What do you think?
Rate this book
Knitting Rules!: The Yarn Harlot's Bag of Knitting Tricks
Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, the best-selling author of At Knit’s Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much and celebrated blogger and humorist of the knitting world, is back! Funnier than ever, Pearl-McPhee continues her running dialogue with her knitting compatriots — cheering them on to ever-greater heights in the climb to make knitting universally recognized as THE peak life experience.Both a celebration of knitting and a sourcebook for practical information, this book is a collection of useful advice and emotional support for the knitter. Pearl-McPhee examines essential truisms of knitting, side by side with tongue in-cheek warnings, realities, and fantasies about the act of knitting and the people who do it.In chapters on everything from yarn needles, gauge, and knitting bag essentials to hats, socks, shawls, and sweaters, Pearl-McPhee unravels the mysteries of what it is that makes knitting click, from the inside out. She dares to question longstanding rules and uncover the true essence of what makes a hat a hat, a sock a sock, and so on. Insights into why certain techniques work encourage knitters to take control and knit in the way that works best for them. As she says, “There are no knitting police.”The result is an illuminating, liberating (and hilarious!) look at knitting that will comfort the experienced knitter, surprise the mainstream one, and entice the beginner.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2006
205 people are currently reading
1296 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
9 books569 followersStephanie 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 355 reviews
May 3, 2008
There are about 56 pages of actual useful content in this book.
The actual useful content can be found starting on page 127 where she begins discussing socks. Following the sock section there are small sections on scarves and shawls. Most of this information could be gleaned by surfing the internet a bit or visiting the knittinghelp website.
The rest can be summed up as follows:
1. The author has lots of yarn EVERYWHERE and her house is a mess.
2. The fact that the author has lots of yarn everywhere and her house is a mess is the funniest thing EVER to the author.
3. According to the author, all knitters do nothing but knit and horde yarn ALL of the time.
4. All knitters will, evidently, walk backwards, nude, through the snow for the opportunity to go to a local yarn store, buy too much yarn, and meet with other knitters.
Save your money. Either check it out of the library or read pages 127 through 183 in the bookstore.
The actual useful content can be found starting on page 127 where she begins discussing socks. Following the sock section there are small sections on scarves and shawls. Most of this information could be gleaned by surfing the internet a bit or visiting the knittinghelp website.
The rest can be summed up as follows:
1. The author has lots of yarn EVERYWHERE and her house is a mess.
2. The fact that the author has lots of yarn everywhere and her house is a mess is the funniest thing EVER to the author.
3. According to the author, all knitters do nothing but knit and horde yarn ALL of the time.
4. All knitters will, evidently, walk backwards, nude, through the snow for the opportunity to go to a local yarn store, buy too much yarn, and meet with other knitters.
Save your money. Either check it out of the library or read pages 127 through 183 in the bookstore.
January 10, 2013
Since about a third of the book extols the stash, I figured a third of this review should, too. The other parts of the book do have some excellent knitting advice, though, and McPhee does write some entertaining prose.
This book has lead me to the conclusion that I am not a real knitter. I have a yarn stash, yes. It’s contained in one, one bin in the bottom of my closet and is mostly made of leftover yarn from former projects. If I go to a yarn store, I know exactly what I need for my current project, and I buy exactly that. I do not fondle yarn. I’m not in love with yarn. While I do prefer 100% wool for my knitting, friends, Wool of the Andes is my go-to yarn.1 I don’t fondle the skeins and think about what the yarn “wants” to be. I think about what I want to make, then select the appropriate yarn. It’s not that I don’t love good construction materials. I live in Northern New England and there is a reason I love wool!
But apparently the real knitter has a stash that’s big enough to be embarrassing, but not so embarrassing that there isn’t a bit of brag going on. The real knitter hides how much one spends on yarn from partners. The real knitter could happily use the stash as a mattress. The real knitter is obsessed in yarn stores, fondles the different yarns and consults with it so that it is possible to discover what that yarn wants to be.
I admit it. I’m not a real knitter. I just make sweaters and socks and hats with sticks and string.
This book has lead me to the conclusion that I am not a real knitter. I have a yarn stash, yes. It’s contained in one, one bin in the bottom of my closet and is mostly made of leftover yarn from former projects. If I go to a yarn store, I know exactly what I need for my current project, and I buy exactly that. I do not fondle yarn. I’m not in love with yarn. While I do prefer 100% wool for my knitting, friends, Wool of the Andes is my go-to yarn.1 I don’t fondle the skeins and think about what the yarn “wants” to be. I think about what I want to make, then select the appropriate yarn. It’s not that I don’t love good construction materials. I live in Northern New England and there is a reason I love wool!
