For all my Knitting Friends - kinda long

18 years ago

I found this thru a book site & thought the title was just so special [Dances will immediately identify].. the author/blogger is from Canada [is there a secret society of you up there?]

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Yarn Harlot: The Secret Life of a Knitter

by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

Reader submitter - Patricia's Comments:

"Anyone who has ever read Stephanie's blog or other books won't be surprised by the laugh-out-loud essays that every obsessed knitter will understand. But what you might not expect are the surprisingly bittersweet stories that leave you hunting for a tissue. A great read."

Publisher Comments

Over 50 million people in America knit. The average knitter spends between $500 and $1,700 a year on yarn, patterns, needles, and books. No longer just a fad or a hobby, knitting has advanced to a lifestyle.

Yarn Harlot: The Secret Life of a Knitter moves beyond instructions and patterns into the purest elements of knitting: obsession, frustration, reflection, and fun. Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's humorous and poignant essays find humor in knitting an enormous afghan that requires a whopping 30 balls of wool, having a husband with size 13 feet who loves to wear hand-knit socks, and earns her "yarn harlot" title with her love of any new yarn Â she'll quickly drop an old project for the fresh saucy look of a new interesting yarn.

Since the upsurge in knitting began in the early '90s, the number of women under 45 who knit has doubled. Knitting is no longer a hobby for just grandmothers-women and men of all ages are embracing this art. Describing its allure is best left to Stephanie who explains: "It is a well-known fact that knitting is a sparkling form of entertainment, as spiritual as yoga, as relaxing as a massage, and as funny as Erma Bombeck trapped in a PTA meeting."

About the Author

A knitter for 30 years, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee is also a writer of some celebrity known for her unique take on knitting voiced daily on her humorous blog www.yarnharlot.ca. She is the author of At Knit's End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much. Her home is in Toronto where her best yarn is hidden in the basement deep freeze.

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Comments (10)

socks
18 years ago
I think I'd enjoy Yarn Harlot and may pick up a copy. I thought At Knit's End was just so-so. I'll check out the blog too.

Cate, what are you working on right now? I'm starting socks.
Lindsey_CA
18 years ago
"The average knitter spends between $500 and $1,700 a year on yarn, patterns, needles, and books."

Oh, gosh, it's only mid-March and I've spent way over $500 on yarn so far this year, and I know I'll be buying more! I love to knit while I'm watching tv in the evenings, and I also knit on my breaks at work. It's very relaxing...
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Yes, situations as have experienced happen all the time, with friends, relatives, coworkers, and recently in various internet forums. People can be inconsiderate, nasty and mean. You do get the feeling that graciousness and courtesy have gone out of style. When that happens to me, while it annoys me to no end because I am only human, but still I try to look at things this way: When stressful situations as you have described happen, it could be: Your friend might not be socially cultured in just that one aspect of behavior, but otherwise completely normal, or your friend could be an inconsiderate SOB on purpose in all manners. You will have to the only one to make a decision to cultivate your friendship further or not, because there are so many other factors in friendship maintenance. However, not to disagree with you, it can also be a matter of perception. I remember in General Psychology 101, there was a topic, which I canÃ¢ÂÂt remember the technical name for. If you are waiting for a bus on a two ways street which also has a bus stop going the other way. You will always feel that there are always more buses coming from the opposite direction. As humans, we seem to remember adversity more than good times. Off-topic?: There is a couple, good friends, who I try not to invite to my parties. Each time they come, they would come with may be a variety of 7, 8, or a doz. bottles of very expensive wines. That always turns my parties into more of a wine tasting theme party. dcarch
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OklaMoni
18 years ago
For years I thought I was in the minority, as most women told me knitting frustrates them. I have read her blog at times. I know Dances flair of knitting and writing, and I know there was a HUGE group of women that had a knitting Olympics going, to see how much they could knit during the last Olympics. :)

Moni
dances_in_garden
18 years ago
I read her blog every chance I get, and I have each one of her books. I have to admit, part of her charm is actually finding another person in the world who does things like use the word "arse" in conversation and sometimes just needs to lie on the floor face down for a minute.

Tee hee!
cate52
Original Author
18 years ago
Heck Dances -- I figured you two were twins seperated at birth... She's the Yarn Harlot & you're the bike riding... ummmmm... nevermind....
dances_in_garden
18 years ago
ROFLMAO!
Eliza_ann_ca
18 years ago
I'm a knitter,so I know I would enjoy reading it!
jomo
18 years ago
I've been knitting for 73 years. Granny taught me and with my Mom we 3 kept Grandpa and Daddy in wool socks. I can't manage 4 needles any more and I can't see very well so I knit dishcloths and beanies now. ( can remember those patterns so that's a help. Not sure with my poor eyesight and poor memory I can do anything new.
socks
18 years ago
Jomo, thanks for sharing. I suspect you are one of those seniors who is 73 years "young." I admire you very much for continuing to knit and garden, even though those things aren't so easy any more. I want to be just like you when I'm 73.
jannie
18 years ago
I started 2 knitting projects this year. A knitted Log Cabin afghan I got bored with. And a knitted washcloth I had about three-quartes completed and lost. I think I left it in a doctor's office but they didn't find it. Must have looked like garbage. It was in a rastty looking plastic bag. But with a beautiful set of bamboo needles. That's what hurt the most!

For all my Knitting Friends - kinda long

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