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Hooked for Life: Adventures of a Crochet Zealot
Crochet lovers will embrace Hooked for Adventures of a Crochet Zealot , a book that lovingly and humorously explores the craft of crochet and is written by a true crochet zealot. Mary Beth Temple, a well-known author in the crafting world and a self-admitted crochet junkie, gives an insider's look at what makes real crocheters tick and laugh with a number of humorous essays. Excerpt from the Just the other day I uttered a phrase that stopped traffic in my household, a phrase I never in a million years thought I would utter. I was sorting through yet another box of yarn that appeared as if by magic, trying to lower the square footage of wool that is all over my living room, and in frustration I yelled out I have too much yarn! You could hear crickets chirping in the aftermath--my daughter looked at me as if I had three heads, even the dog cocked her head and started to slink slowly away from the crazy woman. Did I really say I had too much yarn? Was I sick with fever?
178 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2009
12 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
January 4, 2010
Okay, you can all make fun of me now, but I really enjoyed this book. A friend of mine got it for me as a birthday gift, which I thought was funny because I had actually thought about buying it when it came out :) Anyway, this was a really fast and entertaining read about the life of a crocheter and all the crap we have to put up with from you nutbags who call us grandmothers or look down on us for not knitting (and for the record, I knit, too, and have been doing so since I was 11, so nyeh). I definitely recommend it for anyone who plays with yarn, even if you don't crochet. There's even a little bit about crochet history in there, something that's hard to find.
September 3, 2020
Funny and relatable.
As I crocheter myself, loved this book.
As I crocheter myself, loved this book.
January 15, 2013
My mother-in-law gave me this book for Christmas, and it is delightful! Whether you've just started crocheting or are a true zealot (like me), you'll enjoy this book. It's written like a series of blog entries about her love of crocheting. She talks about favorite patterns, her never-ending yarn stash, the trends of certain patterns, and the relationship between crocheters and knitters. By the time I'd read her introduction I was already hooked on her writing style. She is very funny and easy to read. It was a great book to read while visiting with my in-laws over Christmas break because it was light, easy to pick up/put down whenever, and didn't require too much thinking. I already have certain chapters marked to go back and read on a rainy day just to cheer me up. A real gem for crocheters!!
March 24, 2013
Liked this book of essays about crocheting quite a lot. It's nice to know that a "professional" crocheter goes through the same agonies and compulsive hoarding of yarn that I do. A couple of essays inspired me to try a few new projects, like making up some quick dishclothes to have on hand.
January 8, 2019
Popsugar Reading Challenge 2019 Prompt: Read a book about a hobby
This has been languishing on my TBR list for quite some time, so this prompt was the perfect time to pick it up.
Thinking back to my early childhood, I hardly have a memory of my grandma without a crochet project in her spindly, arthritic fingers, and when I was 9 years old I finally asked her if she could teach me how to do it. She expressed doubt, because she was left-handed, and she had tried to teach my mom who never found the joy in it. Luckily, I am also left-handed and LOVED it right off the bat. I remember proudly marching into the kitchen of her farmhouse to show her my loopy, uneven chain stitches, which I produced in yards and yards because she refused to teach me how to turn and make a stitch until I could do the chain stitches evenly, like she did. Finally, she taught me the basic stitches, and I began to produce baby blankets at such a rate you'd think I was single handedly supporting the industry. So began a hobby I've continued for almost 25 years, finally learning to read patterns in my early 20s, making several blankets and sweaters for my own baby, and then moving on to amigurumi, home decor, and fashion accessories. About ten years ago my grandma died, and every project I work on these days feels like a way to keep her legacy alive. Not only that, but SHE learned it from her mother-in-law, so I am pretty certain this has been a skill passed down in my family for quite a few generations, and it feels good to keep it going.
In my early 20s in Virginia, enduring a months-long job hunt, to pass the time I joined a knitting club of elderly ladies, so I was both the youngest person by about 40 years and the only crocheter in the bunch. But they were very nice to me so I kept going back until I did eventually find a job. In the 13 or so years since then I have encounted a friend or two working up a baby blanket ahead of a shower, but otherwise have carried on my hobby in relative isolation.
After all that time, this book was like finding a best friend I didn't know I had. Who knew the feeling of being looked down upon by knitters was universal in the crochet community? I'm not the only person who gets irked when people see me working on a project and ask "What are you knitting?" Although I travel full time these days I did have to dispense of my yarn stash, but for a few years there I had quite a colorful closet stuffed with all those leftovers and works-in-progress.
I suspect all the 4-star rave reviews are due to that persistent embarrassment to admitting a love of crochet. Well, not for me. I will give this one five stars, because I devoured these anecdotes in about a day and would happily come back for more.