But apparently the real knitter has a stash that’s big enough to be embarrassing, but not so embarrassing that there isn’t a bit of brag going on. The real knitter hides how much one spends on yarn from partners. The real knitter could happily use the stash as a mattress. The real knitter is obsessed in yarn stores, fondles the different yarns and consults with it so that it is possible to discover what that yarn wants to be.
I admit it. I’m not a real knitter. I just make sweaters and socks and hats with sticks and string.
January 2, 2012
My mother taught me to knit while she was visiting me at Thanksgiving, and so I am working on my very first item - a scarf, done in simple garter stitch with purple merino wool. Since her visit I've picked up a few books to help me, starting with two beginner knitter books and then followed by this one which I found by browsing at the store. I've read the author's blog for the last month or so and find her writing quite entertaining, so I figured I'd give this a whirl. This book is a great companion to the beginner "how-to" or "instruction manual" books that I've already got, as it's almost all word and explains a lot more of the "whys" and "why nots" than the details of the "how." There are a lot of entertaining comments, especially with regards to the concept of yarn stashing (which I'm familiar with due to my quilting fabric stash!), and a lot of descriptions of what can happen (or not) depending on what choices you make as you knit. There is also great information on knitting basic items like hats, scarves, and socks, which I'm finding really helpful as I look around this new hobby and am just starting to get the vocabulary and knowledge required to understand it all. While this might not be so helpful for an experienced knitter, I'd say it's a great addition to a beginner knitter's library and I'm looking forward to reading additional books by the author.
November 21, 2017
I've read Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's blog on and off for almost a decade and always felt like her writing voice was the kind of friend you could hang out with. This book definitely fulfills that personally friendly and funny voice, but also with no-nonsense advice for getting started with knitting. This book is for this generation of knitters- those who probably learned from online videos rather than from their elders. She breaks down the fundamentals of creating hats, socks, scarves/shawls, and sweaters without getting bogged down in specific patterns. This might be frustrating to some who want more hand holding, but Stephanie's purpose is to release confident knitters into the wild. As her closing says, it's just knitting after all. Use your noggin, don't be afraid to make mistakes, and knit confidently! If you are looking for a quick read to push your knitting forward once you've got the basic knit/purl stitch down, grab this book!
November 12, 2011
Now I understand why knitters become such ardent fans of Stephanie McPhee! Not only is this book full of sage advice for knitters, it's very funny. I think (admitting to being prejudiced) that even a non-knitter would enjoy this book for its humor. While it's directed at knitters, hoping to help us make our lives a bit easier with suggestion on stash/book/magazine organizing, simple instructions for generic hats, scarves, sweaters, and socks, it's also full of a wealth of practical advice on how to cop with living with a knitter. Figuring out what kind of knitter you are (scientific), and what to do when Things Go Wrong. This was a joy to read and I plan to keep it right by my side, along with the other 457 books about knitting in my collection.
February 9, 2012
I enjoyed this book, especially the tables of average garment sizes. (I already know enough to come up with all of her recipes on my own, but for a less experienced knitter I think those would also be very valuable.) However, about 1/4 of the way in I stopped seeing the author's comments as jokingly self-deprecating, and started seeing it as her almost bragging about how non-smart and self-focused she is in many, many ways - weird, and not very attractive. Despite that, I found the content useful and would definitely recommend it to friends who were interested in the 'whys' of knitting.
My one main disappointment was that there was no discussion of finishing other than blocking. I have yet to find a book that talks about the 'right' ways to weave in ends.
My one main disappointment was that there was no discussion of finishing other than blocking. I have yet to find a book that talks about the 'right' ways to weave in ends.
February 16, 2018
Added to my TBR April 10, 2013
There is literally nothing in this world that inspires me to knit more than reading a Stephanie Pearl-McPhee book. She's so funny, so enthusiastic, it's impossible for me to read even a page without my fingers itching to grab some needles.
Of course, then I got to the chapters about knitting socks and sweaters, and all the mathing involved, and my knitrection drooped mightily. Because math.
Still. Such a fantastic book, and hopefully my desire to knit will continue for at least a few months. I've been on a serious knitting slump for awhile now.
