What do you think?
Rate this book
With Her Own Hands: Women Weaving Their Stories
National Bestseller
A rich and intimate exploration of how women have used textile work to create meaningful lives, from ancient mythology to our current moment.
Knitting, sewing, embroidery, quilting—throughout history, these and other forms of textile work have often been dismissed as merely “women’s work” and attached to ideas of domesticity and obedience. Yet, as psychologist and avid knitter Nicole Nehrig wonderfully explores in this captivating book, textile work has often been a way for women to exercise power. When their voices were silenced and other avenues were closed off to them, women used the tools they had—often a needle and thread—to seek freedom within the restrictive societies they lived in.
Spanning continents and centuries, With Her Own Hands brings together remarkable stories of women who have used textiles as a means of liberation, from an eighteenth-century Quaker boarding school that used embroidered samplers to teach girls math and geography to the Quechua weavers working to preserve and revive Incan traditions today, and from the Miao women of southern China who, in the absence of a written language, pass down their histories in elaborate “story cloths” to a midcentury British women’s postal art exchange. Textiles have been a way for women to explore their intellectual capacities, seek economic independence, create community, process traumas, and convey powerful messages of self-expression and political protest.
Heartfelt and deeply moving, With Her Own Hands is a celebration of women who have woven their own stories—and a testament to their resilience.
A rich and intimate exploration of how women have used textile work to create meaningful lives, from ancient mythology to our current moment.
Knitting, sewing, embroidery, quilting—throughout history, these and other forms of textile work have often been dismissed as merely “women’s work” and attached to ideas of domesticity and obedience. Yet, as psychologist and avid knitter Nicole Nehrig wonderfully explores in this captivating book, textile work has often been a way for women to exercise power. When their voices were silenced and other avenues were closed off to them, women used the tools they had—often a needle and thread—to seek freedom within the restrictive societies they lived in.
Spanning continents and centuries, With Her Own Hands brings together remarkable stories of women who have used textiles as a means of liberation, from an eighteenth-century Quaker boarding school that used embroidered samplers to teach girls math and geography to the Quechua weavers working to preserve and revive Incan traditions today, and from the Miao women of southern China who, in the absence of a written language, pass down their histories in elaborate “story cloths” to a midcentury British women’s postal art exchange. Textiles have been a way for women to explore their intellectual capacities, seek economic independence, create community, process traumas, and convey powerful messages of self-expression and political protest.
Heartfelt and deeply moving, With Her Own Hands is a celebration of women who have woven their own stories—and a testament to their resilience.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 19, 2025
251 people are currently reading
7122 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
July 18, 2025
When I started this I wondered if it might be too academic for me, but not very long into it I found myself desperate to get back to it I was so interested. The traditions of weaving and textile making in women's lives is explored at every level, from preserving folk history to connecting women from different walks of life, from building bonds to smashing through expectations, this book looks at it all. Across cultures and times there are things that unite women who work with cloth and these foundations allow other women to push the boundaries of what is expected and what textiles can be used for. From the weavers of Cusco to the Jacquard loom that inspired Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage. From the Gees Bend quilters challenging what art is and what political activism can be to the frustrated painters who were denied entry into classical art schools and who turned to thread, this paints a fascinating picture of the world of women's textiles.. I loved this.
August 11, 2025
As art historian Janet Catherine Berlo says, “The work of our hands is our thought made manifest.” from With Her Own Hands
Thirty-five years ago I made my first quilt, made my first quilt friend, and joined my first quilt group. It altered my life in many ways.
Friends and family supported my hobby and were proud of my work. As we moved every few years, I could always discover a quilt group, or a group of women who gathered together working on handwork: quilting, knitting, embroidering, sewing.
The hobby brought me creativity, community, relaxation, and fulfillment.
I loved learning about quilt history and how quilts were used for political statements, charity, and expressive art.
This wide ranging book touches on textile art across time and the world to explore the importance of the fiber arts in women’s lives.
Gee’s Bend quilt owned by a friend
I was familiar with many of the traditions Nehrig explores, including the Gees Bend quilts which helped bring quilts to the level of art. Quilts gave women a voice before they had the vote. 19th c quilts featured abolitionist sentiments, while contemporary quilt artists have created quilts that speak to systemic racism.
Civil Rights in the South III, 1989, Yvonne Wells
Textiles have been used to express political protest, convey coded messages, record historical events, transmit cultural ideology, process trauma, earn an income, celebrate, and mourn. from With Her Own Hands
Textile traditions Nehrig covers includes weaving, knitting, embroidery, dyeing, sewing, quilting and art quilting. She argues these are not ‘women’s work’ to be devalued.
Thanks to the publisher for a free book through NetGalley.
Thirty-five years ago I made my first quilt, made my first quilt friend, and joined my first quilt group. It altered my life in many ways.
Friends and family supported my hobby and were proud of my work. As we moved every few years, I could always discover a quilt group, or a group of women who gathered together working on handwork: quilting, knitting, embroidering, sewing.
