I once took a just-for-fun Jane Austen class at my local university, where we spent plenty of time puzzling over what makes her novels such irresistible material for movies, plays, and countless reimaginings. Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Persuasion alone seem to generate an endless stream of adaptations—from intimate indie films to lavish Hollywood productions. Certainly, Austen’s sharp wit, memorable (and often hilarious) characters, and keen observations about class and society play a role. But what our class kept returning to was the deep sense of comfort in Austen’s world: by each novel’s end, harmony is restored, wrongs are righted, and the rogues receive their due.
PieceWork has often celebrated this comforting Austen world through its own tribute projects. Our Spring 2025 issue was dedicated entirely to honoring Austen’s life in needlework as we looked ahead to her 250th birthday. You can find that issue, all six issues of Jane Austen Knits, and several projects and articles inspired by Jane's life in the PieceWork library.
Harriet's Hap Shawl features a lacy, latticework garter pattern for the center
square and a stockinette-stitch diamond inner border with classic garter point edging.
A Birthday Celebration
December 16 marks Jane Austen’s birthday, and as we revisit the drawing rooms, country strolls, and spirited conversations that animate her novels, it feels like the perfect time to pay tribute with something handmade and heartfelt. To commemorate the occasion, we’ve gathered three patterns from past issues of Jane Austen Knits and, along with two additional favorites, created the Jane Austen 250th Birthday Collection. Inspired by Jane Austen's world, both real and imagined, the new knitting Collection is available now to All Access subscribers. But don't worry if you're not an All Access Subscriber yet! You can join the community here.
The Pattern Collection
This new collection features textures and lace and all the comforts of a cozy Regency drawing room. Anne Carroll Gilmour’s Harriet Hap Shawl and Fairfax Reticule transport us back to Emma, with refined textures and the graceful elegance of knitted lace. Annie Modesitt’s Paisley Lace Shawl blends Regency inspiration with a modern sensibility. Angela Hahn bases her pattern, Jane’s Barathea Mitts, on a traditional Regency-era woven twill fabric. And for the baby of the family, we’ve included Kathleen Sperling’s Beloved Baby Bonnet.
Whether you are newly discovering Jane Austen or know every chapter of her books by heart, this collection of knitting patterns offers a beautiful way to celebrate her enduring legacy.
Happy birthday, Miss Austen—and happy knitting,
Karen