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5th out of 54 books
—
56 voters
At Knit's End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much
"At Knit's End "captures the wickedly funny musings of someone who doesn't believe it's possible to knit too much and who willingly sacrifices sleep, family, work, and sanity in order to keep doing it. Stephanie Pearl-McPhee has seen it all, from the deadly "second sock syndrome" to a house so full of yarn she can't find her washing machine to desperate all-nighters spent...more
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
March 15th 2005
by Storey Publishing
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Aug 26, 2007
Beboots
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
knitters, those who wish to knit, people without enough obsessions in their lives
This is the book that got me re-obsessed with knitting. I picked it up in a bookstore in Jasper on a whim (I am amused by puns, so the title attracted my attention) while on a ski trip. I read the majority of it during the day-long drive home. Mrs. McPhee has such a way with writing (a clear, but humourous style, in a truely Canadian fashion) that made me really excited about the topic. I'd learned to knit way back when, from my grandmother, and I thought, "hey, I don't know what this "interstas...more
Mar 12, 2009
Abisdorf
added it
Cute book. There are things that knitter's just get and this book is one of them. Probably her best book so far.
Nov 10, 2007
Leeann
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
knitting fanatics
Shelves:
read-in-2007
This was such a cute little book. My dear friend Lindsay gave it to me last year, when my knitting obsession was just in its infancy and the title didn't quite apply to me yet. I picked it up a week or so ago when I ran out of yarn for my current project & got a little twitchy, and it did not disappoint. Stephanie Pearl-McPhee is hilarious & the quick little sections are perfect for reading when, say, your hands need a brief rest or your current project is driving you up the wall. Defini...more
Apr 20, 2012
Laura
rated it
1 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
knitting fanatics with severe ADD
Shelves:
knitting
Why have I not reviewed this book here? PROBABLY I WAS TOO BUSY WADING THROUGH ALL THE YARN IN MY HOUSE, HAHAHAHA.
Look, I like the Yarn Harlot's cohesive books, though they are kind of a guilty pleasure for me because I don't really relate to them, and thus my consumption of her lifestyle feels more like a voyeuristic semi-mocking. I do knit and produce items, but I'm simply not this type of knitter. However, I still appreciate that she's a little bit crazy about yarn--there are things in my lif...more
Look, I like the Yarn Harlot's cohesive books, though they are kind of a guilty pleasure for me because I don't really relate to them, and thus my consumption of her lifestyle feels more like a voyeuristic semi-mocking. I do knit and produce items, but I'm simply not this type of knitter. However, I still appreciate that she's a little bit crazy about yarn--there are things in my lif...more
"Knitting finally takes its rightful place on the spectrum of personal obsessions, alongside golfing, fishing, and gardening. The tangled life of the knitter is the subject of inspired nuttiness in these 300 tongue-in-cheek meditations from the self-proclaimed yarn harlot, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee.
At Knit's End captures the wicked — and wickedly funny — musings of someone who doesn't really believe it's possible to knit too much, and who willingly sacrifices sleep, family, work, and her sanity on...more
At Knit's End captures the wicked — and wickedly funny — musings of someone who doesn't really believe it's possible to knit too much, and who willingly sacrifices sleep, family, work, and her sanity on...more
I got this book as a gift years ago, read about a third of it, and stuck it back on the shelf, unamused. I'm a knitter, though not one as accomplished or dare I say obsessive as Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. Recently, I thought to pass this book on to a friend who might appreciate it more than me, but before I gave it away I gave it another spin. And just like the first time I read it, I found the first half tough slogging. I was annoyed by what is now, in the age of Ravelry, a cliche -- the ravenous,...more
I kept this book in a jacket pocket for weeks, carrying it around with me. It was the perfect "pick up, put down" book to read at odd moments, while waiting for the subway or a cross-town bus. I've also found myself quoting it on Ravelry on various occasions (the author's description of pattern difficulty ratings is both spot-on and hilarious).
This is the book I got when someone I knew at my bookshop came running up to me and said, breathlessly, "Hey, Claudia, a new book just came in from that b...more
This is the book I got when someone I knew at my bookshop came running up to me and said, breathlessly, "Hey, Claudia, a new book just came in from that b...more
This book of essays on knitting is a top book of the summer (thus far) for me. Before anyone rolls their eyes, know that Ms. Pearl-McPhee is a terrific writer: Funny, but SMART funny, the kind that skewers and is grown up and honest. She also writes a really good blog that's won all kinds of awards in her native Canada. I've heard her speak two times and her wit and intelligence is for real in person, too. Any knitter will enjoy this book (and her others); even, dare I say, crocheters and other...more
I assume this book is more enjoyable if you haven't read Stephanie's other books. However, if you're like me, and have read all her other works, you're going to find this one very unoriginal. It repeats material found in all her other books and, even less appealingly, frequently repeats itself. There were quite a few entires that very closely mirrored each other. It was rather disappointing.
I suggest reading her very first Yarn Harlot book, which is funny and touching. After that, the limited r...more
I suggest reading her very first Yarn Harlot book, which is funny and touching. After that, the limited r...more
I just love Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. She is witty, intelligent and she knits! What's not to love? Her insights into the mind of a knitter are spot-on. She even comments on her own knitting eccentricities and obsessions in the most funny ways. I will probably read this little gem over and over to remind myself that as one who is a bit knitting-obsessed, I am not alone and I am somewhat normal (as knitters go.) I highly recommend this book to all knitters, but especially those who are a little craz...more
A collection of short, little snippets about knitting and knitters, At Knit’s End was my first introduction to the Harlot and was enough to get me completely and totally hooked on her writing! I love Stephanie’s humor, wit and insight into the joys and perils of being a knitter. I totally melted when she reported that her husband is knitting her a sock (notice that it is a singular sock, not a pair) which he has been working on veeeeeery slowly for five years and how much she will love and appre...more
This book is hilarious. If you knit... you must read it. I first picked this up in a Barnes and Noble while with some non-knitting friends, and by the third page I was laughing so hard that they thought I'd lost my mind (and it's not the kind of thing you can correct by reading them the joke, because if you don't knit... it's really hard to get knitting humour). Lots of fun, and actually quite inspiring when it comes to getting up the nerve to start more ambitious projects.
A wonderful little book, full of thoughts, ideas, musings, collective wisdom, and suggestions. (Thanks to my Secret Snowflake!) I've been dipping in and out of it for a while - this isn't a "read straight through" book.
It includes such gems of wisdom as:
"Myriad ways have been devised to help knitters keep track of how many rows they have knit or where they are in a pattern. Some knitters use a row counter; others use a clicker. Many make marks on a piece of paper, and some cross out instructions...more
It includes such gems of wisdom as:
"Myriad ways have been devised to help knitters keep track of how many rows they have knit or where they are in a pattern. Some knitters use a row counter; others use a clicker. Many make marks on a piece of paper, and some cross out instructions...more
This is a fun little book, full of quotes and life observations. I don't knit, I couldn't if my life depended on it. I've tried. I do crochet and quilt, though, and all of her observations about knitting too much fit quilting and crocheting and other needle arts. I enjoyed reading snippets, laughing over most, crying over a few. Much of the book reminded me of Erma Bombeck's writings, except shorter. If you have closets full of yarn/fabric/art projects, this book is one for you.
It's somewhat superficial. I think it was her first book, and I've read later ones that I thought were better, but the problem is that the more of her books I read, the more sameness they have about them. When you get that kind of review from someone who has a long-standing habit of reading every book she can find on a given subject, who is currently into her dozenth or so book about the Tudors, you know you've become pretty tedious.
I laughed myself silly while reading this book. Especially everytime I read something that described me. I would read some parts aloud to my daughter just so we could laugh together.
Some things were informative, they made me think 'Wow! Why didn't I think of that?' or 'Just what I need to try.' but mostly the stories were just enjoyable. I frequenetly was amazed because of how much I agreed or was just like her comments.
Some things were informative, they made me think 'Wow! Why didn't I think of that?' or 'Just what I need to try.' but mostly the stories were just enjoyable. I frequenetly was amazed because of how much I agreed or was just like her comments.