The hobby brought me creativity, community, relaxation, and fulfillment.
I loved learning about quilt history and how quilts were used for political statements, charity, and expressive art.
This wide ranging book touches on textile art across time and the world to explore the importance of the fiber arts in women’s lives.
Gee’s Bend quilt owned by a friend
I was familiar with many of the traditions Nehrig explores, including the Gees Bend quilts which helped bring quilts to the level of art. Quilts gave women a voice before they had the vote. 19th c quilts featured abolitionist sentiments, while contemporary quilt artists have created quilts that speak to systemic racism.
Civil Rights in the South III, 1989, Yvonne Wells
Textiles have been used to express political protest, convey coded messages, record historical events, transmit cultural ideology, process trauma, earn an income, celebrate, and mourn. from With Her Own Hands
Textile traditions Nehrig covers includes weaving, knitting, embroidery, dyeing, sewing, quilting and art quilting. She argues these are not ‘women’s work’ to be devalued.
Thanks to the publisher for a free book through NetGalley.
August 18, 2025
Women are so cool and textile arts are so important to me wow
June 27, 2025
Book Review: With Her Own Hands: Women Weaving Their Stories by Nicole Nehrig
Nicole Nehrig’s With Her Own Hands is a profound and lyrical reclamation of textile work as a site of women’s agency, creativity, and resistance. As a woman and reader, I was immediately drawn to Nehrig’s premise—that the needle, loom, and thread have long been instruments of quiet rebellion. Her interdisciplinary approach, blending psychology, history, and cultural anthropology, transforms what might seem like a niche subject into a universal meditation on how marginalized voices craft meaning under constraint.
The book’s greatest strength lies in its global tapestry of stories, each thread revealing how textiles serve as both refuge and revolt. The juxtaposition of eighteenth-century Quaker samplers as covert educational tools with contemporary Quechua weavers preserving Indigenous knowledge moved me deeply, highlighting how generational wisdom is literally woven into fabric. As a reader, I found myself pausing to reflect on my own relationship with “women’s work”—the quiet evenings spent knitting with my grandmother, once dismissed as mundane, now reframed as an act of legacy. Nehrig’s analysis of trauma processing through textile art (e.g., British postal art exchanges) felt particularly resonant, offering a visceral understanding of how stitches can suture emotional wounds when words fail.
However, the book occasionally struggles with balance. While the historical and cultural case studies are richly detailed, I wished for more intersectional analysis of how race, class, and disability intersect with textile labor. For instance, the economic precarity of garment workers—often women of color—warrants sharper critique alongside celebrations of artistic liberation. Additionally, Nehrig’s academic background shines through in passages dense with theory, which may alienate general readers; a glossary or illustrative visuals could have bridged this gap.
Emotionally, With Her Own Hands is a revelation. It stirred pride in traditions often trivialized, but also anger at systemic erasures—a duality that speaks to Nehrig’s skill in honoring complexity. Her prose oscillates between scholarly rigor and poetic warmth, particularly in passages describing the tactile intimacy of textile creation. Yet, the concluding chapter’s call to “rethread” modernity with these practices left me craving concrete guidance for readers seeking to engage with textile activism today.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) – A luminous, necessary work that redefines textile art as feminist praxis, though its theoretical depth and occasional silences on structural inequities prevent a perfect score.
Thank you to W. W. Norton and Edelweiss for providing a free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Final Thought: Nehrig’s book is more than history; it’s an heirloom—one that invites us to pull at its threads and discover our own stories in the weave.
Nicole Nehrig’s With Her Own Hands is a profound and lyrical reclamation of textile work as a site of women’s agency, creativity, and resistance. As a woman and reader, I was immediately drawn to Nehrig’s premise—that the needle, loom, and thread have long been instruments of quiet rebellion. Her interdisciplinary approach, blending psychology, history, and cultural anthropology, transforms what might seem like a niche subject into a universal meditation on how marginalized voices craft meaning under constraint.
The book’s greatest strength lies in its global tapestry of stories, each thread revealing how textiles serve as both refuge and revolt. The juxtaposition of eighteenth-century Quaker samplers as covert educational tools with contemporary Quechua weavers preserving Indigenous knowledge moved me deeply, highlighting how generational wisdom is literally woven into fabric. As a reader, I found myself pausing to reflect on my own relationship with “women’s work”—the quiet evenings spent knitting with my grandmother, once dismissed as mundane, now reframed as an act of legacy. Nehrig’s analysis of trauma processing through textile art (e.g., British postal art exchanges) felt particularly resonant, offering a visceral understanding of how stitches can suture emotional wounds when words fail.
However, the book occasionally struggles with balance. While the historical and cultural case studies are richly detailed, I wished for more intersectional analysis of how race, class, and disability intersect with textile labor. For instance, the economic precarity of garment workers—often women of color—warrants sharper critique alongside celebrations of artistic liberation. Additionally, Nehrig’s academic background shines through in passages dense with theory, which may alienate general readers; a glossary or illustrative visuals could have bridged this gap.
