Things I Learned From Knitting

by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

The Yarn Harlot strikes again! Best-selling knitting author and humorist Stephanie Pearl-McPhee is back with an irresistible collection of witty observations on how knitting and life wisdom are spun together.In Things I Learned From Knitting (Whether I Wanted To or Not), Pearl Mc-Phee examines age-old aphorisms in light of knitting. From "Hope Springs Eternal" to "A Friend In Need Is A Friend Indeed" and "Birds Of A Feather Flock Together," Pearl-McPhee casts a fresh, off-beat light on these sayings. Presented in quick, punchy takes, each entry in this book calls out to be read aloud and shared with anyone who enjoys playing with yarn and needles.Pearl-McPhee's observations are hilarious; the situations she describes strike a familiar, "not you, too?" feeling in the heart of anyone who knits. Interspersed throughout the book are her notes on the things that "Knitting is still trying to teach me. . ." That no matter how well you knit, looking at your work too closely isn't helpful. It's like kissing with your eyes open. Nobody looks good that close up.

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

160 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 19, 2008

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

[Nico · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was honestly just adorable and made me giggle so many times. I found myself on several occasions reading out many bits to my family (none of them are knitters, but they live vicariously through me, sigh).

Also, CANADIAN AUTHOUR! 10 POINTS AWARDED TO GRYFFINDOR! (Seriously though, she actually lives in the same city as me, it's kind of a big deal, I'm really excited, I could run into her in a knitting shop somewhere and I could tell her I read the book and sincerely loved it, and she could like sign my knitting needle or something, like a big one, like my US12 or something... Am I rambling? I think I'm rambling. I'll see myself out.)

[Gwynneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book on one of THOSE days and promptly sent the author some well deserved karmic kudos. Boy, did I ever need the laughs.

Granted, knitters will be the most appreciative of this humor but trust me, any crafty kind of person, male or female, will enjoy this book. Just swap in whatever you use, thread, beads, glue gun, hammer, blowtorch, etc., and you'll be off.

I won't say anything else but instead, will share a few of the wonderfully humorous observations.

From the side bar, 1 of 4 things that are really funny when they happen to other knitters:

"When, after 6 hours of cursing and attempting to sew together his new cardigan, a knitter discovers that the reason it won't go together right is not because he can't figure out where the seams go....but because he's knit a back, two sleeves, and two right fronts."

"Knitting is still teaching me to count. I thought I had mastered it in the first grade, but since I have just placed the neck opening for a sweater directly over my right shoulder blade, I apparently need to work on it."

"Knitting is still trying to teach me that things get knit faster when you actually work on them. That's why the scarf I've allegedly been knitting for two years just isn't getting any bigger, no matter how long I leave it in the basket."

"Beginning is easy; continuing is hard."

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I ordered this book from Amazon on a whim, thinking I wanted something other than a pattern book for some light reading. This pocket sized book is a collection of musings from the Yarn Harlot paralleling life with knitting.

It was cute, if sometimes a little forced. I think anyone can find a knitting/life parallel if they try hard enough, and none of the anecdotes were earthshaking or eye opening. Pearl-McPhee rights with a quick wit and a sense of humor that makes the read enjoyable, though, and it did put me in the mood to knit.

To be honest, this book strikes me as a mini coffee table book, and so it's going with a small collection I keep at my work desk for aesthetic and interest value. I do recommend it as a fun read for fellow knitters, though I'm guessing non-knitters would find it boring and not informative.

[Kathy Rudd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious collection of life's and knitting's little lessons. Fast read that I finished in one evening. I am not a very good knitter, I am much better at and prefer crochet. My relationship to yarn has taught me these lessons as well. If you have your own relationship with yarn, you will love this quick little read.

[Liz Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a knitter and have not read any of Pearl-McPhee's musings on knitting and life, you would do well to start with this little book. Pearl-McPhee (aka the Yarn Harlot) will make you laugh out loud as she writes about the behavior and characteristics of knitters, our irrational need to keep adding to an already excessive stash, and the enduring appeal of a good yarn store.

[Barbara VA · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun romp of blog entries of the trials and tribulations of knitting that I SO relate to.

