What do you do when you are knitting? Some knitters possess the talent of working with their hands while their eyes are directed elsewhere: watching television, overseeing their children, or engaging in lively conversation with friends – including direct eye contact.

Unfortunately I am not so experienced a knitter as to be able to claim this talent, unless I am working a very simple pattern (rows and rows of garter stitch, perhaps). Those of us who are newer to the craft sit in silence, brow furrowed in concentration as we watch the work before us growing - accompanied only by the soft clicking of our knitting needles.

In January 2007, Kathy Goldner was inspired to give knitters another option. In the summer of 2007, Knitting Out Loud was born and began producing audio books for knitters, by knitters, about knitting. Knitting Out Loud is releasing their 7th and 8th audio books in June: KnitKnit and Knitting Lessons. I, for one, am delighted.

Knitting Memories is a compilation of deeply personal stories that reflect upon how knitting has touched each author’s life. The stories are written by a wide variety of contributors: Lela Nargi, Elanor Lynn, Betty Christiansen, Clara Parkes, Eiko Berkowitz, Caroline Herzog, Lydia Vivante, Kathryn Alexander, Reine Wing Hewitt, Teva Durham, Robert Bruce Cowan, Lily M. Chin, Jennifer Brown, and Veda Alban. What a wonderful experience to meet so many involved in the world of knitting in one volume and to learn how knitting has shaped each one in different ways.

Nargi has selected and arranged stories written by knitters and non-knitters - male and female, career and hobby knitters - in order to provide a broad view of how knitting affects our lives. Some also spin, crochet, felt, and other forms of fiber addiction. Beware, lest they draw you in to a plethora of new fiber fondling opportunities.