“Stand the Storm” is the name of an old hymn but also a newish (July 2008) book by Breena Clarke which I want to recommend wholeheartedly. I know that knitting is the hobby of choice for most of us, but many of us are also readers and who wouldn’t love to find a book that has character whose name is Knitting Annie, and a main character who is a man who is an expert knitter?
This book tells the story of a family of slaves just prior to, and during the Civil War who are expert knitters and sewers. It takes place in Washington D.C. where the family is sent by their owners to work for a master tailor—all the while spinning and knitting. As a knitter I had questions all through the book about needles and what they were spinning and knitting.
But far surpassing the questions on knitting was the effect the story had on me. Ms. Clarke is just a master artist in painting the picture of the cruelty and waste of talent that slavery was. I was especially touched by the complete lack of dignity and soul crushing lives that the women had—completely controlled by the master.
The book was also very educational (and I mean that in an enriching way) regarding the lives of the free people of color of that time period. Of course, looking at it from so far in the future we all know the struggles those folks had after the Civil War. At the same time Breena shows us the love and “family” bonds that glowed even in the grimness of the situation. You will feel you are part of the family and when something bad happens in the book it will literally take your breath away. That is a high compliment to an author and reflects on her skill.
You may wonder at my use of Ms. Clarke’s first name, but because of the wonders of the internet we have been in touch. She told me that a great source of some of the information on the knitting done by slaves is in a book which I have ordered, No Idle Hands by Anne MacDonald. She was incredibly generous in answering my questions and even by email it is obvious she is a wonderful person as well as being a wonderful writer. I was delighted to find out she is a knitter and we sent her some needles. She sent this picture of her current Signature project.
We all know the term “ties that bind” After reading this book I couldn’t help but think that all of us turning string into things are part of a long line of all sorts of people whose lives and times may be very different from ours but in whom we find a kinship of craft and heart.
I am telling you—put down your knitting and read this book!
Stand the Storm by Breena Clarke Little, Brown & Company ISBN-10: 0-316-00704-8
May 27th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
I can’t wait to read this. Thanks for Sharing.
March 30th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
[...] Website. Thanks for All The Fish. Column: Chain Letters. pattern: Queen Anne's Cardigan …Stand the Storm | SignatureNeedleArts.comStand the Storm is the name of an old hymn but also a newish (July 2008) book by Breena Clarke which [...]