Emotionally, With Her Own Hands is a revelation. It stirred pride in traditions often trivialized, but also anger at systemic erasures—a duality that speaks to Nehrig’s skill in honoring complexity. Her prose oscillates between scholarly rigor and poetic warmth, particularly in passages describing the tactile intimacy of textile creation. Yet, the concluding chapter’s call to “rethread” modernity with these practices left me craving concrete guidance for readers seeking to engage with textile activism today.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) – A luminous, necessary work that redefines textile art as feminist praxis, though its theoretical depth and occasional silences on structural inequities prevent a perfect score.
Thank you to W. W. Norton and Edelweiss for providing a free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Final Thought: Nehrig’s book is more than history; it’s an heirloom—one that invites us to pull at its threads and discover our own stories in the weave.
October 30, 2025
I absolutely loved this and I'm so glad that picked it up! This was such a fascinating look at textile/fiber arts and brought up so many perspectives and ideas that I'd never considered before.
As an avid crocheter and an occasional knitter, I was delighted to find little pieces of myself reflected in this book in regard to the way I interact with fiber arts and the reasons I find it to be so soothing and exciting.
I found this to be so well-researched and written and easily digestible! I would highly recommend.
As an avid crocheter and an occasional knitter, I was delighted to find little pieces of myself reflected in this book in regard to the way I interact with fiber arts and the reasons I find it to be so soothing and exciting.
I found this to be so well-researched and written and easily digestible! I would highly recommend.
January 6, 2026
there’s so much more to fiber arts than the finished product—the cultural and relational ties that go into learning and making a piece can end up making you a new person, too.
Nehrig has taken a broad but intimate sweep into the lives and cultures that weaving, embroidery, and knitting touch. makes me want to join a knitting circle this year
Nehrig has taken a broad but intimate sweep into the lives and cultures that weaving, embroidery, and knitting touch. makes me want to join a knitting circle this year
August 19, 2025
As an embroidery artist, milliner and (new) weaver, I am passionate about belonging to a deep feminine tradition.
The role of fiber arts for everything from artistic expression to financial freedom to mathematical and scientific exploration is compelling and fascinating.
I often loved the content of this book, celebrating or admiring women’s strength, creativity and ingenuity — and feeling empathy for poverty and oppression that often went hand-in-hand with textile work.
3–3.5 stars. A worthwhile read.
But it’s a bit too meandering and disjointed to earn 4 or 5 stars. There were a couple times I had to check that I hadn’t missed a transition paragraph because the subject would change suddenly.
This book isn’t really suited for a start-to-finish reading. It is probably better consumed in small bites and then mulled over. Many more chapters and section headings would have helped this. Some topics (e.g. Gee’s Bend quilts) get several pages, while other stories pop in for just a paragraph or two.
Thank you to NetGalley and W.W. Norton for providing a digital copy to review. All opinions are my own.
The role of fiber arts for everything from artistic expression to financial freedom to mathematical and scientific exploration is compelling and fascinating.
I often loved the content of this book, celebrating or admiring women’s strength, creativity and ingenuity — and feeling empathy for poverty and oppression that often went hand-in-hand with textile work.
3–3.5 stars. A worthwhile read.
But it’s a bit too meandering and disjointed to earn 4 or 5 stars. There were a couple times I had to check that I hadn’t missed a transition paragraph because the subject would change suddenly.
This book isn’t really suited for a start-to-finish reading. It is probably better consumed in small bites and then mulled over. Many more chapters and section headings would have helped this. Some topics (e.g. Gee’s Bend quilts) get several pages, while other stories pop in for just a paragraph or two.
Thank you to NetGalley and W.W. Norton for providing a digital copy to review. All opinions are my own.
October 12, 2025
Nicole Nehrig's With Her Own Hands: Women Weaving Their Stories is so good! I also found it unexpectedly emotionally affecting and even therapeutic to read.
The book is a tribute to the resilience, creativity, and wisdom of women across cultures and generations. Through personal narratives, Nehrig invites readers into the intimate spaces where women have shaped their identities and communities—often through the literal and metaphorical act of weaving, but also knitting, lacemaking, quilting, & other textile arts. The book is both a celebration of craft and a reminder of the stories embedded in textiles.
Nehrig blends memoir, oral history, and cultural commentary, including each woman’s voice while maintaining a cohesive narrative arc. The stories are diverse in origin and experience, yet they share common threads of empowerment and transformation. I was moved by the honesty and vulnerability in these accounts, which range from quiet moments of reflection to bold acts of defiance and creativity.
Nehrig’s background in textile arts enriches the book with a deep appreciation for the physical and symbolic significance of the diverse crafts. Her descriptions of materials, techniques, and traditions are vivid and accessible. The inclusion of photographs and illustrations adds another layer of depth, allowing readers to visually engage with the work and its makers.
