Yarn Harlot: The Secret Life of a Knitter
by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
|
|
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of Yarn Harlot: The Secret Life of a Knitter.
discuss this book
friend reviews (0)
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
lists with this book
This book is not in any lists. Go add it to a list.
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 473)
Read in August, 2007
I skimmed through this book fairly quickly since it is a bit of a guilty light-reading for me. For a non-knitter this book would probably make no sense whatsoever. For someone who has is slowly being pulled into the lure of the craft, the book is slightly amusing and mildly entertaining, reading like a series of blog entries. It consists of short stories and essays, ranging from falling in love with lace knitting, the excruciating pains of knitting gifts for Christmas, and the infamous yarn stas...more
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in February, 2008
recommended to Dawn by:
Jane Lucerecommends it for: crafters
Honestly, I laughed out loud, I cried silently, I saw myself on nearly every page--and I can barely knit! This is a book about addictions--the healthy ones--that all of us find ourselves tangled up with at some point in our lives, and we find that we are suddenly obsessive/compulsive about something and just don't know how to "put it down". Since there seems to be no cure, we do our best to make the activity meaningful not only for ourselves, but also for our families and others arou...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
recommended to Lisa by:
Shawna Smith
recommends it for: Fans of the Yarn Harlot
recommends it for: Fans of the Yarn Harlot
I was given this book by a co-worker.
It is full of funny little insider thoughts that anyone who knits will understand.
It is just like reading her blog. And if I wanted to read her blog, well then I would just read her blog. So from a literary standpoint, it wasn't exactly a satisfying read.
Yeah it had funny knitting stories, but I wouldn't buy another knitting meets literature book. This is junk food reading at its best.
I have another similar book from a different co-worker on m...more
It is full of funny little insider thoughts that anyone who knits will understand.
It is just like reading her blog. And if I wanted to read her blog, well then I would just read her blog. So from a literary standpoint, it wasn't exactly a satisfying read.
Yeah it had funny knitting stories, but I wouldn't buy another knitting meets literature book. This is junk food reading at its best.
I have another similar book from a different co-worker on m...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in April, 2008
This is a wonderfully warm and funny book. I can identify with the addiction even if I don't knit. Anyone who is addicted to books (me), golf, running, whatever, we can identify with Stephanie's 'stash' of yarn hiding...er storing... it in her husband's little used coat sleeves. The overwhelming need to knit everything for the holiday gifts or trying to turn their so-called-allergic-to-wool friend over to the bright side of knitted wool. I do the same with trying to beat the clock to read just a...more
Like this review?
yes
1 comments
Read in January, 2007
recommends it for:
knitters/crafters
I was a knitter before I read this book but you catch sort of a knitting bug as you read and I found myself having the unquenchable urge to knit all the time after reading it. I took a felting class shortly after and have not been able to stop knitting since. I think this book would be funny even if you don't knit but are obsessed with any hobby and it's tools and materials that go along. I think many people could relate and will find this book amusing and if nothing else it is a very quick read...more
Like this review?
yes
1 comments
Read in May, 2008
Sometimes the book medium fits the subject within - this is a small, modest, soft-cover book and the written content is the same: modest, small and soft. I am just a small-k knitter according to this book, true, but I still smiled over stash stories and the addictive nature of "making something out of nothing with two sticks and a string". A wee bit twee and precious for me in tone though and I will never ever understand why someone knits socks. Like, ever. A small-k knitter I shall re
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in December, 2007
I bought this for my mom for Christmas and then proceeded to read it all in one setting. It really was impossible to set down. The various essays are some of the funniest I've read in years and I am a tad worried I empathize with the author so much. Stephanie Pearl Mcphee writes with her heart on her sleeve and it is terribly easy to become attached to her, her knitting, and her entire family. This book is particularly for knitters but anyone with an obsessive hobby will understand.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
After such a tragic story line of Mercy, I thought I should lighten it up a little and give in to my knitting heart and make an effort to reinstate my knitting mojo. The Yarn Harlot did the trick. I know that I'm late in reading this must have for all knitters. So sue me. Here McPhee gives the short and humorous enlightenings of her experiences with knitting. It was a nice, light-hearted summer read. Especially when it's too hot to actually knit.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in April, 2008
recommended to Lesley by:
Jane Dunstanrecommends it for: knitters, of course
Since my knitting girls and I are road tripping to western Massachusetts at the end of the month to catch Yarn Harlot's book tour, all my other reading is on hold until I finish all YH books in my possession :)
ETA: I'm only halfway through this book and I already know I'm giving it 5 stars. It is completely hysterical, and perfectly wonderful to see it in writing that my yarn-hoarding habits are "normal" and appreciated by others :)
ETA: I'm only halfway through this book and I already know I'm giving it 5 stars. It is completely hysterical, and perfectly wonderful to see it in writing that my yarn-hoarding habits are "normal" and appreciated by others :)
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2007
I borrowed this from one of my book club ladies (Thanks Lynnette!), who assured me that a book about one woman's knitting adventures was more fun that it sounded, and that as a knitter I would be hooked (no crochet pun intended). It was funny, and made me feel grateful that there are people out there with bigger yarn hoarding problems than mine (although my stash is threatening to take over my living room).
