Rivka's knitting bag

The character on this bag is the warrior woman Rivka from my novel The Second Mango. Here we see her in her past, when her well-meaning but misguided mother made her knit instead of learning swordsmanship like she wanted. She’s amusing herself thinking about how her knitting needles could be used in battle. They’re not as big as a sword, but she’s sure she could do some damage with them if she had to. Of course, out of context, this picture could be many of us struggling with a project we’re ready to throw out the window! That’s not to say that you can’t be a fierce warrior woman while enjoying knitting; I have quite a few friends who are as brave and as strong as she is who not only knit but spin and dye their own yarn as well. My grandmother taught me to knit when I was very young, and as an adult I’ve met many of my good friends through social knitting/crocheting groups. (Character by Shira Glassman; drawing by Mina V.; inked/colored by Jane Dominguez. Read about Rivka and Shulamit’s adventures in The Second Mango, due out in late summer 2013 from Prizm Books. )