Knitting Yarns

Writers on Knitting

By: Ann Hood - editor

Narrated by: Ann Hood, Sam Adrain

Length: 7 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

A collection of poignant essays about the transformative power of knitting by twenty-seven extraordinary writers.

“The impressive collection of writers here have contributed essays that celebrate knitting and knitters. They share their knitting triumphs and disasters as well as their life triumphs and disasters. . . . These essays will break your heart. They will have you laughing out loud.” (Ann Hood, from the introduction)

Why does knitting occupy a place in the hearts of so many writers? What’s so magical and transformative about yarn and needles? How does knitting help us get through life-changing events and inspire joy?

In Knitting Yarns, twenty-seven writers tell stories about how knitting healed, challenged, or helped them to grow.

Barbara Kingsolver describes sheering a sheep for yarn. Elizabeth Berg writes about her frustration at failing to knit. Ann Patchett traces her life through her knitting, writing about the scarf that knits together the women she’s loved and lost. Knitting a Christmas gift for his blind aunt helped Andre Dubus III knit an understanding with his girlfriend. Kaylie Jones finds the woman who used knitting to help raise her in France and heals old wounds. Sue Grafton writes about her passion for knitting. Also included are five original knitting patterns created by Helen Bingham.

Poignant, funny, and moving, Knitting Yarns is sure to delight knitting enthusiasts and lovers of literature alike.

©2014 Ann Hood (P)2013 Audible Inc.

A must for knitters

It captures what we love so well. Ignore the sad comments. You won’t find it sad at all. You will understand the comfort.

Heartwarming

Enjoyed each tale and the telling. Memories and shared times to relive. Loved it! Hurray

Somewhat Disconnected

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Stories were mainly interesting, but many of them were VERY loosely connected to the theme.

Worth while listen

I liked these short stories. Some brought happy tears to my eyes, others had me laughing out loud!

so sweet

This book is so enjoyable. The authors really bear their souls and it's so fun to listen to their differences and similarities. I'm a young knitter, and I so enjoyed and appreciated the essays written by older women about knitting in war time and about knitting because they had to, not because it was a hobby. If you appreciate the solidarity of crafters and the community of yarn horders you'll love this book.

Knitting yarns is a fascinating view into the lives of authors.

This book has a variety of types of knitters and authors. It was really fun to listen to the craft of writing while also hearing the knitting story of each author. I have read many of these authors, so it was fun to hear their knitting success and failure, it made them seem like friends.

This book should be interesting to any knitter, and to readers who enjoy these authors, since many of the stories are autobiographical.

Love it!!!!

Comforting, funny, thought provoking & just simply a good book. I never read a book about knitting. I didn't know what to expect. I'm glad I got it.

Can't wait to share with my family

I love being able to listen to a book about knitting while knitting. And so many of the stories evoke memories of my own. I can't wait to share this book with my mom and sister.

I love to knit and so do these folks

If you could sum up Knitting Yarns in three words, what would they be?

I enjoyed listening to the experiences of other knitters. It reminds me that I'm not the only one who finds nirvana when I knit.

great book

loved this book. I have a long commute and the short stories were perfect for the distance I drove. highly recommend