This has been languishing on my TBR list for quite some time, so this prompt was the perfect time to pick it up.
Thinking back to my early childhood, I hardly have a memory of my grandma without a crochet project in her spindly, arthritic fingers, and when I was 9 years old I finally asked her if she could teach me how to do it. She expressed doubt, because she was left-handed, and she had tried to teach my mom who never found the joy in it. Luckily, I am also left-handed and LOVED it right off the bat. I remember proudly marching into the kitchen of her farmhouse to show her my loopy, uneven chain stitches, which I produced in yards and yards because she refused to teach me how to turn and make a stitch until I could do the chain stitches evenly, like she did. Finally, she taught me the basic stitches, and I began to produce baby blankets at such a rate you'd think I was single handedly supporting the industry. So began a hobby I've continued for almost 25 years, finally learning to read patterns in my early 20s, making several blankets and sweaters for my own baby, and then moving on to amigurumi, home decor, and fashion accessories. About ten years ago my grandma died, and every project I work on these days feels like a way to keep her legacy alive. Not only that, but SHE learned it from her mother-in-law, so I am pretty certain this has been a skill passed down in my family for quite a few generations, and it feels good to keep it going.
In my early 20s in Virginia, enduring a months-long job hunt, to pass the time I joined a knitting club of elderly ladies, so I was both the youngest person by about 40 years and the only crocheter in the bunch. But they were very nice to me so I kept going back until I did eventually find a job. In the 13 or so years since then I have encounted a friend or two working up a baby blanket ahead of a shower, but otherwise have carried on my hobby in relative isolation.
After all that time, this book was like finding a best friend I didn't know I had. Who knew the feeling of being looked down upon by knitters was universal in the crochet community? I'm not the only person who gets irked when people see me working on a project and ask "What are you knitting?" Although I travel full time these days I did have to dispense of my yarn stash, but for a few years there I had quite a colorful closet stuffed with all those leftovers and works-in-progress.
I suspect all the 4-star rave reviews are due to that persistent embarrassment to admitting a love of crochet. Well, not for me. I will give this one five stars, because I devoured these anecdotes in about a day and would happily come back for more.
Read
August 20, 2023The essays in this collection were surprisingly short, which should have made the book quicker to read through. But one byproduct of this brief format was that the writing lacked a certain depth, which made it more difficult for me to connect with what the author was saying, and consequently to connect with the author herself. Maybe I've been spoiled by reading too much Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, who manages to make her yarncraft adventures relatable even to people like me who have never knit or crocheted a stitch in their lives.
I do think I might've gotten more out of Mary Beth Temple's book Hooked For Life if I was actually a crocheter. However, her essay on 'works in progress' versus 'unfinished objects' was definitely worth reading in my opinion. Not only was it entertaining, but it also featured practical advice for determining whether to finish an old project or whether to unravel it and reuse the yarn for something else. There were also useful suggestions for what to do with projects that you don't really want to finish but you can't bring yourself to take apart. Since pretty much every crafter (no matter what their craft of choice) has unfinished projects lying around, I felt that this essay was the most relatable.
Did I like it? I think I would have appreciated the book more if I was in the target demographic of crochet enthusiasts.
Would I reread it? Probably not.
Would I recommend it? Only to people who are practicing crocheters.
I do think I might've gotten more out of Mary Beth Temple's book Hooked For Life if I was actually a crocheter. However, her essay on 'works in progress' versus 'unfinished objects' was definitely worth reading in my opinion. Not only was it entertaining, but it also featured practical advice for determining whether to finish an old project or whether to unravel it and reuse the yarn for something else. There were also useful suggestions for what to do with projects that you don't really want to finish but you can't bring yourself to take apart. Since pretty much every crafter (no matter what their craft of choice) has unfinished projects lying around, I felt that this essay was the most relatable.
Did I like it? I think I would have appreciated the book more if I was in the target demographic of crochet enthusiasts.
Would I reread it? Probably not.
Would I recommend it? Only to people who are practicing crocheters.
November 5, 2017
Hooked for Life: Adventures of a Crochet Zealot has to be one of the funniest books that I’ve read in a very long time.
Mary Beth Temple knows inside out how life is for a crocheter. From loathing weaving in thousands of ends and discrimination to perpetually fighting the battle of Yarn Mountain, she understands the lows and highs of a crochet addiction.
A hook instead of a needle is our paraphernalia of choice and it never fails to deliver a hit when we need one, just as Mary Beth never fails to deliver at least a smile and, more often than not, a giggle or outright belly laugh.
She has a wonderful sense of humor. Just don’t ever call her a Happy Hooker!
