Unraveling Audiobook By Peggy Orenstein cover art

Unraveling

What I Learned About Life While Shearing Sheep, Dyeing Wool, and Making the World’s Ugliest Sweater

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Unraveling

By: Peggy Orenstein
Narrated by: Peggy Orenstein
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About this listen

“Orenstein is such a breezy, funny writer, it’s easy to forget she’s an important thinker too.”—People

In this lively, funny memoir, Peggy Orenstein sets out to make a sweater from scratch—shearing, spinning, dyeing wool—and in the process discovers how we find our deepest selves through craft. Orenstein spins a yarn that will appeal to everyone.

The COVID pandemic propelled many people to change their lives in ways large and small. Some adopted puppies. Others stress-baked. Peggy Orenstein, a lifelong knitter, went just a little further. To keep herself engaged and cope with a series of seismic shifts in family life, she set out to make a garment from the ground up: learning to shear sheep, spin and dye yarn, then knitting herself a sweater.

Orenstein hoped the project would help her process not just wool but her grief over the recent death of her mother and the decline of her dad, the impending departure of her college-bound daughter, and other thorny issues of aging as a woman in a culture that by turns ignores and disdains them. What she didn’t expect was a journey into some of the major issues of our time: climate anxiety, racial justice, women’s rights, the impact of technology, sustainability, and, ultimately, the meaning of home.

With her wry voice, sharp intelligence, and exuberant honesty, Orenstein shares her year-long journey as daughter, wife, mother, writer, and maker—and teaches us all something about creativity and connection.

Unraveling is a memoir that explores Peggy Orenstein's journey into the world of knitting as a way to cope with the pandemic and other personal struggles. Through her exploration of the cultural history of wool dying, carding, and spinning, she provides listeners with a deeper understanding of the true meaning of creativity and the importance of pursuing hobbies. This book is a perfect gift for anyone looking for inspiration and insight into the power of DIY projects.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Peggy Orenstein (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers
Agricultural & Food Sciences Crafts & Hobbies Science Funny
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Editorial Review

The world's ugliest sweater is beautiful
Despite being someone who loves to learn, I rarely take pleasure in mastering a new skill, especially when dexterity, precision, or patience is required. Surely, then, I would not take to sheep-shearing or dying wool with natural grace. However, as Peggy Orenstein reveals in a radiant display of resilience throughout her charming memoir, perhaps the greatest beauty of all is rooted in the ugliest parts of our lives. Set against the bleak backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, Unraveling chronicles the painstaking endeavor of crafting a sweater from scratch, and constructs a moving testament to the value of cozying up with our discomfort. She has convinced me that even I could knit something beautiful, no matter how tangled up I become in a mess along the way. —Haley H., Audible Editor

Heartfelt Memoir • Educational Content • Captivating Narration • Historical Insights • Profound Reflections
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What a wonderful book about life, in all its messiness, that used shearing, washing, carding, spinning, dyeing and knitting as the backdrop!

The process not the end product!

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Loved listening to Peggy’s journey from sheep to sweater, life’s ups and heart-breaking downs. So many part resonated with me and will likely revisit this book again in the future.

Great book and journey

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As a mother, shepherd, spinner, knitter, weaver, and sewer I so related to this book. It was wonderful to hear of another’s experience and thoughts and feelings about so many topics in common.

Fabulous listen

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Excellent! Read if you can or listen if you can. I enjoyed every minute of the audiobook.

Wonderful

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Honestly it was so much more than I had anticipated, the author speaks of relevant issues related to their journey with such a passion. I absolutely loved the book and it’s a must read for any crafter, yarn or not.

A must read!

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I don’t think Unraveling breaks any new ground but is an enjoyable and informative listen. The topics and ideas are varied. More than anything, this book has heart.

Enjoyable

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I love knitting, history and tidbits. This includes all of that. I always love to hear the voice of the author.

Delightful

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What a wonderful book for knitters and non-knitters. So much more than a story of fiber…Peggy is a great narrator and writer (of course). Now I want the hardcover in my library.

A joy to listen too

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I have been totally captivated by Unraveling and Peggy reading her story. As a knitter from an early age, I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the journey of wool from sheep to my needles, along with well researched historic references and personal stories.

Knitting and listening, what a treat

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I loved that Peggy read her own story, and I think enhanced the story. She put such passion into the story, and it was great!

The story was fascinating.

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