Notes I made as I was reading, for an idea of how wide-ranging the book is:
Weaving fabric as Peruvian cultural legacy
Rediscovering heritage natural dye recipes
Su Hui’s embroidered kanji poem “Star Gauge”
Connection between complex weave structures & computers
Crocheting hyperbolic geometry & the coral reef project
Leonora Carrington
Crazy quilt deep dive
With Her Own Hands serves as a valuable resource for educators, historians, and scholars interested in textile art & women’s studies. Nehrig’s commitment to honoring marginalized voices and preserving cultural heritage is evident throughout the book. It encourages readers to consider the ways in which storytelling and craft intersect, and how these practices can be used to foster healing, connection, and social change.
With Her Own Hands is a heartfelt and inspiring work that uplifts the voices of women and the traditions they carry. Nicole Nehrig has created a book that is not only informative and visually stunning but also deeply moving. It is a must-read for anyone who values the power of memory and story, the beauty of c
On a personal note, my aunt Mary was a quilter and a textile artist. She would have loved this book and I would have loved giving her a copy and hopefully discussing it with her someday. I felt like she was reading over my shoulder the whole time.
The book is a tribute to the resilience, creativity, and wisdom of women across cultures and generations. Through personal narratives, Nehrig invites readers into the intimate spaces where women have shaped their identities and communities—often through the literal and metaphorical act of weaving, but also knitting, lacemaking, quilting, & other textile arts. The book is both a celebration of craft and a reminder of the stories embedded in textiles.
Nehrig blends memoir, oral history, and cultural commentary, including each woman’s voice while maintaining a cohesive narrative arc. The stories are diverse in origin and experience, yet they share common threads of empowerment and transformation. I was moved by the honesty and vulnerability in these accounts, which range from quiet moments of reflection to bold acts of defiance and creativity.
Nehrig’s background in textile arts enriches the book with a deep appreciation for the physical and symbolic significance of the diverse crafts. Her descriptions of materials, techniques, and traditions are vivid and accessible. The inclusion of photographs and illustrations adds another layer of depth, allowing readers to visually engage with the work and its makers.
Notes I made as I was reading, for an idea of how wide-ranging the book is:
Weaving fabric as Peruvian cultural legacy
Rediscovering heritage natural dye recipes
Su Hui’s embroidered kanji poem “Star Gauge”
Connection between complex weave structures & computers
Crocheting hyperbolic geometry & the coral reef project
Leonora Carrington
Crazy quilt deep dive
With Her Own Hands serves as a valuable resource for educators, historians, and scholars interested in textile art & women’s studies. Nehrig’s commitment to honoring marginalized voices and preserving cultural heritage is evident throughout the book. It encourages readers to consider the ways in which storytelling and craft intersect, and how these practices can be used to foster healing, connection, and social change.
With Her Own Hands is a heartfelt and inspiring work that uplifts the voices of women and the traditions they carry. Nicole Nehrig has created a book that is not only informative and visually stunning but also deeply moving. It is a must-read for anyone who values the power of memory and story, the beauty of c
On a personal note, my aunt Mary was a quilter and a textile artist. She would have loved this book and I would have loved giving her a copy and hopefully discussing it with her someday. I felt like she was reading over my shoulder the whole time.
October 21, 2025
This exploration of the many ways women over centuries have used textile arts to serve both their utilitarian and aesthetic needs, is comprehensive and satisfying. In my own family, when I reviewed the four generations to which I can personally bear witness, I found the following: (1) my paternal grandmother was constantly crocheting lacy thread weight arm/chair-back protectors; (2) my maternal grandmother (a seamstress who made custom clothing for clients as well as my entire college wardrobe + my wedding dress + my maid of honor’s dress + three bridesmaid’s dresses + my going-away suit); (3) my stepmother did not design her own quilts although she reproduced traditional patterns, stitching all by hand on a large hoop that stood permanently in her family room; and (4) my sister-in-law Mary repaired and finished vintage quilts, as well as designing her own. Before getting absorbed in my law/teaching career, I was a hobby knitter. Fun, but hardly remarkable—just something to pass the time for a while. This book tells stories of women for whom textile arts were absolutely necessary, life-giving, and even life-saving.
December 31, 2025
✰✰✰✰.5 / 5
Such a well researched and well written exploration of the meaning textiles has given to women across the millennia.
From ancient cultures and mythology to civil rights movements to modern day, Nehrig includes personal stories and quotes that immerse you in each woman’s life. I enjoyed how wide ranging this was, exploring a multitude of textile types from quilting to embroidery to knitting to weaving thread itself across a multitude of settings and time periods. It managed to stay grounded in individual tales and stories while being so general, which was quite impressive.
If you do any type of craft, I would recommend this. It helps you feel connected to the generations of women before you, and makes you more determined that the generations after will do it too.