Pick up your copy today. You’ll be glad you did!
Mary Beth Temple knows inside out how life is for a crocheter. From loathing weaving in thousands of ends and discrimination to perpetually fighting the battle of Yarn Mountain, she understands the lows and highs of a crochet addiction.
A hook instead of a needle is our paraphernalia of choice and it never fails to deliver a hit when we need one, just as Mary Beth never fails to deliver at least a smile and, more often than not, a giggle or outright belly laugh.
She has a wonderful sense of humor. Just don’t ever call her a Happy Hooker!
Pick up your copy today. You’ll be glad you did!
August 29, 2017
I started reading this a long while ago, reading a chapter or two before bed. Set it down, and forgot about it. Picked it up again, and finally finished. I enjoyed her snarky humor, especially about being a yard snob, finishing projects (weaving in ends), and too much yarn. She knows her subject well.
February 13, 2026
A fun short read…skip the patterns. Temple repeats many of the things my crocheting friends and I say, occasionally in an overwrought 8th grade essay style but mostly in a relatable lively mix of problems she’s encountered and solutions she’s recommending. Anyone who has spent a few hours with a pile of yarn should enjoy this book.
April 29, 2018
Great to have a yarn humor for crocheter's in addition to the Yarn Harlot series.
April 4, 2021
So great to have a book about crochet that isn't all patterns - not that I don't love a good pattern book. LOL
April 11, 2021
This is a really cute book about loving crochet! A fun read that actually made me love crocheting even more than I already do!! So glad I was gifted this:)
November 23, 2017
Watch this on YouTube
I am not a crocheter. I make a few things via loom knitting, so I could empathize a little with Mary Beth Temple’s plight in her book Hooked for Life: Adventures of a Crochet Zealot.
But you know what, even if you don’t know the difference between a crochet hook and a fishing hook you will enjoy this book. I know too well about going to the yarn store and spending more money than anticipated.
Temple talks about the odd questions that she get in public when she is crocheting. As of yet, this 6’3” 275 pound redneck has not been asked a single question when he sits his 5 gallon paint bucket down at the doctor’s office and takes out a loom and starts working with it. I suppose they figure if they don’t make any sudden moves they will be safe.
It really doesn’t matter if you know anything about yarn or yarn products at all. You will get a belly laugh out of Hooked for Life.
We give it all five stars. It is the kind of book you will tell your friends to buy, but you won’t loan them your copy.
I am not a crocheter. I make a few things via loom knitting, so I could empathize a little with Mary Beth Temple’s plight in her book Hooked for Life: Adventures of a Crochet Zealot.
But you know what, even if you don’t know the difference between a crochet hook and a fishing hook you will enjoy this book. I know too well about going to the yarn store and spending more money than anticipated.
Temple talks about the odd questions that she get in public when she is crocheting. As of yet, this 6’3” 275 pound redneck has not been asked a single question when he sits his 5 gallon paint bucket down at the doctor’s office and takes out a loom and starts working with it. I suppose they figure if they don’t make any sudden moves they will be safe.
It really doesn’t matter if you know anything about yarn or yarn products at all. You will get a belly laugh out of Hooked for Life.
We give it all five stars. It is the kind of book you will tell your friends to buy, but you won’t loan them your copy.
February 28, 2017
Delightful story how one became the crotcheting maniac. The useful tips for the beginners and amateurs how to become better in art. The personal experiences is the best and knowing about others sharing your passion is refreshing.
February 17, 2017
A funny, well written collection of short essays on the art of crocheting that is delightful reading for anyone who, like myself, is a lover of this craft. It may well be a book only crocheters can relate to, finding themselves chuckling in delight or nodding in recognition to accounts of continually being asked "what are you knitting?", or being called "hookers". But in a crafting world where there are far more books about knitting, Hooked For Life is a welcome addition to the literary resources available to yarn crafters who also like to crochet or who prefer crocheting to knitting.
July 31, 2014
I learned to crochet when I was five years old. Apparently a family friend wanted to give me something to do instead of bouncing around her house.... so she taught me to crochet. And I never looked back.
In an interesting twist, my great-grandmother could both crochet and knit.... but a) she never taught me and b) I never learned to knit. I tried to learn when I was in high school - 10 years after learning to crochet - and my brain just wouldn't figure out two needles with no hooks versus one hook.
So, I'm a crocheter (along with other artistic endeavors). Yet, as the author says, people don't seem to understand or 'get' crochet. If you're working on something, rarely do I hear "What are you crocheting?"... it's always "What are you knitting?" Then I try to explain what I'm doing and the difference.
