A Life in Stitches...

A Life in Stitches (2011) - Rachael Herron

I'm a memoirist with a shabby memory
My life can be measured in lengths of yarn - p.10


casting on
slip knot
wrap and turn
back stitch

my yarn world 
returned to
Ashburton

double crochet
circular knitting
pick up and knit
whip stitch

a sweater on display
was a life
on display but
nothing I did
felt authentic
till I found
true love

and in the room

the women come and go

chatting still

of ebbs and flows

tree of life
knit two together
basket weave stitch
stockinette stitch

growing up
was all about
bossing sisters
and knitting
a wedding dress

and in the room

the women come and go

chatting still

of ebbs and flows

maidens and flyers
duplicate stitch
blanket stitch
chain stitch

yarn stashes 
and the internet
find each other

and in the room

the women come and go

chatting still

of ebbs and flows

negative ease
join in the round
drafting triangle
repeat to end

just write
what the story needs
and try again

and in the room

the women come and go

chatting still

of ebbs and flows

MY GOODREADS REVIEW

A Life in Stitches by Rachael Herron
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

A Life in Stitches is a bubbly, chit-chatty memoir that would be great in girl groupies and girl huddles. Each 'chapter', or memory snapshot, represents a knitting stitch, all symbolically ordered from casting on to knit two together and more. Notably, there is no 'casting off', but rather 'repeat to end'. No, you don't need to be a knitter to appreciate the different stitches. They are simply a platform to bring a closeted knitting scenario into the modern world beyond the lounge room and TV; beyond the older generation leisure. Knitting becomes a social prop for passing narrative. The concept is interesting. Perhaps more interesting to those who closely follow Rachael Herron's website Yarnagogo.com., and seek to know the life of the creator a little more. For those who have only tumbled into this book from the outside, perhaps consistent audience engagement could be a little limited. At first, I enjoyed the knitting life, but, toward the last 50 or so pages of the memoir, I felt that thoughts were stuck on circular needles... same pattern, new row. I struggled to keep going.
Would a male be inspired by this memoir? I feel the answer would be 'no'... There is too much female rant for a male to handle and the male character that appears seems to be casually flicked away into oblivion. I doubt many teenagers would be attracted to the memoir, unless, of course, they have a penchant for knitting. Audience age group almost seems to be narrowed down to the 20-40's female audience.
I'm glad I've read the memoir, just so I can say that I have tried something different. (And I am a knitter, too.) But I can't say that the experience will linger favourably.

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