Such a well researched and well written exploration of the meaning textiles has given to women across the millennia.
From ancient cultures and mythology to civil rights movements to modern day, Nehrig includes personal stories and quotes that immerse you in each woman’s life. I enjoyed how wide ranging this was, exploring a multitude of textile types from quilting to embroidery to knitting to weaving thread itself across a multitude of settings and time periods. It managed to stay grounded in individual tales and stories while being so general, which was quite impressive.
If you do any type of craft, I would recommend this. It helps you feel connected to the generations of women before you, and makes you more determined that the generations after will do it too.
September 25, 2025
As some do you know I recently got into needlepointing and picked this up bc I thought it looked interesting (and I liked the cover). I really enjoyed this read and how the author dove into specific examples of how women’s history and expressions are tied into many textile works. She really did her research!
September 1, 2025
A wonderful books that articulates much of what I’ve been trying to express in my approach to “women’s work,” its meanings and the way it has so often been devalued as lesser or become invisible. An inspiring exploration.
November 8, 2025
Terrific, inspiring and informative read. A gem for any crafter.
November 27, 2025
Absolutely fabulous
Read
July 8, 2025Thank you to NetGalley and W. W. Norton & Company for an eARC in exchange for an honest review
I am a huge arts and crafts fan, and even did university coursework on the benefits of amateur craft projects so this book was right up my street. Textile crafts come in all shapes and sizes throughout history and I loved the exploratory way that Nehrig set up her writing. To me, it read like an approachable introduction to a research paper (which makes sense considering her background in academia!) and I felt deeply informed but never bored.
Have added some of her further reading suggestions to my TBR
I am a huge arts and crafts fan, and even did university coursework on the benefits of amateur craft projects so this book was right up my street. Textile crafts come in all shapes and sizes throughout history and I loved the exploratory way that Nehrig set up her writing. To me, it read like an approachable introduction to a research paper (which makes sense considering her background in academia!) and I felt deeply informed but never bored.
Have added some of her further reading suggestions to my TBR
October 3, 2025
While I was very intrigued by this books concept, I was ultimately left slightly underwhelmed. While at first the chapters of this book made sense, reading through it the stories and subheadings felt disjointed and like they sometimes could have fit better in another chapter. I would have preferred the content of this book to either have been presented chronologically or divisions by time period or by person/group of people, I think this would have made the content flow better. I also wish images of the people or finished objects were added in between the text where it is referenced rather than all grouped together at the end - it would have been more powerful to see and think about the object as it is being discussed.
Overall, I was left wanting more from this book. While it touched on some very important topics related to women’s rights, social mobility, independence, etc. as it relates to craft, there wasn’t an extended focus on any one topic that it made it hard to really see the trajectory of that through history and different cultures as I suspect the book set out to do. I was also hoping for a more detailed analysis on some objects, without that I am left with more questions than answers.
Overall, I was left wanting more from this book. While it touched on some very important topics related to women’s rights, social mobility, independence, etc. as it relates to craft, there wasn’t an extended focus on any one topic that it made it hard to really see the trajectory of that through history and different cultures as I suspect the book set out to do. I was also hoping for a more detailed analysis on some objects, without that I am left with more questions than answers.
October 30, 2025
This book is my pic for the August prompt of my 2025 Book Challenge: Yarn. To see all the prompts for the challenge and a list of recommended titles for each month, click here.
I’ve always enjoyed textile arts. I learned to sew and embroider when I was a young girl at my grandmother’s side. I inherited my great grandmother’s crafting tools of sewing notions, knitting needles and tiny crochet hooks and it made me feel a connection with a woman I’d never met. When I started crocheting, it was just a fun new hobby to pick up but also a means of expressing love. I was expecting my second son and wanted to make each of my boys a blanket they could cherish for years to come. Not long after that, I received my cancer diagnosis and crocheting was an outlet, a way for me to process my feelings and emotions, a way to pass time when I was too ill to get out of bed, and a way to make myself feel pretty again by making many new hats to warm my bald head. All of this to say that textile and fiber arts have been a huge part of my life and these are just a few of the ways textile arts are able to impact the lives of the people, most commonly women, who craft them.
When the author’s PR people asked if they could send me a copy of With Her Own Hands to review, I gladly accepted. The timing was right to have it be my pick for my August book challenge prompt: Yarn. It came in a cute PR package that included a cross stitch bookmark pattern, which I had hope to have completed to present you with at the same time as this review, but alas, being only my second cross stitch attempt in my lifetime, I’m sad to say I didn’t have the patience to finish more than about 50 stitches on it. Still, I absolutely loved its incorporation with the theme of the book.
