I learned how to knit my sophomore year at college. My roommate, Kimmy, was always knitting people presents: scarfs, afghans, etc. I used to love to watch her knit, the repetitive motion soothing to my slightly anal-retentive self. However, I soon tired of merely watching and asked if she would teach me how to knit my own scarfs, and maybe someday afghans. Knitting soon became a favorite hobby of mine, something comforting to do during the many cold winter months, that drag until April, in Chicago. Knitting is also a satisfying past-time: you can not only make awesome, fuzzy things for yourself, but home-made gifts that you aren't ashamed of are a viable option. (While I still haven't tried an afghan, I can whip up a pretty mean patterned scarf.)Knitting has helped me through the past five Midwest winters, but another new activity that will help pass the more dull months is a new little bookclub some of my girlfriends and I have started. (How does this relate to knitting, you might be asking yourself now? Just wait a minute more, and you'll see!) We are going to be meeting once every four, or six, weeks, depending on the length of our current selection, and even if you can't physically join us (for those of you not in the Chicago area), you are welcome to read along. So with knitting in mind, our choice for the month of February is "The Friday Night Knitting Club" by Kate Jacobs.
The story of Georgia Walker, a single mom raising a 12-year-old daughter and running her own yarn store, "The Friday Night Knitting Club" is about women, the struggles and joys of daily life and knitting. A group of "regulars" begin to regularly gather at Georgia's store every Friday night, initially to knit, but, eventually, to share their stories and develop a circle of friendship. There's Anita, Georgia' right-hand-woman and mother-figure, who helps her run the store and is torn between finding love again later in life and preserving the memory of her deceased, loving husband. K.C. is a former colleague of Georgia's, back when she still worked in publishing, who was recently fired and is trying to figure out which step she should take next. Lucie is in her early forties, and single, but still wants to find a way to experience motherhood. Darwin, a grad student, is struggling to finish her thesis on women in history, as well as maintain a long-distance relationship that is proving to be all the more difficult each day. And, finally, there's Dakota, Georgia's daughter who is in the throes of adolescence and hoping to become the next "Food Network Star" with her delicious baked goods.Anyway, I don't want to give too much away, but I wanted to share a little preview. Once the first book club meeting is held, I'll throw in my two cents on what we all thought of the book. But, from what I've gathered thus far, "The Friday Night Knitting Club" is a warm, slightly girly, book you can cuddle up with under that awesome afghan someone's knitted for you, or Target blankie in my case. However, this book is sure to make you feel good inside, and it might even give you the impulse to pick up a pair of needles yourself and learn how to make a scarf.
