Amish Friends Knitting Circle - The Complete Series

Priscilla Smucker finds herself receiving unwanted attention in the community over an upcoming charity event at the local Mennonite church. When jealousy turns to bullying, how will she ever begin to handle it?

This Amish novella is a perfect read for young adults and adult readers who love Amish or Christian fiction.

Granny Weaver started a knitting circle believing women are stronger spun together, just like her wool. But she was young once with her own struggles.
In 1963 Deborah Byler is twenty-one and has turned down seven marriage proposals from hopeful suitors in Millersburg, Ohio.  At her parent’s request, she goes to live with relatives in the new Amish settlement in Smicksburg, Pennsylvania, praying she’ll find a match.
Jeb Weaver lives in a strict Swartzentruber Amish settlement, and he can no longer abide under the rules of the Ordnung. His older brother left the family farm and settled in Smicksburg, and convinces Jeb to do the same. 
When Jeb meets Deborah, he finds her too liberal and outspoken. Deborah thinks Jeb’s judgmental and a complete stick in the mud. Their constant clashing makes sparks fly. 
Will an African American man, who hitchhikes around the country to attend Martin Luther King Jr. marches, help Jeb and Deborah see their own prejudices?

Priscilla Smucker's mother has talked her into spending the winter months making a quilt. After picking out the pattern and the fabric, Priscilla is ready for sharing fellowship with the other Amish women in her community. Unfortunately, the attention that she receives warrants more jealousy and bullying from another young woman. For the second time, Priscilla has to determine how to deal with the fallout from bullying by Susie Byler. Will it drive a wedge between Priscilla and the community or, even worse, Stephen Esh?

This Amish novella is a perfect read for young adults and adult readers who love Amish or Christian fiction. Includes discussion questions for book clubs or just private reflection.

Amish Knitting Circle: Complete Series is Volume 1-10 of a continuing short story series. Granny Weaver is spinning wool and decides to start a knitting circle, believing the women on her heart would be stronger if spun together. She invites five women, all with various issues such as infertility, poor body image and marital problems and haunting secrets. As they come together from October to April to knit shawls for charity, they begin to deal with problems, together, the Amish way.
Amish Knitting Circle: Complete Series includes:
Beginnings ~ Granny Weaver starts the circle, and all the women have a reason not to come, but push back fears and eventually go.
Wedding Season ~ Amish weddings are typically in November. The knitting circle women see happy newlyweds everywhere, but for two, it’s a painful season; one wishing she was married, another wishing she was not.
Thanksgiving ~ The Amish celebrate this holiday, now that many work for the English (Non-Amish) and have the day off. The women reflect on all they’re thankful for…
Snowflakes ~ December winds blow sparkling snowflakes everywhere and someone learns she’s a beautiful and unique as the ice crystals falling all around her.
Christmas Cookies ~ It’s Christmas, and Granny Weaver is excited about the knitting circle’s Christmas cookie exchange. She’s comes to see these “Little Women” as her daughters, and along with that, the fretting heart of a mom.
Old World Christmas ~  It’s STILL Christmas, as the Amish celebrate the season over twelve days, ending on January 6th, Old Christmas. It’s a day of fasting and reflection, remembering the arrival of the three kings who brought gifts to baby Jesus.
Beauty for Ashes ~ It’s the end of January, and the knitting circle is meditating on the scripture; He gives us beauty for ashes... (Isaiah 61:3). One member is facing a terrible medical diagnosis; another needs counseling for damaged emotions.
Wings to Fly ~ It’s a blustery February and the annual Audubon Backyard Bird Count is underway. What life lessons do feathered friends teach the women in the circle?
Spun Together ~ It’s March and three weeks until Easter.  Unity among church member must exist before this holy day, when they partake of communion and wash each other’s feet. But emotions are running high…
New Beginnings ~ It’s Easter, but will it need to be postponed due to discord among church members? An early spring wedding is planned, or will there be two?

Wonderful Amish story that makes one truly believe in God directing their life!!!  Helen E. Hevener Amish Literature Fans
Karen Anna Vogel has given readers a realistic peek into Amish life, not sugar-coating or romanticizing it but allowing us to view this quaint, simple lifestyle as it truly is. Kathi Macias, award winning author of 35 books, including Mothers of the Bible Speak to Mothers of Today.

Amish Knitting Circle is a continuing short story series about 6 women. Granny Weaver started the circle when she saw her wool was stronger when spun into yarn. So she starts a knitting circle, believing the women will be stronger as they face life together.
Volume 4 ~ Snowflakes.
All the weddings and Thanksgiving dinners are over in Smicksburg, PA, and now December snowflakes are flying The Bishop takes action against Luke’s treatment of Ruth, and deeper issues are uncovered. Lizzie’s emotions are swirling like the wind and the more they howl, she realizes she needs help.  Granny goes to the doctor with Maryann and gets sick. Ella sits are Granny’s side making a quilt, hopeful to get a foster child, but feelings incomplete that she can’t bear her own child. Granny tells her a story that gives her hope. Fanny is starting to see she’s pretty the more she “reconditions” her mind, and listens to little angels compare her to a beautiful snowflakes.

It’s been three weeks since Granny Weaver started her knitting circle to knit shawls for tornado victims in Joplin, Missouri. She had a hunch that women spun together, like her wool, would be stronger too. At the first circle, Ruth was missing and Granny knew why. Her husband, Luke, was isolating her again. Maryann didn’t come because of her ongoing fatigue. Fannie came, but Granny almost fainted when her widowed son, Roman, seemed to show interest in this twenty-one year old. Granny wanted him to notice his old sweetheart, Lizzie, but he barely gave her a passing look, all his attention went to Fannie. 
It’s Mid-November now, and wedding season is in full swing. Emotions surface in everyone as they see vows exchanged between two people in love. Some are reminiscing over their own wonderful marriages, while others are plowing through this season with dread. The happiness around them only magnifies that fact they’re in an unhappy marriage or lonely, being single. How can the women help each other as they’re spun tighter together in a knitting circle?