So, as you can imagine, I really enjoyed this little book of essays that celebrates being a crocheter and its art. (Even tho the author doesn't like to be called a "hooker", I don't mind it at all... and she says she doesn't know any names for knitters, but I do: "knitwits"!)
The book is cute, funny, thought-provoking (I never thought about the history of either knitting or crochet, to be honest), enjoyable, and made me want to pick up my hook again (which I've put aside due to carpal tunnel and wrist pain)... and it's highly recommended!
In an interesting twist, my great-grandmother could both crochet and knit.... but a) she never taught me and b) I never learned to knit. I tried to learn when I was in high school - 10 years after learning to crochet - and my brain just wouldn't figure out two needles with no hooks versus one hook.
So, I'm a crocheter (along with other artistic endeavors). Yet, as the author says, people don't seem to understand or 'get' crochet. If you're working on something, rarely do I hear "What are you crocheting?"... it's always "What are you knitting?" Then I try to explain what I'm doing and the difference.
So, as you can imagine, I really enjoyed this little book of essays that celebrates being a crocheter and its art. (Even tho the author doesn't like to be called a "hooker", I don't mind it at all... and she says she doesn't know any names for knitters, but I do: "knitwits"!)
The book is cute, funny, thought-provoking (I never thought about the history of either knitting or crochet, to be honest), enjoyable, and made me want to pick up my hook again (which I've put aside due to carpal tunnel and wrist pain)... and it's highly recommended!
July 20, 2012
Friends of mine found this at a Library of Congress giveaway and thought I'd like it. I was pleasantly surprised to find that, for the most part, I did. It was a fun book to keep in my purse for the odd moment of down time while out and about. A few bits were annoying, such as the author's indignation over the very idea of calling crocheters "hookers." Personally, I think that's hilarious. The few patterns included were just weird. I wondered if they were from a reject pile that the author couldn't sell, so foisted them off on the readers if her book. But, as noted, it was fun on the balance.
August 29, 2011
There are lots of cute books about knitting, and it's high time we crocheters had one too! I actually do both, and hand embroidery as well, but to be honest crochet will always be my first love.
Whatever. It's all just playing with yarn. But for goddess' sake, get it straight people!
To quote the author of this lovely little book: KNITTING is the one with two needles! CROCHET is the one with a hook!
Grrrrrrrrrr!!!!!
Whatever. It's all just playing with yarn. But for goddess' sake, get it straight people!
To quote the author of this lovely little book: KNITTING is the one with two needles! CROCHET is the one with a hook!
Grrrrrrrrrr!!!!!
July 27, 2014
Cute and funny even though a bit wordy this is a fun book to read about being a lifetime crocheter. Filled with a bit of history on the craft, a couple of patterns, some funny anecdotes and a good dose of advice if you are interested in marketing your personal creations. I love the passion in this book. Ms. Temple writes with a true gusto and I am quite sure she was deadly serious when she suggested a 24hr yarn store!
December 14, 2016
Funny and relatable!
It was so nice to read a book written from a crocheter's point of view. Most of the "yarn" books out there are about knitting, which I can still relate to but having someone speak specifically towards crochet and who is a crocheter is awesome. She's funny and right on point, ha! If you crochet and love yarn you'll love this book.
It was so nice to read a book written from a crocheter's point of view. Most of the "yarn" books out there are about knitting, which I can still relate to but having someone speak specifically towards crochet and who is a crocheter is awesome. She's funny and right on point, ha! If you crochet and love yarn you'll love this book.
July 19, 2010
There are so many crocheting stories out there, just as there are many crocheters. This is a light read with short chapters that you can finish easily. If you want to laugh about your hobby or have someone who really understands the crafters' mindset, then read this.
August 11, 2009
I'm really in to crochet at the moment, and this book is inspiring me to learn more.
September 8, 2009
Loved this book! She's so funny and a total yarny - I can totally relate to her!
January 10, 2011
I liked this one :) Felt much more hip than the other crochet story books that I have read, and I needed that.
May 7, 2011
I loved this book because I'm an avid (maybe obsessive) crocheter. I love to read. I love to crochet. I love to laugh. This book satisfied all three.
April 26, 2013
I loved this book. It was a quick read, witty and quirky. I want her to have another book soon
April 27, 2013
A fun collection of essays.
March 2, 2014
Pretty good read, some things I really liked and others I didn't so much. I found it hard to read this book because it kept getting me motivated to put down the book and keep crocheting.
September 4, 2016
I dug this book, even if parts of it were kind of hokey. It's a book of essays basically about what life is like as a crocheter, with some love-letters to crochet sprinkled in for good measure.
August 28, 2016
Mary Beth Temple’s essays speak to the choir, but it’s good to know we crochet zealots aren’t alone.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews