Book review: with her own hands

 

Nicole Nehrig's With Her Own Hands: Women Weaving Their Stories is so good!  I also found it unexpectedly emotionally affecting and even therapeutic to read.

The book is a tribute to the resilience, creativity, and wisdom of women across cultures and generations. Through personal narratives, Nehrig invites readers into the intimate spaces where women have shaped their identities and communities—often through the literal and metaphorical act of weaving, but also knitting, lacemaking, quilting, & other textile arts. The book is both a celebration of craft and a reminder of the stories embedded in textiles.

Nehrig blends memoir, oral history, and cultural commentary, including each woman’s voice while maintaining a cohesive narrative arc. The stories are diverse in origin and experience, yet they share common threads of empowerment and transformation. I was moved by the honesty and vulnerability in these accounts, which range from quiet moments of reflection to bold acts of defiance and creativity.

Nehrig’s background in textile arts enriches the book with a deep appreciation for the physical and symbolic significance of the diverse crafts. Her descriptions of materials, techniques, and traditions are vivid and accessible. The inclusion of photographs and illustrations adds another layer of depth, allowing readers to visually engage with the work and its makers.

Notes I made as I was reading, for an idea of how wide-ranging the book is:

• Weaving fabric as Peruvian cultural legacy
• Rediscovering heritage natural dye recipes
• Su Hui’s embroidered kanji poem “Star Gauge”
• Connection between complex weave structures & computers
• Crocheting hyperbolic geometry & the coral reef project 
• Leonora Carrington
• Crazy quilt deep dive

With Her Own Hands serves as a valuable resource for educators, historians, and scholars interested in textile art & women’s studies. Nehrig’s commitment to honoring marginalized voices and preserving cultural heritage is evident throughout the book. It encourages readers to consider the ways in which storytelling and craft intersect, and how these practices can be used to foster healing, connection, and social change.

With Her Own Hands is a heartfelt and inspiring work that uplifts the voices of women and the traditions they carry. Nicole Nehrig has created a book that is not only informative and visually stunning but also deeply moving. It is a must-read for anyone who values the power of memory and story, the beauty of craft, and the enduring strength of women’s voices.

On a personal note, my aunt Mary was a quilter and a textile artist. She would have loved this book and I would have loved giving her a copy and hopefully discussing it with her someday. I felt like she was reading over my shoulder the whole time.