Knitting for Peace: Make the World a Better Place One Stitch at a Time [Hardcover]

Betty Christiansen (Author), Kiriko Shirobayashi (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2006

All across America, people are knitting for peace. In yarn shops and private homes, churches and synagogues, schools and even prisons, they meet on weekday evenings or weekend afternoons to knit afghans for refugees, mittens for the homeless, socks for soldiers, or preemie caps for AIDS babies. The tradition goes back as far as Martha Washington, who spearheaded knitting efforts for the soldiers of the Revolutionary War, and has seen a recent flourishing in what is nowadays called “charity knitting,” “community knitting,” or “knitting for others.” And whether it’s for world peace, community peace, or peace of mind, today’s various causes have the common goal of knitting the world into a better place one stitch at a time.

Knitting for Peace is an exceptional book that celebrates the long heritage of knitting for others. It tells the stories of 28 contemporary knitting-for-peace endeavors, and features patterns for easy-to-knit charity projects such as hats, socks, blankets, and bears, plus a messenger bag emblazoned with the Knitting for Peace logo. Enlivened by anecdotal sidebars and quotations from both knitters and peacemakers, this inspiring book also includes everything readers need to know to start their own knitting-for-peace groups.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

BETTY CHRISTIANSEN is a freelance editor and writer who has knitted since she was eight. She has written articles for the magazines Interweave Knits, Vogue Knitting, and Family Circle Knitting, as well as the books Knitting Yarns and Spinning Tales and KnitLit, Too.

KIRIKO SHIROBAYASHI is an award-winning New York–based photographer whose work has been exhibited at the Houston Center for Photography and the National Museum of Belarus, among other venues. Her work also appears regularly in magazines in the U.S. and abroad.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 132 pages
• Publisher: Stewart, Tabori and Chang; First Edition edition (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584795336
• ISBN-13: 978-1584795339
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 8.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (55 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #404,599 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

89 of 89 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars so inspiring yet simple, September 26, 2006

By 

mom22cherubs "mom22cherubs" (Sacramento CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Knitting for Peace: Make the World a Better Place One Stitch at a Time (Hardcover)

I can't say enough good things about this book. It is full of information and inspiring stories. It also has some great historical anecdotes. In addition, it's gorgeous!!

The book is loaded with great, simple patterns that don't require any special yarn, and can in fact be made very quickly and inexpensively. So that no matter what your skill level or budget you can knit something for someone who will cherish it. It also gives really specific information on how to contact the various organizations it profiles, so there is no aimless searching online. The other great thing is the variety of organizations you can support. There is something for everyone, soilders, children, foriegn aid, and hospitals to name a few.

I have been looking for some basic hat, shawl and blanket patterns and this book has them. So even after I am done "knitting for peace" I can knit for myself and the loved ones in my own life.

I think this book is just great and I highly recommend it.

I am telling every knitter I know about this book.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommend this Book!!!, October 7, 2006

By 

Susan "Aspiring Knitter" (Rohnert Park, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Knitting for Peace: Make the World a Better Place One Stitch at a Time (Hardcover)

I just received this book in the mail and it is beautiful. If you know a knitter or someone who aspires to learn knitting (although this is not a "how-to" book for those who can't knit), or just want to buy a great inspirational book, I can't recommend this book enough!! It is a beautiful, inspiring book. It has quotes, photos and stories of organizations that knit for others---orphans, refugees, preemies, animal shelter pets, and a host of other highly inspiring organizations. I discovered that knitting for peace and for others is a part of our heritage and pure Americana. I commend the author for this beautiful, inspiring, well-written book. I plan on buying several for holiday gifts. If I could rate it higher than 5 stars, I would!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars print too difficult to read easily, January 2, 2007

By 

floss18 "singer" (NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Knitting for Peace: Make the World a Better Place One Stitch at a Time (Hardcover)

The book is beautifully illustrated and a great directory of organizations needing handcrafted items. However, whoever designed the print did not consider the ease of reading ability in the layout. The print is very light and set on pastel, glossy background. I have notified the publisher of my difficulty in reading the patterns and the overall design. I would hope that an author would consider the range of readers using this book and should another printing be made would correct such light print.