Introduction / Lee Woodruff. The Santa stocking / Clothes for the living / Steve Almon -- Knitting took me halfway round the world / Anne Bartlett -- Unraveling / Cynthia Chinelly -- Casting off a spell / Melissa Coleman -- Big maroon sweater / Michael Collier -- Pattern: paintbrush lace cowl: Hill country weavers, Austin, TX -- The unravelers / Stephanie Mannatt Danler -- Handmade at home / Jared Flood -- Wool / Nick Flynn -- Why, yes, I can knit my way out of a wet paper bag / Diana Gabaldon -- The red vest / Debra Gwartney -- Pattern: cheery seed stitch tea cozy, Bainbridge Island, WA -- What happened in Scotland / Jane Hamilton -- My mother-in-law, her knitting, and me / Cathi Hanauer -- The Italian hat / Lily King -- The museum of the lady with only one neck / Perri Klass -- How we spend our days / Christina Baker Kline -- Pattern: chimes cowl: Loop, Philadelphia, PA -- On knitting / Ann Leary -- The dinosaur sweater / Caroline Leavitt -- The thirty-first stocking / Laura Lippman -- Positive capability / Maile Meloy -- Knit your bit / Steward O'Nan -- Pattern: stonehaven stole and scarf: The Yarnery, Saint Paul, MN -- An open letter to all my unfinished projects / Clara Parkes -- Why I don't knit / Jodi Picoult -- Creation myth / Robin Romm -- Sarah with an H / Bill Roorbach -- Patterns: rivulet cowl: Knit purl, Portland, OR -- Just this / Dani Shapiro -- Ema's lessons / Samantha van Leer -- The Santa stocking / Lee Woodruff.
Summary:
In Knitting Pearls, two dozen writers write about the transformative and healing powers of knitting. Lily King remembers the year her family lived in Italy, and a knitted hat that helped her daughter adjust to her new home. Laura Lippman explores how converting to Judaism changed not only Christmas but also her mother's gift of a knitted stocking. Jodi Picoult remembers her grandmother and how through knitting she felt that everlasting love. And Bill Roorbach remembers his freshman year in college when knitting soothed his broken heart and helped him fall in love again. Other contributors include Steve Almond, Ann Leary, Christina Baker Kline, Lee Woodruff, and knitting rock stars Jared Flood of Brooklyn Tweed and the Yarn Whisperer, Clara Parks, with knitting patterns from stores such as Purl Soho, Hill Country Weavers, and Churchmouse Yarns & Teas.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.