This is definitely more of an academic book, but the author’s passion for the topic and for the people is evident. She draws you into the stories of the women she’s met and the art they have created and relays how that art has enabled them to leave abusive partners, become economically independent, and to help others. She shows how women have used textile arts to say things with their work that they can’t with their words, working through grief, trauma, and more or to express celebration at happy occasions or immortalize a moment in history. She explains many cultural significances dating back from early civilizations to present and explores the sociopolitical influence textiles had on women’s suffrage and civil rights. It took me some time to read this one because I wanted to take my time with it. I have so many tabs in this book for moments that stunned me, inspired me, or galvanized me.
This book may be a bit scholarly, but the stories are the heart of this book and the women are the soul. Nehrig, a knitter herself, expertly combines anecdotal evidence with solid facts and statistics to illustrate the importance of textile arts not just in women’s live but in the broader tapestry of our global civilization. If you enjoy history with a focus on women’s untold stories, I think you’ll enjoy this book, especially if you’re a textile artist yourself.
Thank you Nicole Nehrig and W.W. Norton for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
-------------
I hope you enjoyed this review! This review and many more appear on my blog, Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust, where you'll find book reviews, lists, crochet tutorials & patterns, as well as camping, hiking and travel adventures.
Come hang out with me on Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Blog | Email
I’ve always enjoyed textile arts. I learned to sew and embroider when I was a young girl at my grandmother’s side. I inherited my great grandmother’s crafting tools of sewing notions, knitting needles and tiny crochet hooks and it made me feel a connection with a woman I’d never met. When I started crocheting, it was just a fun new hobby to pick up but also a means of expressing love. I was expecting my second son and wanted to make each of my boys a blanket they could cherish for years to come. Not long after that, I received my cancer diagnosis and crocheting was an outlet, a way for me to process my feelings and emotions, a way to pass time when I was too ill to get out of bed, and a way to make myself feel pretty again by making many new hats to warm my bald head. All of this to say that textile and fiber arts have been a huge part of my life and these are just a few of the ways textile arts are able to impact the lives of the people, most commonly women, who craft them.
When the author’s PR people asked if they could send me a copy of With Her Own Hands to review, I gladly accepted. The timing was right to have it be my pick for my August book challenge prompt: Yarn. It came in a cute PR package that included a cross stitch bookmark pattern, which I had hope to have completed to present you with at the same time as this review, but alas, being only my second cross stitch attempt in my lifetime, I’m sad to say I didn’t have the patience to finish more than about 50 stitches on it. Still, I absolutely loved its incorporation with the theme of the book.
This is definitely more of an academic book, but the author’s passion for the topic and for the people is evident. She draws you into the stories of the women she’s met and the art they have created and relays how that art has enabled them to leave abusive partners, become economically independent, and to help others. She shows how women have used textile arts to say things with their work that they can’t with their words, working through grief, trauma, and more or to express celebration at happy occasions or immortalize a moment in history. She explains many cultural significances dating back from early civilizations to present and explores the sociopolitical influence textiles had on women’s suffrage and civil rights. It took me some time to read this one because I wanted to take my time with it. I have so many tabs in this book for moments that stunned me, inspired me, or galvanized me.
This book may be a bit scholarly, but the stories are the heart of this book and the women are the soul. Nehrig, a knitter herself, expertly combines anecdotal evidence with solid facts and statistics to illustrate the importance of textile arts not just in women’s live but in the broader tapestry of our global civilization. If you enjoy history with a focus on women’s untold stories, I think you’ll enjoy this book, especially if you’re a textile artist yourself.
Thank you Nicole Nehrig and W.W. Norton for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
-------------
I hope you enjoyed this review! This review and many more appear on my blog, Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust, where you'll find book reviews, lists, crochet tutorials & patterns, as well as camping, hiking and travel adventures.
Come hang out with me on Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Blog | Email
December 10, 2025
I heard the author interviewed on the Long Thread podcast and it reminded me to keep an eye out for this book at the library.
It was reasonably interesting once I came to terms with the organization of it. When I write something, I've found that it's very important for me to feel a thread (see what I did there?) running through it, that connects each item to the item before, with no bumps between items. This book is more like a patchwork quilt ( :-) ), where things are just put next to one another with no transitional sentences to lead you from one to the next, based on their relationship to the topic of the chapter. It was more or less distracting from chapter to chapter, to just go BUMP from thing to thing, instead of feeling that each chapter was a coherent essay with everything placed in an intentional and meaningful order. It wasn't badly written, it just didn't fulfill something that I place a high importance on in my own writing.
This complaint aside - there was a lot of interesting material in the book that I would never have had a chance to learn about otherwise, like the story textiles being made by survivors of abuse in Nigeria, or the women working on making their own copies of the Bayeux Tapestry In the chapter on embroidery, there was one reference to how in medieval England embroiderers guilds were set up and restricted to men; this was also true of weaving, and I would have liked to see a greater treatment of this issue.
Overall, this is a nice 10,000 foot look at the value of textile crafts to women through history.
