At Knit's End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much

by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

The tangled life of the knitter is the subject of inspired nuttiness in 300 tongue-in-cheek meditations from the Yarn Harlot, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. 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. Covering everything from the deadly “second sock syndrome” to a pile of yarn so big it can hide a washing machine, this hilarious collection will have knitters in stitches!

Genres: Knitting, Nonfiction, Humor, Crafts, Audiobook, Memoir, Essays

320 pages, Paperback

Published March 15, 2005

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Teri-K · Rating 3 out of 5]

It may be important to note that I checked the audio out on OverDrive at a time when life was quite stressful, every evening found me too exhausted to knit or do anything else, and I'd just discovered my new glasses were wrong and that's why my eyes were watering heavily in the evenings. (So sorry, Mrs. K., we'll be happy to replace them. It will just take 10-14 days.)

So I collapsed into bed every night longing to knit or read or something, but I just couldn't. One night I decided to try for an audio knitting book. I expected to have to settle for a romance with knitting in it, but this book was available. I downloaded it and began listening. The format confused me a bit. (I should have expected it, since the subtitle says "Meditations", but I hadn't clued in.) First there's a short quote that appears to have nothing to do with knitting, then a quick related anecdote that does. Sometimes these are little stories about her knitting experiences, or perhaps rants about needle sizing or laments of the lack of storage opportunities for yarn hoarders. Each ends with a declaration that begins "I will..."

So what did I think of it? It's hard to say. If I'd read the book expecting laugh-out-loud humor or deep insights into knitting I think I would have been disappointed. But what I wanted was some yarn talk to soothe me while I drifted off to sleep, and it worked well there. Night after night I backed the recording up to a spot I remembered, listened and slowly fell asleep again. It really helped. It was rather like tuning into a knitting podcast every night. If you're new to the author I definitely don't recommend starting with this book. She has others that are better.

As for the audio, the author has a pleasant rather deadpan voice that worked for falling asleep to. FWIW. 2.5 stars

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

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 life that I'm a little bit crazy about. That's ok.

What I hate about this book:
1) Much of it is recycled from her other books.
2) It's chopped into tiny bits. A new tiny piece of a recycled anecdote starts on nearly every page. This is not what you read the Yarn Harlot's work to experience.

I also question that the title has to specify "women who knit too much." I understand that she writes with mostly women in mind, but this was published in 2005. Male knitters don't hide anymore. Get with it.

I would recommend sticking to the Yarn Harlot's other anecdote books. They are so much more fun to read!

[Jesse Bray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read! I couldn't put it down! As a new knitter and a lover of pithy sayings this book was a treat to my inner knitter and nerdy soul.

[CS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bullet Review:

The things you find during Amazon's Christmas sales...

This was one of those $1.99 books that Amazon was practically giving during the most recent holiday season. Being a big knitter/crocheter (I don't judge!), I thought, why not?

This is a fun, little booklet with a quote, followed by a brief anecdote, closing with a "lessons learned" tiddly bit. They are pretty light-hearted, goofy, showing the love of knitting and the foibles of having a crazy hobby.

That said, I'm glad I paid only $1.99. Most of the scenes are a mere 1 page long and even then, they filled maybe have the page (on a Kindle!). Also, some of the scenes were quite repetitive - the hoarding of yarn, the scouring for sales, knitting everywhere, how kids don't appreciate knit gifts, etc. If I had paid more, I would have been very upset.

Avid knitters will appreciate the most, followed closely by those who know avid knitters. Just don't expect much meat.

[Jane Lebak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to give this five stars but also some caveats.

1) This is not Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's best format to work in. She's at her best when she can take a long time and dig deep, but the meditation format is brief and undercuts any major buildup.
2) The format of listening to it rather than reading it was a lousy choice on my part. It would be better with this to have read it and been able to go back and re-read parts.

Having said that, this is still a book that most writers would have been proud to display as the pinnacle of their life's work. The irony being that it's not hers. Go figure. Having said that, the book is full of insights, humor, humility, and experience. If you enjoy knitting and/or enjoy the Yarn Harlot, give this book a read.

She narrated the audiobook herself, and I will say that despite problems with the format, I could listen to her all day. Especially when she can't help herself and she giggles in the middle of reading her work. :-D

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not really what I expected -- I was looking for/thought this would be serious -- but it was EXTREMELY relatable, heart-warming, and laugh-out-loud funny. I sought this one out because I was looking for writing about using knitting as a coping or escape mechanism. Maybe it did end up being the book I needed, after all, because as Pearl-McPhee eloquently notes, "When you are knitting...you aren't just knitting. You are assigning a value to human effort." And in my favorite meditation of the lot: "I am not wasting time knitting or wasting money buying yarn. I am creating useful and beautiful objects that will outlast me and my days. I am creating a legacy to outlive me."

❤️

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was recommended to me by Lalla Ward as she thought that as another knitter I'd be very amused by it. She was right! It was fantastic! There were perhaps a little too many references to ones children, and the writer had clearly been an obsessive knitter many years longer than me, but it had SO much truth in it. And it was so very funny! I marked down all my favourite passages so I could share them with my friends who knit. I will be buying them copies and passing them out so they can find their favourite bits too. Quick and easy to read and occasionally moved me to tears. Simply wonderful! Highly recommended to everyone who knits.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this as an audiobook and it was great for the car. Trying to get my knitting mojo back!

