For the longest time, Barbara G. Walker was simply the brilliant mind behind my sweater-knitting bible, Knitting from the Top Down—the book that changed everything for me when it came to seamless garment construction. If you’ve ever knit a sweater without the dreaded seams, you probably owe her a big thank you. I certainly do.
So imagine my surprise when I recently discovered that she wasn’t just the queen of top-down knitting—she was also the creator of THE tarot deck I had originally wanted. The one that had first caught my interest when I was diving into tarot, before I ended up with my current, bossy deck.. Somehow, I had never put two and two together until now. Talk about a plot twist!
Barbara G. Walker: A Woman of Many Talents and Even More Books
Barbara G. Walker wasn’t just a knitting revolutionary—she was a prolific author who dedicated her life to educating, empowering, and enlightening us across multiple disciplines. She wrote an impressive number of books covering knitting, mythology, feminism, spirituality, and historical research. She didn’t just master these subjects—she taught them to us, freely sharing her knowledge with the world and leaving behind a wealth of resources that continue to inspire.
Her feminist and mythological works, including The Woman’s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets and The Woman’s Dictionary of Symbols and Sacred Objects, peeled back centuries of misinformation, exposing hidden histories and restoring the stories of women and goddesses long buried by patriarchal narratives. She wasn’t just a researcher; she was a truth-seeker, determined to give us back the knowledge that had been taken from us.
Her Barbara Walker Tarot deck, much like her knitting books, isn’t for the faint of heart. Just as she redefined sweater construction by encouraging knitters to think outside traditional techniques, she brought the same no-nonsense approach to tarot, infusing it with historical and mythological depth. It’s the kind of deck that doesn’t just suggest things—it tells you exactly what you need to hear, much like a particularly wise knitting instructor who won’t let you get away with sloppy tension.
Knitting, Mythology, and the Threads That Connect Us
Looking back, it makes perfect sense that one woman could master both fiber arts and esoteric wisdom. After all, fiber arts have always been tied to fate and storytelling. The ancient Greek Fates spun, measured, and cut the threads of life, and cultures around the world have used weaving and knotting as forms of magic and communication. Even today, when we knit, crochet, or weave, we are quite literally creating something out of nothing—an act that feels just a little bit like modern-day sorcery.
Barbara Walker didn’t just give us stitches—she gave us knowledge, empowerment, and a deeper appreciation for the histories woven into our crafts and beliefs. Whether through yarn or tarot, she understood the power of storytelling and the importance of passing knowledge down through the generations.
A New Perspective on an Old Hero
Discovering that one of my greatest knitting inspirations was also behind the tarot deck I had first wanted feels like a cosmic wink from the universe. But more than that, I now see her as an even greater force than I had realized—a woman who didn’t just create, but educated, liberated, and empowered others through her work.
So here’s to Barbara Walker—knitting innovator, historian, and all-around trailblazer. Whether you’re casting on a new sweater, casting a tarot spread, or casting off outdated ideas, her legacy is there, woven into the fabric of both fiber arts and deeper wisdom. In today's political times, where misinformation spreads easily and hard-won rights are continuously challenged, we need voices like hers more than ever—voices that educate, empower, and remind us of the importance of knowledge and truth. And if there’s one thing she’s taught me, it’s this: knowledge is meant to be shared, stitches are meant to be passed down, and the truth is always worth unraveling.
Until next time friends...