A diverse anthology of personal essays

Sometimes, all you have is the reliability of a knit stitch, the rhythmic motion of a quilting needle, or the sturdy framework of a loom. Amid the pandemic, newcomers to fiber arts discovered its soothing embrace, while those who had drifted away found solace in its familiar rhythms. Picking up a pair of needles and some yarn or threading a needle through fabric became a perfect remedy for stress, offering respite from the endless cycle of doom-scrolling and nurturing creativity.

Chances are, either you or someone close to you has found refuge in the world of yarn, thread, or fabric. As we grapple with the pressures and anxieties of daily life, fiber arts—encompassing knitting, crocheting, embroidery, weaving, beading, sewing, quilting, and textiles—emerge as both an antidote and a reflection of life's complexities. Serving as a part-time machine and part meditation tool, the act of crafting with one's hands immediately grounds the vastness of existence into the human scale and the present moment.

Within this collection of nonfiction essays, writers and artists from diverse backgrounds delve into their intricate relationships with fiber arts, exploring the convergence of creative expression with identity, technology, climate change, trauma, politics, chronic illness, and disability.

In response to the tendency of mainstream craft spaces to prioritize the perspectives and careers of white women, Sharp Notions amplifies the voices of Black, Indigenous, South-Asian, Chinese, and queer artists and artisans, celebrating the rich cultural traditions of crafting within diasporic communities.

Through these poignant essays, entrenched notions of crafting are challenged, while the significance, purpose, joy, and imperative of craft in the face of contemporary alienation are carefully examined.