5 Books about why knitting matters

There are a surprising number of knitting related books that are not how-to books.

Knitting has impacted our lives in so many unexpected ways, and many people have written books about their experiences.

Whether it’s documenting the history of British knitting, a collection of writers talking about knitting, or one woman’s reflection on her knitting career, there’s many ways to view the world of yarn.

Here’s some books we think you might enjoy reading this summer:

A Life In Stitches by Rachael Herron

“A Life in Stitches is like an afternoon with a friend, one who understands that we track the events in our lives by the yarns we’ve worked with rather than by the calendar.” – Adrienne Martini, Sweater Quest

Knitting Yarns: Writers on Knitting edited by Ann Hood

“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

This Golden Fleece by Esther Rutter

“A book about wool and sheep, the making of Scotland, England and farming, textile manufacture, folklore and, crucially, the essential craft of knitting.” —Janice Galloway, author of Jellyfish

At Knit’s End by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

“At Knit’s End captures the wickedly funny musings of someone who doesn’t believe it’s possible to knit too much and who willingly sacrifices sleep, family, work, and sanity in order to keep doing it. Covering everything from the deadly “second sock syndrome” to a pile of yarn so big it can hide a washing machine, this hilarious collection will have knitters in stitches!” –Goodreads

The Yarn Whisperer by Clara Parkes

“In this charming series of linked essays, Parkes metaphorically puts the fast whorl on her wheel and spins something entirely new, showing that she’s not just a good writer but a great one. Funny, sweet, and trenchant and offered in twenty-two digestible bits, this book is not only the quintessential sampler afghan of knit lit, it is also the ‘It’ gift of the season. Buy a stack to stuff inside the handmade stockings of your knitting-circle friends.” ―Vogue Knitting

Conclusion

I think these books get at the heart of WHY we knit, and tell some pretty compelling stories along the way.

What did you think?

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