A wonderful gift from my big sister and the honor of being the only "real" book I've read since getting my Nook in January. Very witty and for knitters only (though I am inflicting several passages on my husband). She introduces her insights with great quotes like "Love thy neighbor as thyself, but choose your neighborhood"- Louise Beal. I will read this over and over. It's nice and compact so fits well in my purse or bag.
This is Pearl-McPhee's first book, filled with quotes and thoughts on her knitting. As per all of this author's books I was not only nodding my head in agreement, I was laughing out loud. (Which, apparently, makes you look a little crazy while you're on a plane.) The author has managed to point out just how obsessive we are about yarn and is dead on with her classifications of what it's like to be obsessed with knitting. The thing is, even someone who DOESN'T KNIT, but loves a knitter, would app...more
Knitter or not, this is a book that will make you (and definitely me) crack into laughter in the bus! So small, yet so much treasure within. From funny incidents, to unexpected revelations, to meaningful quotes, this palm-size book has kept me entertained and bursting into laughing anytime - even if I am just picking it up and flipping to a random page.
I didn't jump on the Yarn Harlot bandwagon until after I saw her speak at a meeting of the Downtown Knit Collective. Ah well, I'm always late to the bandwagon. Anyway, this is a cute, quick read of many a disjointed thought about knitting. Gave me quite a few chuckles.
I loved this. Like, to the 100th degree.
Not only did I love this, but a non-knitting coworker who took over my desk while I was on break and lunch flipped through it, reading at random, and loved it enough to ask me what terminology meant.
So much fun.
Not only did I love this, but a non-knitting coworker who took over my desk while I was on break and lunch flipped through it, reading at random, and loved it enough to ask me what terminology meant.
So much fun.
A wonderful book full of humor, ancidotes, and quotes! This had me giggling like an insane person at seveal spots, which may be a good thing when on crowded public transit as it will give you some added "space" around you.
I will definately be coming back to read this again later!
I will definately be coming back to read this again later!
I've had this book for years (a present from a friend). It's set up as little quips and stories, the longest of which are two pages. Possibly three. So I'd read 20-30 of them, laugh, put the book down, come back to it a bit later and repeat.
This book was hilarious, thought provoking and hit too close to home. I loved carrying this little book in my purse to pull out when I had two seconds to spare. Each page starts with a quote, then gives an anecdote, then a meditation. Too bad it has to go back to the library.
This book was funny and made me realize that some of my weird knitting obsessions are not as random as I thought. If you knit you'll enjoy this book. It's small and easy to carry around and read a piece at a time.
3 stars for cleverness and wit
5 stars for making me feel normal because, in the event of fire, I know I will check the craft room first for my children and, while I'm there, grab my current projects and favourite balls of yarn, before checking other rooms and saving my children
5 stars for making me feel normal because, in the event of fire, I know I will check the craft room first for my children and, while I'm there, grab my current projects and favourite balls of yarn, before checking other rooms and saving my children
This was a cute book. It reads like a number of very short stories or anecdotes, not a novel. If you are a true knitter at heart, you will appreciate the author’s love of wool.
I loved this little book, and will def read again! I love to knit, so it stands to reason that I would love a book called At Knit's End. I read Stephanie's blog, and it's great-just like the book. This book is full of quotes, most not knit related, but she equates them to a knitting issue. Excellent!
This reads more like a daily calender but I laughed out loud many times. I am not as obsessed as this woman but admit there was little I did not relate too
Great observations and insights about knitting and life from 'The Yarn Harlot'.
Perfect little book to tuck into your bag and dig into in a spare moment.
Perfect little book to tuck into your bag and dig into in a spare moment.
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Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (better known as the Yarn Harlot) is a prolific knitter, writer and blogger known for her humorous but always insightful anecdotes and stories about knitting triumphs and tragedies.
More about Stephanie Pearl-McPhee...
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“ I will continue to freak out my children by knitting in public. It's good for them.”
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33 people liked it
“There is practically no activity that cannot be enhanced or replaced by knitting, if you really want to get obsessive about it.”
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30 people liked it
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Mar 15, 2009 04:33am