It was reasonably interesting once I came to terms with the organization of it. When I write something, I've found that it's very important for me to feel a thread (see what I did there?) running through it, that connects each item to the item before, with no bumps between items. This book is more like a patchwork quilt ( :-) ), where things are just put next to one another with no transitional sentences to lead you from one to the next, based on their relationship to the topic of the chapter. It was more or less distracting from chapter to chapter, to just go BUMP from thing to thing, instead of feeling that each chapter was a coherent essay with everything placed in an intentional and meaningful order. It wasn't badly written, it just didn't fulfill something that I place a high importance on in my own writing.
This complaint aside - there was a lot of interesting material in the book that I would never have had a chance to learn about otherwise, like the story textiles being made by survivors of abuse in Nigeria, or the women working on making their own copies of the Bayeux Tapestry In the chapter on embroidery, there was one reference to how in medieval England embroiderers guilds were set up and restricted to men; this was also true of weaving, and I would have liked to see a greater treatment of this issue.
Overall, this is a nice 10,000 foot look at the value of textile crafts to women through history.
August 16, 2025
I was drawn to With Her Own Hands by Nicole Nehrig because the subject matter of the book interested me, it is an "examination of how women have used textile work to create meaningful lives, from ancient mythology to our current moment." Once regarded as "women's work" sewing, weaving, knitting, quilting etc are so much more and in fact were often used by women to exercise power and pass along important cultural traditions. as well as often providing a source of income for the household. From Quechua weavers who trying to ensure that their traditions are preserved to the Quaker schools where embroidery was used to teach literacy along with the bible, or the women of Gees Bend who sold quilts and built a local industry the author takes the reader on a journey while teaching about cultures and traditions.
While the subject matter was interesting I did struggle with the writing style, it felt almost like an academic thesis at times and I think that some readers may struggle with this. I did learn a lot while reading. I just wish the information had been presented a little differently.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
While the subject matter was interesting I did struggle with the writing style, it felt almost like an academic thesis at times and I think that some readers may struggle with this. I did learn a lot while reading. I just wish the information had been presented a little differently.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
September 8, 2025
4/5
I found this book to be super interesting and insightful. As someone that both loves history and crochets, a book about the role that textile work and fiber art plays in the lives of women throughout history and across cultures was right up my alley. This is touched upon in the book a lot, but fiber art and textile work tends to be so underappreciated despite the amount of time and labor it takes, so having the importance be highlighted in an entire book was so nice to read.
I loved the way all different types of work were touched upon, with weaving, knitting, crocheting, lace making, embroidery, beadwork, dying, and more all getting time to shine and the importance shown. Along with that, I really loved how many different people were included in the book. The different interviews and quotes that were throughout the book from women of varying backgrounds made this even more interesting. Getting to read their own words about their relationship to textiles rather than facts pulled from studies made it more personal and more enjoyable to read.
Overall, I really thought this was such an interesting book and I'm super glad I read it.
I found this book to be super interesting and insightful. As someone that both loves history and crochets, a book about the role that textile work and fiber art plays in the lives of women throughout history and across cultures was right up my alley. This is touched upon in the book a lot, but fiber art and textile work tends to be so underappreciated despite the amount of time and labor it takes, so having the importance be highlighted in an entire book was so nice to read.
I loved the way all different types of work were touched upon, with weaving, knitting, crocheting, lace making, embroidery, beadwork, dying, and more all getting time to shine and the importance shown. Along with that, I really loved how many different people were included in the book. The different interviews and quotes that were throughout the book from women of varying backgrounds made this even more interesting. Getting to read their own words about their relationship to textiles rather than facts pulled from studies made it more personal and more enjoyable to read.
Overall, I really thought this was such an interesting book and I'm super glad I read it.
October 30, 2025
This was pretty good, but awfully short. As an art history minor, I had a "History of Craft" class that touched on some textile art. I would have loved to learn more in-depth information in this book, and it could have used more illustrations, though I finally found them at the end. Maybe in a printed book they're more integrated into the text.
It just seems like there's much more to say about so many forms of textile art. I want to know more about different quilt styles beyond just using and reusing found and old fabric scraps. It's not only poor women that have something to say with their art. And I would like to read more about the history of embroidery and cross-stitch, especially the recent resurgence of both.
My favorite part, though, is the information that a woman has replicated the whole Bayeux tapestry. Cool! I hope she charts it and puts it online. What a cool project that would be!
It just seems like there's much more to say about so many forms of textile art. I want to know more about different quilt styles beyond just using and reusing found and old fabric scraps. It's not only poor women that have something to say with their art. And I would like to read more about the history of embroidery and cross-stitch, especially the recent resurgence of both.
My favorite part, though, is the information that a woman has replicated the whole Bayeux tapestry. Cool! I hope she charts it and puts it online. What a cool project that would be!
November 4, 2025
3.5 stars. I think that I’d characterize this book as more of a philosophy book, which is odd because the history is detailed. However, the author mostly takes one premise/idea per chapter, then bounces around geographically and chronologically to discuss this point.
