Yes, Knitting for Peace is now on audio! Beautifully read by author Betty Christiansen. Now you can listen to these extraordinary stories of knitters who are determined to use their skills to bring help, joy, love and comfort to people at home and in countries around the world.
“We knitters work a powerful magic when we knit for others,” says Betty Christiansen.“I discovered that knitting was helping people all over the world in amazing ways.I hope you will be as inspired by these groups and as filled with hope as I have been while researching and writing this book.”
It was a great pleasure to work with Betty on this lovely recording. We at Knitting Out Loud are thrilled to be able to bring these wonderful stories to you on audio.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this audiobook will be donated to help women survivors of war at www.womenforwomen.org.
There might not be anything more satisfying than being in a room full of spinners. Yesterday the Ewe Spinners hosted a day of spinning in Newport, Maine. I went as a vendor, but brought my new spinning wheel, the one my husband just made for me (see previous post). And I learned to spin. Yes, the miracle happened. Amazing. I am now a spinner. Not a good spinner, but a spinner nonetheless. There was (and often is at fiber events) a used equipment sale table. And the charming vendor next to me had gorgeous fleece from her Shetland sheep and these cards for sale. They were her drawings of Maine barns. But I didn't get her name (help me here Karen, Toni and Cindy - didn't you guys by fleece from her?). This sweater is knit from hand-spun yarn which is 15% angora. There were several men spinning. Gorgeous hand-spun (from Maine sheep) and hand-dyed yarn from Random Roving, available from Village Books. Luscious hand-dyed roving from Purple Fleece. Christine Macchi of the non-profit fiber advocacy group Maine Fiberarts was there. Maine Fiberarts has a beautiful visitors center in Topsham, Maine which includes a gallery, reference library and fiber arts slide collection. They also have a great email newsletter of state wide fiber events.
Karen Jelenfy of Village Books wore her "believe in fiction" tee shirt. Another gorgeous hand-knit! More wheels. Astrig Tanguay of Searport's Fiber College had amazing hand-knit socks on. Fiber College (Sept. 8-11, 2011) will have Beth Brown-Reinsel as one of their many wonderful teachers this year. Lovely cuffs! More wheels... Here's Debbie Bergman, of Purple Fleece, with her drop spindle. Debbie stood by me and my spinning wheel, gently instructing me, as I awkwardly started again and again, until I finally did it. Became a spinner. Karen Jelenfy, my spinning buddy, cheered me on. I couldn't have done it without either of you. Thank you! Astrig's Rose spinning wheel. In memory of her mother, Rose. What could be a nicer. Then finally we had to pack up to leave. Some of us (not I) had amazing carrying cases for their wheels.
First, you get the book. The Complete Spinning Book by Candace Crockett has easy instructions for making your own spinning wheel. Then you get a cat. Are there spinners without cats? Then you get someone who likes to take on wood-working projects. In this case my husband, who happily leapt into this project. Then you wait. And life goes by, your daughter goes off to college. And then one day you have a spinning wheel! Then you need to find a spinner to try it out for you. My friends Karen Jelenfy (of Village Books fame, who is a spinner and dyer of Maine yarn) and Debbie Bergman at Purple Fleece kindly gave the wheel its inaugural spin. Karen tried out the wheel at my house then we took it across the street to Debbie for fine tuning. The flyer had stopped turning, Debbie oiled all the joints which solved several problems.
Then, you need to learn to spin yourself. Which I managed to sort of do!!! A miracle!!!
And now I have a spinning wheel, and can (sort of) spin.
And this is right across the street.
I will be a vendor at the Maine Spinner Registry's Newport Spin-In on Saturday, February 19th, and will bring this home-made wheel out for a test drive. -Kathy
The blizzard which is hitting New England today arrived in our part of mid-coast Maine around 8am this morning as I was driving back from the hospital with my mother who had cataract surgery at 7am.
One of the pre-op questions they asked my elderly mother was whether she had any tattoos or body piercings.
The predictions range from 4 to 12 inches. We already have 5 inches. This is perfect knitting weather. (But I have a pain at the base of my thumb. Have any of you had this? I assume it will go away soon?)
Our woodpile is in the front, covered with a green tarp. Then raspberries, forsythia and an old apple tree on the left, pear trees on the right, my flower garden is beyond.
Given to me by a friend, I am not sure but think this is a Cattleya. The orchid behind it is about to bloom too. It is lovely (well, kind of essential) to have an indoor garden during the long Maine winter.
The snow is gorgeous. It is wonderful to sit in front of the wood stove, ours has a glass front, on a snowy day.
I believe in the importance of the small things we do everyday, knitting, cooking, gardening, sharing stories with family and friends. I started the audiobook company Knitting Out Loud (which has become Out Loud Audiobooks to include Cooking Out Loud)to celebrate home and hearth. It is a great pleasure to be able to bring the books I love to audio.
Yes, Knitting for Peace is now on audio! Beautifully read by author Betty Christiansen. Now you can listen to these extraordinary stories of knitters who are determined to use their skills to bring help, joy, love and comfort to people at home and in countries around the world. 
