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Knitting the Threads of Time – a review

Posted on | February 25, 2009 | 8 Comments

Last month I received an email from Monique Muhlenkamp of New World Library, asking me to review Nora Murphy’s new book, Knitting the Threads of Time:  Casting Back to the Heart of Our Craft.  I was surprised and flattered and happily accepted the invitation.

Knitting the Threads of Time is the story of a mother’s decision to knit a sweater for her son and the challenges, joy and lessons – not only in knitting, but also in life – she experiences along the way.  Murphy is a novice knitter and the story she relates is accessible to knitters of all levels, as well as readers who are interested in the textile arts in general.  At times fraught with indecision and set-backs, Murphy keeps the faith and knits on through personal crisis and the daily demands that surround raising a family and having a career. 

For this reader, the most interesting part of the book was the discussion surrounding the history of textiles and how our lives and the lives of our ancestors have changed so drastically over the centuries – due in large part to the changes in the production of textiles.   Murphy’s knowledge of the history of her community (St. Paul, Minnesota), her connection to its traditions and cultures, and her friendships with women of various backgrounds is impressive and inspirational.  It has instilled in me a desire to learn more about the history and culture of my own surroundings and to work to strengthen my friendships.

No novel is perfect.  At times, the transitions between the narrative story and historical content felt contrived.  I have no doubt that Murphy achieved the Zen one experiences while sitting in a comfy chair, knitting a project born of love, when the stitches seem to knit themselves and your mind is almost on another plane – and I too have felt connected to knitters all over the world, past and present, when in such a place.  Putting that connection into words, however, particularly when comparing a dropped stitch to the specifics of North American traditional weaving, is a difficult task and can create a tenuous transition.  It would be so for any author.

All in all, Knitting the Threads of Time was a quick and enjoyable read.  I do wish Murphy had included a photograph of the sweater she knitted for her son – we knitters like to see projects in all stages of completion! - but the struggles and joy she experiences are ones we have all lived, and that is what makes her novel accessible and true.

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