AceShowbiz -

Once spied knitting between takes before it became "the latest thing", Hollywood's sweetheart Julia Roberts can now bring her old hobby to the big screen. Yes, the Oscar-winning actress has reached a deal to topline "The Friday Night Knitting Club", a family drama feature developed under Universal Pictures.

Based on Kate Jacobs' upcoming novel of the same title, the picture focuses on a single mother who pulls all her strengths to juggle the demands of running a Manhattan knitting store with raising her spunky teen daughter. While no word yet on either director or writer, it is confirmed that Roberts will also produce along with Christine Peters.

Roberts, a native of Smyrna, Georgia, made her foray into acting in late 1980s to then receive widespread recognition through her performance in "Pretty Woman" (1991) opposite Richard Gere. She is currently filming political drama "Charlie Wilson's War" in Morocco under the direction of "Closer" helmer Mike Nichols.