Knitting is an activity that is almost like meditation.  You knit and your brain slows down focusing on one thing knit two purl one.  Slowly you start to think about some things you don't want to think about, things you need to address or not address. Mary Baxter therapy for dealing with her daughter's death is joining a knitting club and finding a way to deal with this unbearable loss. This book was sad but uplifting as well.  I enjoyed it very much.