April 25, 2015
Part funny anecdotes, part how to, part pattern book. This wasn't quite as much fun to read through as Yarn Harlot but is one I need a copy of on my shelf to refer back to. There are a lot of practical tips and advice that I kept wanting to snap pics of to remember.
January 18, 2022
This book was a good find in a local Little Library. I've been reading it off and on for a few months - not that it's dense or anything (it's not!), I've just been distracted. As someone who's really gotten into knitting, I appreciated this book and the various tips and humour throughout.
February 14, 2023
3.5 stars
Much ado (to-do?) about knitting. Entertaining; tales, toils, and troubles.
Much ado (to-do?) about knitting. Entertaining; tales, toils, and troubles.
January 25, 2013
I really, really liked this book. I'm pausing before giving it a 5 star because I'm still in the grip of the glow of my first knitted sock following her instructions. (The instructions about the sock are clear and very good.) I'm wondering if that might false inflate the score I'm thinking about giving.
I think this is an excellent book for beginners - and has a lot to offer in the way of tips for yarn storage, knitting bags, and project management. (Yes, there is such a thing as knitting project management, especially when to back out gracefully.)
Probably not for intermediate/advanced knitters unless you like Pearl-McPhee's persona and don't mind reading something that you know already.
I think this is an excellent book for beginners - and has a lot to offer in the way of tips for yarn storage, knitting bags, and project management. (Yes, there is such a thing as knitting project management, especially when to back out gracefully.)
Probably not for intermediate/advanced knitters unless you like Pearl-McPhee's persona and don't mind reading something that you know already.
February 14, 2011
Full of the kind of humor that will tickle anyone who has ever knit, whether a novice or an expert or somewhere in between, but especially those who have a stash of yarn and a tendency to try to bring new knitters into the fold. Beyond the humor, though, there are some very helpful knitting tips and sets of instructions for simple knitting without patterns, even for some things I don't think of as simple, like socks.
If you're interested in knitting, this will give you a hint of what an obsession it can become, and a few laughs to boot.
If you're interested in knitting, this will give you a hint of what an obsession it can become, and a few laughs to boot.
January 22, 2018
I loved this book! Loved Stephanie's humour and all the little tips and tricks.
It was because of this book that I finally took the plunge and learned sock knitting on dpn's. I cast on using sport weight yarn and big needles and followed Stephanie's recipe. I ended up with one huge blue sock, but by god I did it!
So thanks for that.
It was because of this book that I finally took the plunge and learned sock knitting on dpn's. I cast on using sport weight yarn and big needles and followed Stephanie's recipe. I ended up with one huge blue sock, but by god I did it!
So thanks for that.
August 7, 2008
I wasn't too impressed with this book, in fact i don't think i finished it.
May 5, 2011
Good book for beginner knitter.. Good humor throughout
April 5, 2014
I always love Stephanie's books. The 'ohmygosh I KNOW!' feeling about her stories, the tips, the 'patterns'. And now I have her basic sock pattern! Win win!
November 15, 2023
This book is kind of an odd duck. It’s tough to say who the audience for this is. Overall, I’d call it a humorous and enthusiastic promotion for knitting for knitters in all walks of fiber life.
In some ways, it’s written for beginners- the author wants to inspire and motivate beginners to take up arms by making the art of knitting as approachable as she can, but it’s also written for like a specific kind of new knitter. This book comes off more like a warm positive conversation from someone who has a lot of knitting experience (and a lot of expertise that she keeps on the DL) to people with SOME knitting involvement and LESS of a technical instructional guide. She does have “patterns” in this book, but they aren’t presented in an applied way, more like a loosey-goosey style that isn’t helpful to a completely new knitter at all. I would say this is more of a fun supplemental book to a new knitter with SOME experience. It’s informative and can be helpful, but lacks an instructional tone. Her target beginner audience is for people who are interested in knitting but may have been intimidated by technical snobbery or cold instructional books. She just wants you to knit and she’s here take out the fussiness and give you the layman’s terms to assist you in your knitting endeavors.
In some ways this book is NOT for beginners. She writes this book with a lot of terminology and jokes for those in the knitting life already, and her message for “new knitters” can also be interpreted for seasoned knitters- get out of your head and don’t take this too seriously- just knit! Find your joy in knitting! Break rules! Seasoned knitters will get a chuckle out of all the relatable anecdotes but there’s nothing much to gain from this book other than witnessing one of their own proselytizing to newbies to join the cult.
As an experienced knitter, I could relate to most of the knitting humor, but i know her conversational tone would not have been enough for me to pick up knitting if i were new to it. Too vague but also too exclusive?
