Love to knit?
Love to help others?
We’d love to work with you!
Welcome! We are a community sharing our love of knitting – and the unique peace that it brings – by teaching the craft to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. We work with programs that serve DV and SA survivors. We provide volunteer knitting instructors and free supplies like needles, yarn, notions and patterns at no cost to programs or participants.
We’re currently looking for volunteer teachers in Wichita, Newton, Lawrence and Topeka. Check out our Get Involved page for more information and to join us in our mission.
Purls of Peace turns 1!
We celebrated our first birthday in August 2026. KWCH’s Felicia Rolfe interviewed our founder, Carla Stovall Steckline, about the program and its impact.
Cultivating peace by sharing the love of knitting
We have long repeated the well-loved phrase that “knitting serves the same purpose as therapy, but it’s cheaper, and at the end you have a sweater!” (Or a scarf, or mittens, or a hat!)
The act of knitting and purling your way through a project pattern creates a sense of calm and peace as you focus on the work on your lap. The outside world – and its stresses – fade away as you conquer new stitches and techniques. You will be proud of yourself and gain confidence from your new ability! The peace found through learning this craft benefits us all – and, particularly, survivors who are regaining control of their lives and autonomy.
By becoming a knitter, survivors join a community of warm, caring individuals who don’t judge for others for their mistakes, but are willing to help learn from them. We each came to knitting for our own reasons, but survivors, too, will find solace, purpose, and peace from it.
