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Yarn Harlot: The Secret Life of a Knitter

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

Why we're reading this: Phenomenal book. Great short stories written about knitting and the strifes that come with it.
[close] Phenomenal book. Great short stories written about knitting and the strifes that come with it.

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Jan 06, 2009 Kerry rated it it was amazing

Shelves: non-fiction, everything

Before I start discussing The Secret Life of a Knitter, I need to make something perfectly clear. I love Stephanie Pearl McPhee’s writing. She has never released a book that I didn’t enjoy immensely and I read her blog religiously and really enjoy her particular style of wit and humor and thoughtfulness that comes through time and time again in her writing. Having said all that, The Secret Life of a Knitter is, without a doubt, the best thing she has ever written. It made me laugh, which is noth Before I start discussing The Secret Life of a Knitter, I need to make something perfectly clear. I love Stephanie Pearl McPhee’s writing. She has never released a book that I didn’t enjoy immensely and I read her blog religiously and really enjoy her particular style of wit and humor and thoughtfulness that comes through time and time again in her writing. Having said all that, The Secret Life of a Knitter is, without a doubt, the best thing she has ever written. It made me laugh, which is nothing unusual for a Yarn Harlot book, but it also made me think and it made me cry.

I totally laughed out loud when Stephanie realized with horror that the woman who had just declared that she could NEVER learn how to knit was an honest-to-God BRAIN SURGEON and I completely sympathized with her frustration about the unfathomable rules are which govern what colors and patterns men will wear. I really enjoyed her “Top Ten Ways Being a Parent is Like Being a Knitter” and found her discussion of where to hide, I mean store, excess yarn to be frighteningly helpful. I loved the letters exchanged between a cardigan and its knitter and as someone who has been accused of being “a few elves short of workshop” when knitting Christmas gifts, I completely sympathized (and laughed at) her struggles to make gifts for the holiday while actually participating in and surviving the holiday

However, interspersed among essays full of Stephanie’s trademark humor, there were also moments of touching poignancy, including “One Little Sock” in which a sock that a knitter was making as a gift for an expected baby becomes a tiny memorial instead when tragedy strikes and “What Her Hands Won’t Do” in which a life-long knitter, stricken with rheumatoid arthritis, distributes her yarn stash to friends when her condition becomes too painful to knit anymore. As someone who had to give up being a musician (despite loving it so much it hurt) because of a joint condition, this story both touches me and scares me. It is a testament to Stephanie’s writing that she is able to bring her readers to both laughter and tears and I am eagerly waiting to see what she writes next. ...more

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Aug 20, 2009 Rebecca Alidre rated it it was amazing

I started reading this book because my friend, Sara, told me I should. From the first story, I was laughing till my sides hurt. The author has a way of expressing your own feelings in a very artful manner. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who is a knitter, a crafter, or knows one. I was up all night hiding away in the other room trying to keep my family from waking up at my bursts of laughter, unable to put the book down.

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Aug 29, 2008 Mary Ann rated it really liked it

Shelves: craft

This one has one of her long standing battles with a squirrel. If you have ever read her blog you will know that she and a gray squirrel have a love hate relationship with her wool. She also talks about making an afghan that has driven her crazy because it was so large. I know where she is coming from. I am very happy when I finish an afghan and can put it on my completed list. She talks about how her family are members of TAKE (Team Against Knitter Enjoyment). She believes that they are out to ...more

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Aug 21, 2007 Ruby rated it it was ok

Shelves: crafts

I guess my expectations were just too high for this collection of knitting essays. A lot of the humor seemed a bit forced. There were several extraordinary essays; my favorites tended to be the more serious, emotional pieces.

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