In some ways, it’s written for beginners- the author wants to inspire and motivate beginners to take up arms by making the art of knitting as approachable as she can, but it’s also written for like a specific kind of new knitter. This book comes off more like a warm positive conversation from someone who has a lot of knitting experience (and a lot of expertise that she keeps on the DL) to people with SOME knitting involvement and LESS of a technical instructional guide. She does have “patterns” in this book, but they aren’t presented in an applied way, more like a loosey-goosey style that isn’t helpful to a completely new knitter at all. I would say this is more of a fun supplemental book to a new knitter with SOME experience. It’s informative and can be helpful, but lacks an instructional tone. Her target beginner audience is for people who are interested in knitting but may have been intimidated by technical snobbery or cold instructional books. She just wants you to knit and she’s here take out the fussiness and give you the layman’s terms to assist you in your knitting endeavors.
In some ways this book is NOT for beginners. She writes this book with a lot of terminology and jokes for those in the knitting life already, and her message for “new knitters” can also be interpreted for seasoned knitters- get out of your head and don’t take this too seriously- just knit! Find your joy in knitting! Break rules! Seasoned knitters will get a chuckle out of all the relatable anecdotes but there’s nothing much to gain from this book other than witnessing one of their own proselytizing to newbies to join the cult.
As an experienced knitter, I could relate to most of the knitting humor, but i know her conversational tone would not have been enough for me to pick up knitting if i were new to it. Too vague but also too exclusive?
March 5, 2018
Actually funny, in that I would force my family and friends to listen to select passages (which, as non-knitters, they couldn't appreciate, unfortunately!).
Ms. Pearl-McPhee, whom I met at a recent knitting event, describes this book as her only actually useful book, but her voice is so compelling that I look forward to reading more of her not-truly-useful oeuvre. This is a very easy read, with short essays (technically the right term, but that sounds so dry--they're not!), sidebars, lists, caveats, etc., interspersed with instructions for making things, sometimes as simple as (I'm approximating) "knit to desired width, turn, keep knitting until scarf is desired length." See, knitting patterns don't have to be complicated!
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
Ms. Pearl-McPhee, whom I met at a recent knitting event, describes this book as her only actually useful book, but her voice is so compelling that I look forward to reading more of her not-truly-useful oeuvre. This is a very easy read, with short essays (technically the right term, but that sounds so dry--they're not!), sidebars, lists, caveats, etc., interspersed with instructions for making things, sometimes as simple as (I'm approximating) "knit to desired width, turn, keep knitting until scarf is desired length." See, knitting patterns don't have to be complicated!
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
April 20, 2019
Stephanie Pearl-McPhee’s Knitting Rules! presents practical knitting advice packed with lots of humor. For example: “Skeins of sock yarn are small enough that many hundreds may be squirreled away in your home without revealing the true scope of your addiction. Look for discreet, infrequently visited locations...the pockets of luggage, tucked inside a gravy boat, behind books on bookshelves, or in the extra space in the corners of the guest-room pillowcases” (page 148) and “If you want your shawl to stay on, no matter what shape it is, knit it so that it’s at least the length of your wing-span—fingertip to fingertip with your arms outstretched. This measurement will also be the same as your height. In virtually all humans, wingspan equals height, so you don’t have to go around measuring people for shawls with their arms poised as if for flight. Simply ask them how tall they are” (page 174).
September 10, 2023
My MIL (also a knitter) sent me this book after she read it. It had been sent to her by her sister (also a knitter), who found it on a freebie table at a library sale or some such thing. McPhee is so funny. This was a really entertaining read and a good overview of what all is available for knitters to do with their miles and miles of yarn and sticks.
It’s quite outdated, though, written in 2006 (probably why it was on a freebie table!). It was pre-Ravelry! Or pre-common use of Ravelry. So it contains tips on pattern storage and usage like binders and page protectors. It feels quaintly old fashioned for knitters like me who use their Ravelry library and the knit companion app. Still, I’m considering trying an adult-sized sweater again, which means it was good inspiration to try something new (or, try again—I’ve cast on many, completed none.) I’ll knit sweaters for babies and dachshunds, but adult human sweaters still intimidate…
It’s quite outdated, though, written in 2006 (probably why it was on a freebie table!). It was pre-Ravelry! Or pre-common use of Ravelry. So it contains tips on pattern storage and usage like binders and page protectors. It feels quaintly old fashioned for knitters like me who use their Ravelry library and the knit companion app. Still, I’m considering trying an adult-sized sweater again, which means it was good inspiration to try something new (or, try again—I’ve cast on many, completed none.) I’ll knit sweaters for babies and dachshunds, but adult human sweaters still intimidate…
June 12, 2018
Really laugh out loud funny for other crazy, stash-hiding, pattern-semi-ignoring knitters! I texted random passages to my mom (another knitter) because I had to share.