Amish Knitting Circle is a continuing short story series about 6 women. Granny Weaver started the circle when she saw her wool was stronger when spun into yarn. So she starts a knitting circle, believing the women will be stronger as they face life together.
Volume 6  ~ Old World Christmas
It’s STILL Christmas in Smicksburg, PA, as the Amish celebrate the season over twelve days, ending on January 6th, Old Christmas. It’s a day of fasting and reflection, remembering the arrival of the three kings who brought gifts Baby Jesus.
Granny Weaver is hoping to have a peaceful day to reflect, but she’s concerned:
~ Ruth’s resistant to reconciling with Luke.
~ Lizzie is staying in Lancaster for three more weeks.
~Her son, Roman, is looking in woodpecker holes trying to find a decade old letter.
~Maryann has to go back to the hospital after a mammogram shows a suspicious mass.
But an unexpected visitor makes them all see the visit of the three kings in a different light.

About Karen Anna Vogel:
A trusted English friend among Amish in Western PA and Western NY, my four grown children call me an ‘Amish Addict.’ My husband of thirty years shares my addiction. Our Old Order Amish friends have taken us back to a time when life was slower. Slow enough to enjoy our faith, family and friends. Slow enough to make me relax and join a knitting circle and learn to spin wool. Wanting to share what I’ve learned from these gentle people led me to write Amish fiction. I’m represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary Agency and blog under Amish Crossings: http://karenannavogel.blogspot.com/   Member of Pittsburgh East Scribes and ACFW.          
 

Granny Weaver knew if she brought five women together in a knitting circle, they’d be spun together, just like the wool she spins. But what she didn’t know was that her nerves would be unraveled by caring so much. She suspected Ruth had marital problems, but she never suspected abuse. Fannie’s poor body image is deeper than she thought. And what did her son do years ago to cause Lizzie such pain? But Granny smiles when Ella decided to look into foster care, coming to terms with her infertility by the help of the knitting circle. And she isn’t the only one prodding Maryann to go to the doctors for her severe fatigue and dizzy spells; the tight knit group of women all urge her, too.
In the Thanksgiving edition, lots of men are off work in Smicksburg, PA, since they work for English logging companies.  Ella makes a traditional Thanksgiving dinner to give thanks, but also so the men can have a word with Ruth’s husband. A rebuke is washed down better after a good meal. Then the women all go Black Friday shopping for their winter craft supplies and sewing materials, but this turns into a nightmare for Granny. Lots of things are uncovered that cause her to sit in her rocker that night and pray more “Casting Off Prayers”. But she smiles, knowing carrying one another’s burdens pleases her Lord.

Amish Knitting Circle is a continuing short story series about 6 women. Granny Weaver started the circle when she saw her wool was stronger when spun into yarn. So she starts a knitting circle, believing the women will be stronger as they face life together.
Volume 5 ~ Christmas Cookies
It’s Christmas in Smicksburg, PA, and Granny Weaver is excited about the knitting circle’s Christmas cookie exchange.  She’s comes to see these women as her daughters, and along with that, the fretting heart of a mom. Luke’s accepts church discipline and is making an effort to reconcile with Ruth, but her heart’s as cold as the north wind toward him. Maryann is in Lancaster “visiting relatives”, but Granny suspects it’s for other, more serious reasons. But Granny rejoices that Ella and Zach become parents, Maryann appears healthy….and Fannie finds love.

Amish Knitting Circle is a continuing short story series about 6 women. Granny Weaver started the circle when she saw her wool was stronger when spun into yarn. So she starts a knitting circle, believing the women will be stronger as they face life together.
Volume 7 ~ Beauty for Ashes
It’s the end of January in Smicksburg, PA.  Granny Weaver and her knitting circle are meditating on the scripture; He gives us beauty for ashes... (Isaiah 61:3) 
~ Maryann is battling breast cancer.
~ Lizzie is starting to heal from a traumatic assault that happened eleven years ago.
~ Ruth has let Luke back home, but has little hope of having a good marriage.
~ Ella and Zach are so sleep deprived that marital bliss seems to have blown away with the January winds.
But Fannie’s smile is so warm it can melt the North Pole, because she has a wunderbar gut secret. 
A trusted English friend among many Amish in Western PA, and NY, I want to share with you about these wonderful people I admire.
Amish Knitting Circle was birthed when Trestle Press asked Suzanne Woods Fisher to write an Amish serial, and she referred them to me. Thank you Suzanne! I LOVE Trestle Press!
I write full-length novels and short story serials. I hope readers will learn a lot about Amish culture and traditions, and realize you don't have to be Amish to live a simple life.
In my Amish Knitting Circle you'll follow the lives of 6 women in a knitting circle who are knitting for charity and helping each other through life's challenges, the Amish way. An authentic Amish recipe is at the end of each edition.
Knit Together: An Amish Knitting Novel, is a complete book. Granny Weaver starts a knitting circle that's half Amish and half not. As they meet and knit and talk, they end up unifying the town made of two different cultures: Amish and English.
I'm a graduate from Seton Hill University and Andersonville Theological Seminary. In my spare time I enjoy knitting, birding, photography, watching BBC Period Drama's and spending time with family and friends.