--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It starts with a craving to fill the long…" description: "\"“It starts with a craving to fill the long evening downslant. There will be whole wide days of watching winter drag her skirts cross the mud-yard from ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd7/barbara-kingsolver-200_knitting_it-starts-with-a-craving-to-fill-the-lon_1670896.jpg" --- # It starts with a craving to fill the long evening… ![“It starts with a craving to fill the long evening downslant. There will be whole wide days of watching winter drag her skirts cross the mud-yard from east to west, going nowhere. You will want to nail down all these wadded handfuls of time, to stick-pin them to the blocking board, frame them on a…” quote by Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd7/barbara-kingsolver-200_knitting_it-starts-with-a-craving-to-fill-the-lon_1670896.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd7/barbara-kingsolver-200_knitting_it-starts-with-a-craving-to-fill-the-lon_1670896.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd7/barbara-kingsolver-200_knitting_it-starts-with-a-craving-to-fill-the-lon_1670896.jpg) > ““It starts with a craving to fill the long evening downslant. There will be whole wide days of watching winter drag her skirts cross the mud-yard from east to west, going nowhere. You will want to nail down all these wadded handfuls of time, to stick-pin them to the blocking board, frame them on a 24-stitch gauge. Ten to the inch, ten rows to the hour, straggling trellises of days held fast in the acreage of a shawl. Time by this means will be domesticated and cannot run away. (In Knitting Yarns: Writers on Knitting )”” [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The writer seeks to capture fleeting time, turning it into a structured, tangible form to prevent it from slipping away. **In simple terms:** Trying to hold onto time by organizing it. Key Takeaway Structure time to make it meaningful. Themes creativity time control craft reflection Mood reflective melancholic Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - writing projects - knitting - daily planning - memory preservation Key Concepts Temporal management creative discipline metaphor Questions to Reflect On - What moments do you wish you could preserve? - How does structuring time affect your freedom? A Different Perspective Time cannot be fully controlled; attempts may create anxiety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acreage Shawl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acreage-shawl-856864/) [Away Knitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/away-knitting-856865/) [Knitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knitting/) [Shawl Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shawl-time-856863/) [Writers Knitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers-knitting-856866/) [Yarns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yarns-210324/) ## Related quotes > [“Agatha Christie called her books 'yarns'. A good yarn is very readable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bothwell/agatha-christie-called-her-books-yarns-a-good-yarn-is-very-readable/) [Barbara Bothwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bothwell/) > [“If these yarns were trash - and millions of parents must have regarded them as such - then they were the best of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-hutchison/if-these-yarns-were-trash-and-millions-of-parents-must-have-regarded/) [Don Hutchison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-hutchison/) > [As usual, the sock yarns have no idea what is going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-pearl-mcphee/as-usual-the-sock-yarns-have-no-idea-what-is-going-on/) [Stephanie Pearl-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-pearl-mcphee/) > [There are stories in everything. I've got some of my best yarns from park benches, lampposts, and newspaper stands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/there-are-stories-in-everything-i-ve-got-some-of-my-best-yarns-from/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [I've got some of my best yarns from park benches, lamp posts and newspaper stands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/i-ve-got-some-of-my-best-yarns-from-park-benches-lamp-posts-and/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [“Stories come in all different kinds." Hester scooted closer, clearly enjoying the subject at hand. "There's tales, which are light and fluffy. Good for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-auxier/stories-come-in-all-different-kinds-hester-scooted-closer-clearly/) [Jonathan Auxier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-auxier/) > [A lot of fancier yarns come from people trying to tell the truth. It’s not easy once you’re out of the habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/a-lot-of-fancier-yarns-come-from-people-trying-to-tell-the-truth-it-s/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [Old Flossie settle down on the other side of What-the-Dickens and dragged some handiwork out of a sack. She armed herself with two thorns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/old-flossie-settle-down-on-the-other-side-of-what-the-dickens-and/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [I spend too much time on the Internet. But I do love knitting. Actually, I do more knitting when I'm working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seyfried/i-spend-too-much-time-on-the-internet-but-i-do-love-knitting-actually/) [Amanda Seyfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seyfried/) > [We recorded that trio and it's out on the Knitting Factory label. 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No wonder people chose Him as their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/jesus-was-a-more-reliable-backer-evidently-less-likely-to-drink/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [Now I'm starting to think he wasn't supposed to be my whole life, he was just this doorway to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/now-i-m-starting-to-think-he-wasn-t-supposed-to-be-my-whole-life-he/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [Cooking is 80 percent confidence, a skill best acquired starting from when the apron strings wrap around you twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/cooking-is-80-percent-confidence-a-skill-best-acquired-starting-from/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“In Bobby Ogle's version of heaven everyone would wind up in one place, criminals and Muslims included.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/in-bobby-ogle-s-version-of-heaven-everyone-would-wind-up-in-one-place/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“Weeds are job security for the gardener.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/weeds-are-job-security-for-the-gardener/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“It's what you do that makes your soul, not the other way around.