DeMarco Barrett's essay appears in it. Besides stories of people knitting though all kinds of life situations, there were interesting bits of knitting history including photographs of things like men knitting in prison and copies of letters written to Abraham Lincoln that accompanied a knitted gift. I found this fascinating!

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the story towards the end about the woman knitting socks for her husband and chanting to herself "I am sitting in the middle of my bed, knitting socks, in lieu of filing for divorce..." (paraphrased) and that really struck home for me.

I liked the historical information and how this tradition has morphed through the years...

[H. T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

light read, some interesting stories (mostly the old ones), the newer stories (besides the Alaskan one) were not so great.

[Laraf123 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic snapshots of the role knitting has played in the lives of women just like me, as well as those who are not at all like me. That made it an enjoyable read.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book disappointing, but I’m sure plenty of others have loved it.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love seeing how knitting has been part of the American culture for centuries. The stories make me grateful for the lifestyle I have; it's much easier than many women of the past.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just like my knitting, I finished this book in fits and starts. I have knitted my way through long plane flights with three children under the age of seven, knitted through the death of my mother, and am currently knitting through the death of a 27-year marriage. I've seen joke items with the logo, "I knit so I won't kill anyone".....for me, that isn't just a figurative statement. Sometimes I think of how far an aluminum needle could pierce body parts, but the only person who has been skewered so far has been me. I keep the book in one of my many knitting bags, and for me, it's always like finding a gift.

[Pj · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quick book to get through. All the stories within were different. I like the idea of stories from the Library of Congress and various other libraries & works, but it felt like a bibliography book! Many of the stories were short and in first person, so that made the reader have to adjust to each stories quickly. Nice little stories, but I guess I was looking for more 'depth' in the idea of 'Knitting Through It- Inspiring Stories for Times of Trouble' instead of just a history lesson. Enjoyed the few black and white photography sprinkled throughout.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have an essay in this knitting anthology: "Knitting: My Urban Escape," but truthfully, I would have bought this book anyway. I love knitting narratives of this kind and always buy them. So many good pieces in this book--and photographs, too. The photograph of the Sing Sing prisoners knitting is priceless.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book in two days- it's a fast, enjoyable read. It inspired me to pull out a pair of my knitting needles that have been gathering dust the last two years. I particularly liked it because it reminded me of my good friend Erica who I wish I could knit with (and see) more often.

[Summerrain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful little book of women knitting through life's challenges & hard times.
Excellent read. I give this one as a gift at times, when appropriate.

[Erica Pearson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have an essay in this book but am also enjoying reading the other pieces...