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in April, 2008
recommends it for:
knitters
I got to hear the Yarn Harlot speak today and she was fantastic...her followers already know this but it was my first time. If you're into knitting and can imagine a stand-up comic for knitters then this is Stephanie Pearl McPhee...if you are a non-knitter you probably think this is the craziest thing you have ever heard of. And you may be right. But for us knitters it is a real treat!
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
recommended to Wendy by:
fellow knitter
recommends it for: knitters
recommends it for: knitters
Fun pick-up reading for knitters. A number of short stories which make for good reading on the fly. Some hillarious stories, some a bit boring. Author has strong dislike for crochet so some stories are strongly anti-crochet. Some stories are entertaining to teens, both knitters and nonknitters. My 13 year old daughter and her friends thoroughly enjoyed the stories I read out loud.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Collections of essays seem to be all the rage these days, and the topic of knitting is not exempt. Knit Lit, Two Sweaters for My Father, Beyond Stitch 'N Bitch... they're all worthy in their own way. But what stands head and shoulders above the crowd is Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's musings and thoughts. Funny, touching, well-written... what more could you ask for?
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
I have knit for almost two years now, and when I read this book about 8 months ago, I thought it was funny, but thought she was crazy with her stash setup. But I have noticed that no longer am I buying yarn for a specific project and instead my mounds of plastic Ziploc bags are growing with unused yarn for some unforseen future. Damn that yarn harlot!
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Stephanie Pearl-McPhee is an awesome writer who can take an ordinary story and make it sound like the funniest knitting story you have ever read. I love reading her books because they cause side-splitting laughter and that my friends, is a good thing.
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in July, 2007
recommends it for:
crafty people
It was quite funny. The story and person behind the book are very relatable to - if you have ever exhibited traits of being a packrat...yuo totally gte this book. Furthermore, if you liek to knit - and I do - after just completing my first COMPLETE project - then you'll enjoy this book.
Also - there's a blog: google yarn harlot.
Also - there's a blog: google yarn harlot.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2005
recommends it for:
knitters, hobbyists, humour lovers
I am not alone in my obsession.
While Stephanie Pearl-McPhee talks specifically about knitting, the overall scope of her writing can easily be broadened to be familiar to fly-fishermen, eBay trollers or any other hobby with the equivalent of "just one more row -- I'll come to dinner when I've finished just one more row."
While Stephanie Pearl-McPhee talks specifically about knitting, the overall scope of her writing can easily be broadened to be familiar to fly-fishermen, eBay trollers or any other hobby with the equivalent of "just one more row -- I'll come to dinner when I've finished just one more row."
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2008
This is a fun book, I like her writing style and I'm going to go check out her blog. She's not just a knitter, she really has a knitting obsession, but I kept finding myself nodding and thinking "me too" reading about her hilarious trials and tribulations. If you're remotely interested in knitting, you'll find this fun.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
I'd heard of this woman, but I'd never read anything of hers until I stumbled upon her blog. Now I feel like we're good friends--I just love her.
Some of the essays are hilarious, others a little more pensive, but all provide a glimpse into the "secret life" of an obsessive knitter.
Some of the essays are hilarious, others a little more pensive, but all provide a glimpse into the "secret life" of an obsessive knitter.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
i liken this to US Magazine for knitters. you can pick it up and put it down at your every whim and still be interested in each snippet. i think i read the entire book in 3 hours on subway time. if you are a Knitter than you will definitely relate to these snapshot stories.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 4.10 (374 ratings) number of reviews: 74popular shelves
other editions
quote
"Really, Joe? Really? You freaking think so?"
more quotes »