Her writing style is effortless, friendly and companionable. I think she does hit the self-effacing 'I'm a dork' button a little too hard if you read it all at one stretch but in little bites, it works well. The basic recipe/patterns are nice and I hope they brought some sense of experimentation to new knitters. All in all a fun light-hearted read that will make you feel you've got plenty of yarn friends!
Her writing style is effortless, friendly and companionable. I think she does hit the self-effacing 'I'm a dork' button a little too hard if you read it all at one stretch but in little bites, it works well. The basic recipe/patterns are nice and I hope they brought some sense of experimentation to new knitters. All in all a fun light-hearted read that will make you feel you've got plenty of yarn friends!
December 18, 2018
A perfect book to gift to uncertain knitters! I've been knitting for years now and had been in a slump; patterns that I thought were too difficult I stayed away from, but ones that I could do bored me. While this wasn't so much the anecdotal treasure trove some of Stephanie's other books are, this was the one to get me my mojo back! I CAN do brioche stitch, and I CAN tackle that color work. Included here, you will find some easy how to's, a little bit of cautionary advice, and a lot of humor.
May 22, 2019
Honestly, there are clearer, more practical guides about knitting out there. This was has some info in it, but really is like having a conversation about the knitty-gritty with a really funny friend.
I really like Pearl-McPhee's writing voice. She's witty, full of anecdotes and terrible examples, and eyes her craft with the eyes of love and the knowledge that sometimes that love can frustrate the everloving %@! out of you.
For me, that's a fun read.
I really like Pearl-McPhee's writing voice. She's witty, full of anecdotes and terrible examples, and eyes her craft with the eyes of love and the knowledge that sometimes that love can frustrate the everloving %@! out of you.
For me, that's a fun read.
June 21, 2017
This is one of those books that's mostly humor and not a lot of actual knitting advice. Have a stash of yarn that's slowly taking over your house? Do you have more knitting needles and magazines than you do anything else? If you're an obsessive knitter or someone who loves an obsessive knitter, you might enjoy Pearl-McPhee's take on why knitters do the strange things they do.
August 26, 2017
Came for the sock pattern recommended by Michelle, stayed for the utterly charming voice as Yarn Harlot held court on the wonders of yarn and the virtues of various kinds of knitting projects. I think I'm a bit too advanced a knitter for it to be really worth it for me to own this book, but I DO want to copy every one of her estimated size and yarn needed charts - SO handy!
July 25, 2019
Funny AND helpful
This book relates to me so well! The author tells stories and uses examples that I (and most knitters) recognize immediately and cringe at because we’ve been caught! The author breaks down hats, socks, scarves and sweaters into simple directions that make you believe that you can do it, too.
This book relates to me so well! The author tells stories and uses examples that I (and most knitters) recognize immediately and cringe at because we’ve been caught! The author breaks down hats, socks, scarves and sweaters into simple directions that make you believe that you can do it, too.
May 5, 2025
Loved this book. Usually, knitting 'how-to' books are a bit dry and technical. Not this one! This one had me laughing out loud in places. Stephanie doesn't just teach you some helpful knitting tips - she also explains why the rules are important - in a fun, relaxed, and entertaining way. As you read through, it's like you're knitting and chatting over a cuppa tea with your bestie.
December 14, 2025
This is a very unique knitting book. Stephanie shares tips in knitting that I haven’t seen anywhere. Tips of using your body to measure socks and a measure on your hand is the same measure for the depth of a knitted hat. I kept the measurements general to not spoil the book. So it was a very enlightening read. This book is a keeper for my book shelf.
August 15, 2017
A must-read for every knitter who enjoys knitting with others. Knitting etiquette, including taking care of your favorite hard-working knitting shop owner. Great book, regardless of one's knitting experience and expertise. I didn'the realize until I read it, how much I needed this book.
February 19, 2018
The advice on everything is excellent here, with the notable exceptions of dealing with stashes and storage. It's really important for most of us who are not professional knitters to be able to think rationally about such things as storage space and budgeting.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 355 reviews