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/it-s-what-you-do-that-makes-your-soul-not-the-other-way-around/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“Lusa turned to Crys, her eyes shining. "That was a luna." Crys shrugged. "So?" "So? So what? You want it should sing, too?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/lusa-turned-to-crys-her-eyes-shining-that-was-a-luna-crys-shrugged-so/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [The strength of motherhood is greater than natural laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/the-strength-of-motherhood-is-greater-than-natural-laws/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“An imperfectly remembered life is a useless treachery. Every day, more fragments of the past roll around heavily in the chambers of an empty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/an-imperfectly-remembered-life-is-a-useless-treachery-every-day-more/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [Respecting the dignity of a spectacular food means enjoying it at its best. Europeans celebrate the short season of abundant asparagus as a form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/respecting-the-dignity-of-a-spectacular-food-means-enjoying-it-at-its/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“Somehow it had come to pass that this man was her whole world, and she had failed to take his measure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/somehow-it-had-come-to-pass-that-this-man-was-her-whole-world-and-she/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [After 'The Poisonwood Bible' was published, several people believed that my parents were missionaries, which could not be further from the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/after-the-poisonwood-bible-was-published-several-people-believed-that/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [I can count all the ways in which being a mother has enriched my understanding of the world, of character, my sense of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/i-can-count-all-the-ways-in-which-being-a-mother-has-enriched-my/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [But we've all ended up giving body and soul to Africa, one way or another. Even Adah, who's becoming an expert in tropical epidemiology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/but-we-ve-all-ended-up-giving-body-and-soul-to-africa-one-way-or/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [If the Lord hasn't got a boyfriend lined up for me to marry, that's his business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/if-the-lord-hasn-t-got-a-boyfriend-lined-up-for-me-to-marry-that-s/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) [Explore all 939 Barbara Kingsolver quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) ## More Knitting quotes > [(knitting while on a motorcycle) "For several years she knitted in secret (my father would not approve; she was to concentrate on motorcycling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-zimmermann/knitting-while-on-a-motorcycle-for-several-years-she-knitted-in/) [Elizabeth Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-zimmermann/) > [I do wish you wouldn't argue with me when I'm knitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/i-do-wish-you-wouldn-t-argue-with-me-when-i-m-knitting/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [I explain at the parties that I believe knitting is a transformative and intriguing act that can change the life and brain of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-pearl-mcphee/i-explain-at-the-parties-that-i-believe-knitting-is-a-transformative/) [Stephanie Pearl-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-pearl-mcphee/) > [The Friday Night Knitting Club](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-jacobs/the-friday-night-knitting-club/) [Kate Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-jacobs/) > [Knitters use knitting to value-add to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-pearl-mcphee/knitters-use-knitting-to-value-add-to-the-world/) [Stephanie Pearl-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-pearl-mcphee/) > [We recorded that trio and it's out on the Knitting Factory label. I've got another record in the can with that group and Marc,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arto-lindsay/we-recorded-that-trio-and-it-s-out-on-the-knitting-factory-label-i-ve/) [Arto Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arto-lindsay/) > [I spend too much time on the Internet. But I do love knitting. Actually, I do more knitting when I'm working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seyfried/i-spend-too-much-time-on-the-internet-but-i-do-love-knitting-actually/) [Amanda Seyfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seyfried/) > [Old Flossie settle down on the other side of What-the-Dickens and dragged some handiwork out of a sack. She armed herself with two thorns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/old-flossie-settle-down-on-the-other-side-of-what-the-dickens-and/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“in Town VIII. Monseigneur in the Country IX. The Gorgon's Head X. Two Promises XI. A Companion Picture”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/in-town-viii-monseigneur-in-the-country-ix-the-gorgon-s-head-x-two/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In the nineteeth century, knitting was prescribed to women as a cure for nervousness and hysteria. Many new knitters find this sort of hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-pearl-mcphee/in-the-nineteeth-century-knitting-was-prescribed-to-women-as-a-cure/) [Stephanie Pearl-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-pearl-mcphee/) > [Achieving the state of SABLE is not, as many people who live with these knitters believe, a reason to stop buying yarn, but for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-pearl-mcphee/achieving-the-state-of-sable-is-not-as-many-people-who-live-with/) [Stephanie Pearl-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-pearl-mcphee/) > [Oh, there you are, Albus,' he said. 'You've been a very long time. Upset stomach?' 'No, I was merely reading the Muggle magazines,' said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/oh-there-you-are-albus-he-said-you-ve-been-a-very-long-time-upset/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But if we come back, if German men come back, if British men come back, and Japs, and French, and all the other men,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/but-if-we-come-back-if-german-men-come-back-if-british-men-come-back/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [“I'm a good knitter, and I'm proud of it. I see no point in being modest about things you know you do well. 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