That said, I found the overall discussion points really interesting and appreciated the open wrestle between the dichotomies of freedom / oppression / expression / opportunities / constraint.
I think my two notes are that I wish the illustrations had been included in the text, rather than at the index at the end (which was surely easier for a paper reader to access than a digital one), and I wish that there had been more upfront discussion of what these various techniques are, even just for a paragraph or two. That said, a good overview of the oft-unwritten women’s history, and I learned a lot.
That said, I found the overall discussion points really interesting and appreciated the open wrestle between the dichotomies of freedom / oppression / expression / opportunities / constraint.
I think my two notes are that I wish the illustrations had been included in the text, rather than at the index at the end (which was surely easier for a paper reader to access than a digital one), and I wish that there had been more upfront discussion of what these various techniques are, even just for a paragraph or two. That said, a good overview of the oft-unwritten women’s history, and I learned a lot.
Read
January 1, 2026This book is a fascinating look at how textiles have always been a source of rebellion, income, expression, and so much more for women throughout the centuries. More than that this is a look at how textiles are being used in contemporary times to serve these purposes. From the women in Africa using textiles to get out of abusive situations to the women that use textiles as a way to connect with their own history and ancestors. Too many people think of textile and craft as dying arts simply because we have access to fast fashion. The truth of the matter is that all of the ‘Couture’ fashion is made by hand, these skills are still being used every day for both practical and aesthetic reasons. If you want to read a very empowering book about women, for women, then this is a very good and empowering read.
September 15, 2025
I enjoy reading about textile history, sociology, and psychology. Nicole Nehrig's book fits all those categories. She comes to the topics as a knitter and a clinical psychologist so she knows the topic and she knows how to search and present her findings.
Over centuries fiber art/work/craft has been termed "women's work," often dismissively. Actually "women's work" must be viewed positively -- because of it we are comforted (think of baby blankets), clothed, sheltered, and ultimately shrouded. Fiber and textiles are essential to our well-being.
(I was surprised that she did not cite Threads of Life by Clare Hunter (also about historical-to-contemporary fiber arts) or No Idle Hands: the Social History of American Knitting by Anne Macdonald.)
Over centuries fiber art/work/craft has been termed "women's work," often dismissively. Actually "women's work" must be viewed positively -- because of it we are comforted (think of baby blankets), clothed, sheltered, and ultimately shrouded. Fiber and textiles are essential to our well-being.
(I was surprised that she did not cite Threads of Life by Clare Hunter (also about historical-to-contemporary fiber arts) or No Idle Hands: the Social History of American Knitting by Anne Macdonald.)
November 9, 2025
Rating: 3 stars: Neither recommend nor not recommend
Why 3 stars:
- The book was too meandering and philosophical for my tastes. I'm a big textile enthusiast, so was excited to learn more about textiles and how it's been used throughout history by women, but generally the book felt more philosophical than anything else. While some interesting nuggets of information were dropped (like the Star Gauge poem blew my mind), but the text had a tendency to wander without much focus so it was hard to connect to.
- Some chapters did stand out, though. I really loved the Emotions chapter and some of the neuroscience in there.
- Just overall didn't resonate with me. Not a bad book, just not something I found particularly interesting.
Why 3 stars:
- The book was too meandering and philosophical for my tastes. I'm a big textile enthusiast, so was excited to learn more about textiles and how it's been used throughout history by women, but generally the book felt more philosophical than anything else. While some interesting nuggets of information were dropped (like the Star Gauge poem blew my mind), but the text had a tendency to wander without much focus so it was hard to connect to.
- Some chapters did stand out, though. I really loved the Emotions chapter and some of the neuroscience in there.
- Just overall didn't resonate with me. Not a bad book, just not something I found particularly interesting.
September 13, 2025
Not quite what I expected but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The author does include the history I expected but focused on contemporary women who used their textile artistry to create their own vision of who they are and to demand society respect them as creative people. Several used their work to support themselves, escape abusive relationships, and help other women do the same.
November 7, 2025
I don't read much nonfiction, but I'm so glad I gave this a try. Picked up the hardcover copy from the library. Full of inspiring stories of how women's textile work across the world, across the centuries, has been a creative outlet that empowered and gave a voice to women. I stopped reading so many times to google stuff to see example pictures or save a name or quote for later.
August 7, 2025
I enjoyed this a lot! It felt disjointed at times, the organization of this book felt kind of random, but as a woman who does lots of crafts I felt very connected to the stories told. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
September 14, 2025
I’ve been looking for this book for the longest time I’m so happy Norton published it. so informative & academic & thorough & yet also easy to read! a joy! more detailed rtc brace yourself I’m about to wax so poetic about arts & crafts you don’t even know
November 8, 2025
This book is about women and how the textile work they do has had an impact on their lives and those of others. It's a historical look as well as modern times. It's not a quick read and I have enjoyed spending time with the book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews