Love in Every Stitch: Stories of Knitting and Healing

by Lee Gant

In her inspiring book, Love in Every Stitch: Stories of Knitting and Healing, master knitter, teacher, and widely published knitwear designer Lee Gant shares real-life stories about the power of knitting.

As an employee of three different yarn stores, a teacher of countless knitting classes, and a volunteer with at-risk youth, Lee has had the opportunity to gather diverse stories.

The stories Lee shares about herself and fellow knitters from around the world illustrate how each stitch and purl can comfort and calm, heal and renew. A suicidal teenager crochets through pregnancy. A dying woman finds comfort in the company of knitters. A woman finds the courage to face her estranged parents. A woman going blind realizes she can still knit -- and experience life. And Lee's life, riddled with more than just anxiety, has at last become stable and productive. This book includes stories of women, men, and teens who have experienced profound change and enlightenment through knitting and crochet.

Genres: Nonfiction, Knitting, Audiobook, Self Help, Memoir

244 pages, Paperback

First published April 7, 2015

Reviews

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I completely enjoyed the different stories shared in this nonfiction book. The author has an obvious love for knitting. She shared her own story and the stories of others on how knitting can calm and help one to channel their focus in a productive way when facing immense adversity. These stories were inspiring. She helped herself first, then stepped up and offered help to all ages who were willing to learn.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this audio book as an accompaniment to my morning walk but then decided it was a great book to listen to while I was actually knitting. I was then able to feel like a part of the many "knitting circles" described, even if just as a silent observer. The stories are similar to the "Chicken Soup" stories.... bad to awful things take place in someone's life, but they somehow find strength, hope, love, .... to get them through it and then they share their story to help others. In this book, "knitting" is the common factor in how everyone found their way. Although, I sometimes found the stories very sad, I could definitely relate to the "calming" and somewhat "meditative effect" that knitting can give to the knitter. A non-knitter may find some of the knitting jargon confusing, but hopefully these stories will encourage them to try it out. I know it has definitely sparked me to want to teach it to any one willing to try.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard Michelle Obama being interviewed this past week when she spoke about how knitting helped her deal with a low grade depression that she experienced during the pandemic. It was the perfect thing to hear before listening to this book full of stories of women who were experiencing all different levels of adversity and how learning to knit helped them deal with difficulties. I truly believe we all need hobbies that can take our mind off of our problems. I learned how to bake bread during the pandemic and knit and they were both something that took all of my concentration. I’m grateful for the hobbies that enhance my life and bring peace which include knitting, reading and playing the piano.

[Olga Vannucci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knitting helps to quell
A person's private hell.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bad things happen in life to good people. Knitting can be one way to meditate and heal. The end.

[Gabriella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hesitant about reading this book, because I assumed it would be fictional "inspirational" stories...I was assuming it would be a Lifetime movie/Chicken Soup for the Soul, type of collection of stories involving yarn. I was wrong. These stories are non-fiction, REAL stories, of people and how working with yarn (knitting, crocheting) has helped them in their life. And they are intense. Anxiety, depression, PTSD, alcoholism, homelessness, blindness, illness, death, trauma, mourning...just SOME of what is covered in this book. Anyone who has found salvation or peace in arts, crafts, creating things with their hands - this book is for you. Also, I think anyone who is involved in art therapy would appreciate this book.

[Letitia · Rating 1 out of 5]

The writing was so bad and the stories so cheesy I had to give up after the first four or five chapters. Abandoned.

[Taylor Satterthwaite · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was fine, but the reader on the audiobook really annoyed me.

[Tray Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This very engaging book tells the many stories of people that the author meets -- there are so many sad and awful stories out there, of people striving to find peace, love, happiness, a way out of illness or loss, or trouble with friends and family members who act violently or worse -- and many of them don't have a happy ending. For most of them, the ending is that the person is able to persevere and to continue on, with strength and resilience, or just through sheer fortitude, or sometimes because there is no other choice. Knitting and learning to knit is a way for the author to help herself and to help others, because it offers many different aspects -- something creative, a meditative hobby, a social circle, a way to talk to strangers, a way to donate one's time or industry.

The stories can be bleak, but they are captivating. And the knitting component is soothing, even just to hear someone talking about it eased anxiety.

Be a little careful, as you may end up going out to buy yarn. (Yes, I did. Two skeins of an ocean blue.)

The audiobook is well done, although the reading feels a little slow overall, it syncs with the contemplative nature of the stories.

[Zainab Al Lawati · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is a collection of stories about how knitting helped people through horrible situations or struggles with addiction. I really loved the impact of knitting and slow repetitive movements on mental health alongside building communities with similar interests and struggles. Also, I am impressed by the strength of the people involved in these stories.

It could have been much better, though. The audiobook was confusing, and the chapters were jumbled in a way that made it hard to follow whose story I was listening to. Many of the stories also felt slightly incomplete; they needed a bit more closure, even just one or two extra sentences, because I often found myself wondering “and then what happened?”

Nonetheless, I hope that someday I can build a community and support families through embroidery. I truly believe in its healing power and its ability to create wonders.

[Bridget Corcoran · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid and inspiring read about the impact of knitting on the authors life. I thought it would be more of an anthology (my mistake) but it was enjoyable nonetheless. I might recommend my mom read it tbh, because it has a style I think she’d like. Think Mitch Albom or Marty Pausch— conversational but not overly casual, and clearly meant to be inspirational. (That’s not a derogatory comment, just descriptive — I happen to like both of those guys!)

Update: just to clarify, it does touch on some hard stuff like self harm, suicide, addiction, homelessness, abuse, etc, so if those are a trigger for you please be aware! I definitely had moments where I gasped as I listened to the audiobook.

[Savanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about the power of knitting? Sign me up! Thank you to my friend Kim for the wonderful recommendation. This book of short stories is full of heartwarming tales of the power of knitting and how it can have such a great impact on our mental health and overall well-being. I loved how the author’s advice when she heard of somebody struggling was always, “have you tried knitting?” I related so much to the message of the book as I too have always turned to my hobbies in the dark times of my life. You’ll always see me engrossed in a large book or knitting/cross-stitching/crocheting/sewing something when things aren’t going so well in life. My hobbies have truly helped me be cope and knitting alone got me through the deeply troubling 2020-2021 years when the world was being turned upside down. I’m happy to have stumbled across this book and look forward to when I inevitably reread it!

[Dana · Rating 2 out of 5]

The privilege of the author is mind boggling. Her dismissive attitude toward people who are struggling with homelessness, depression, addiction… it’s offensive. Everything is all about her, and she’s quick to pass judgment. I finished the book in hopes that her attitude would change by the end, but nope. She’s that person you avoid at knit group.

[Wendy Gater · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this isn't a literary work of art, it reveals so much about the female experience, from addiction, domestic violence, illness - all neatly delivered in an episodic fashion. Not often a book brings me to tears.

[Sironurbgmail.Com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

If you’re wanting to learn how to knit, this is not the book for you. Beautiful stories of love and caring with knitting as the backdrop. Lovely self-reflective musings. Short vignettes lift the spirit with joy and occasionally, tears.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! It’s an easy read. I struggle with anxiety and knitting helps. I’d love to be in a knitting circle someday like in this book. I love how knitting can help build bridges from helping oneself to connecting and helping another.

[Rae Lewis-Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful little book on how knitting helps to heal. Throughout Lee Grant weaves her story with the stories of others. It's a heavy topic but I closed it with a smile

[Mitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book good, but very depressing at times, this is a book that you could read on a cold winters night, and be thankful of all that you have.

[Mary Nolan-Fesmire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved these stories of how knitting was so therapeutic!

[Daphne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great memoir of how knitting brought healing to the author as well as how knitting and crocheting is calming and productive!

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mostly enjoyed these stories of how knitting soothed the lives of so many people. Some of the stories were heartbreaking, but most were hopeful.

[Bookgirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to this as an audiobook to and from work. A lovely collection of stories on how knitting helps us through life’s upheavals.

[Rosalyn Suazo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love how she is so vulnerable in this book. Its a story that every crafter can understand and relate to.

[Natasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the stories of the knitting groups. While I understand knitting was healing for her trauma, that is not my experience, and I found it heavy.

[Kecia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very engaging stories about the healing power of creativity. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the audiobook version on my morning walks.

[Lüdi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was like a hug <3

[Chelsie Hill Hacker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was inspiring to me that knitting can really help some people. It’s kind of like chicken soup for the knitters.

[Kathy velez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this one a lot!

[Mstevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed all the stories, didn’t love the authors attitude, came off condescending sometimes (but this makes 6 books in one week!!)

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the abuse stories made me sick, but for the most part this book was a fabulous collection of how finding something you love can save you. (It also made me want to get back to knitting my scarf that has been sitting in my closet for a few...years).