[Frederike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the quotations, e.g. by J.R.R. Tolkien "Not all who wander are lost" and also the accompanying texts and homespun truths "Respect your inner compass. It points to yarn."

[Shelby Bethke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sweet and the inspiration for an exclusive yarn store trip this weekend 😄

[Sara Fiebiger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious and sooooo true!

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

really funny and can relate.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very gentle book that is worth a read. There used to be (in the olden days of the 80s and 90s) these humor books of quips and jokes around my parent's house- I guess they used to be common gifts? Anyways... this is one of those books. It's a collection of quotes, observations, and humorous moments- and a perfect end of the night wind down book.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light and humorous look at what it's like to be addicted to knitting. Lots of funny and interesting anecdotes about yarn stashes, yarn stores and knitting Disasters that happen to the best knitters. Any knitter would love this book I'm sure. I did.

[Mary Nolan-Fesmire · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can read a page a day or more. Short one page stories.

[ReadKnitHoard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed it, but as a book of "meditations," it would work better one snippet at a time, savored, rather than one after the other as in an audiobook.

Narration: Her own words in her own voice, so her reading them was exactly the right thing.

[Adelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a knitter/hand-crafter, this is definitely a 5*. Even if you are not a knitter, it is a delightfully insightful, warm and cozy celebration of life. Perfect with a cup of tea and some cozy yarn. (My mom gave me this book when it was published maybe 15 years ago. I enjoyed my reread every bit as much as my first read.)

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun thoughts.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 appreciate that sock if it ever gets finished! I totally related to her frustration when she completed a gorgeous sophisticated gold and copper wrap, only to realize that she has nowhere to wear a gorgeous, sophisticated gold and copper wrap. I laughed out loud when she talked about her children (who also knit) accusing her of giving them the “crap yarn” and hording the good stuff. And I nodded in agreement when she wrote about the frustration she feels when non-knitters just don’t understand. Each little topic is short (about a paragraph or so) which means that At Knit’s End is a great book to pick up, open to a random section and be amused. It is also a great “listen to this” kind of book to share with others, both your fellow knitters and those in your life who put up with your knitting obsession.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 "interstasia" stuff is, but it can't be all that hard." And I was off. With this book as inspiration, I began my first scarf (which is still sitting, abandoned in my closet with a pair of chopsticks as stich holders). I then went on to knit toques and even socks (my current obsession). It's all thanks to this book that rekindled my interest in the wondeful art of knitting.

Don't knit? Read it anyway!

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Remember years ago when in a Family Circle or Woman's Day magazine you would read that Isabel Homemaker would be receiving $10 for sending in her household hint and that when you read the hint, you recognized it as something you did all the time? Well, this book reminded me of that. At Knit's End has lots of thoughts and tidbits about knitting and yarn--all of which knitters have probably thought at one time or another. Difference is, Pearl-McPhee wrote them down and published a book.

And just in case you need another "q" with no "u" option for Words With Friends, try this one: qiviut - An Inuktitut word commonly used to indicate the wool of the muskox.

You know you knit too much when... You will check out a book from the library just because you heard that one of the characters knits.

[Bunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a knitter. Self taught, in 2007, while working at a job that had an insane amount of downtime. I love it. I find it relaxing, and love the sound of clicking needles.

I am a bad knitter. I'm a chickenshit knitter. I hate hate hate double pointed needles, knitting in the round, charts, and many other things that I don't understand and am terribly afraid of.

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee makes me want to knit. She makes me want to make socks, and shawls, and sweaters. She just makes me want needles in my hands and yarn in my lap and the blissful feeling of watching the inches grow.

I love this damn book.

[Leeann · Rating 4 out of 5]

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. Definitely a good gift for any crazy knitters in your life, too.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 crazy about it.

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know, I wasn't sure if I'd like a book like this. It's a bunch of quotes, mostly from famous people, related to knitting. I found the book in the religious books section at a library book sale and just had to have it - it was a good choice! Stories range from the hilarious to the profound, from personal anecdotes to general observations on yarn and life, and as a capital-K Knitter I see myself in just about all of them. Great addition to my shelf, and I can see myself picking it up over and over again when I need a laugh or some inspiration.

[Purpleholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to Stephanie read her own book and fell in love with her and her work all over again. I normally won't listen to an author read their own work... usually is a huge FAIL. This was not.
I loved her Canadian accent. I could "hear" her eyes twinkle when she talked about her projects.
I loved the quotes she used at the beginning of each "chapter" and put a number of them "up" on my Facebook page.
Thank you Stephanie. This was Totally a GOOD Read!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some really funny bits that resonated with me perfectly with a few pages that had me grinning and laughing... but several of the jokes seemed to be told more than once in this book, the "omg I love yarn" was done to death, and I also have to say that I'm perplexed by her digs at crocheters.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, and kinda sick when two people gift this to you in the same year.