[Danae T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light and funny read about knitting things. Also, a mirror to another knitter's experience, with some universal truths, such as: GAUGE SWATCHES LIE.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick enjoyable little book that I am sure only knitters will appreciate.

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

cute read about the true of knitting...

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author gets me and you if you're a knitter

Every chapter of this book by the Yarn Harlot made me laugh out loud. They reflected my life with yarn and knitters. If you are a knitter, live with a knitter or know a knitter then you should read this book. It will explain a lot about knitters and how they function. You'll thank me for recommending it.

[Susan]

Funny and so true!

[Ashley Lambert-Maberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love her, loved the book (technically it's 4.5 stars but I'm rounding up because in person she's even funnier, but also more touching, and a wonderful teacher--it's hard to separate the author from the text once you've met them).

When I began knitting I searched in vain for a book like this. I don't want to learn how to knit, I want to learn what it feels like to be a knitter. (There are wonderful books in this vein for gardeners, for instance, some masterpieces of memoir). But instead I basically found these:

1. Knitting for brand new stupid people like you
2. 1,000 patterns for sweaters for women (note: I'm a man)
3. How to knit cutesy teensy weensy whimsical forest thingummies
4. Norwegian tufted bobble weaving-stitch, made easy

So what a thrill when I stumbled across Ms. Pearl-McPhee and her compassionate, hilarious accounts of how it feels to knit. I am not alone!

(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).

[Ketti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read one of Stephanie’s books and loved every word of it. Then I bought three more of her books for me and my sisters. We are reading them, making little notes and then passing it on the next sister.
Delightful book! My favorite chapter was……the 42nd thing, All’s well that ends well. Stephanie draws a parallel between parenting and knitting. “In both knitting and parenting, the very hardest thing is that you have to do a lot of work for a long time before you have any idea at all if the project you are working on is going to be any good. With both parenting and knitting, you have to hang in there while you do the same things, over and over and over, always hope for the best. (With knitting, it is stitches; with parenting I believe it is either making lunches or says No.) With both things you have to have some faith that what you are working on will become beautiful and good, no matter what it looks like right now.

[Regina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tend to shy away from books that put a philosophical spin on knitting. I do not enter into some transcendent state of enlightenment as a result of knitting. Yes, it is a passion, therapy and outlet, but knitting has not taught me things, rather, life has and I am able to apply what I have learned to my craft. If anything, knitting is a microcosm of life with its increases, decreases and WIPs! How I approach knitting is as a result of how I learn to handle life. None the less, there were plenty of 'laugh out loud' moments in this book that more than made up for its pretense. Honestly, I think my time would have been better spent and more enjoyable if I had used it to knit rather than to read about it.

[RB · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little book is a humorous take on knitting written by a long time knitter, and she recounts the life lessons that she has learned from knitting. It draws parallels to real life situations and it's pretty funny. I guess you have to be a knitter to get the full enjoyment out of it! I found out that I sat there chuckling to myself during my daily commute yesterday while reading it. :)

Edit April 2nd 2024. Just finished re-reading this funny little book. It’s amazing that I had actual read it before and forgotten all about it, because as you know life happens. This little gem of a book still holds its value and I found myself giggling all over again.

[Rex Libris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a collection of moral principals and maxims, illustrated with knitting stories. The principals and maxims are all important and well worth living by. Things started going wrong for me with this book when I realized I knew almost nothing about knitting such that many of the illustrations were words I knew drowned out by words I did not know.

As mentioned above, the principles are important and one ought to live by them. But to get the most out of this book, it helps to be a serious knitter.

For the record, my daughter the knitter is the one who got this book out of the library. I only read it because it was laying there.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of the ways that knitting helps us, with design, with managing (or not) what is important, with living our lives fully. When knitters like McPhee write from the heart, something more than the needles click. Always a delight to read, this volume adds to the literature by helping knitters to know what might happen when trying to clear airport security with needles and gear in hand. Dangerous! Knitting opens the mind in revolutionary ways, and thus is dangerous! But not in the way that the non-knitter might think. Let's just let that be the knitters' secret for now.

[Fran Gerardi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy knitting and, for the most part, I enjoy reading about other knitters and their love for the craft. I received this book a a gift a while go and just skimmed it at the time. I sat and read it from cover to cover this time and totally enjoyed the authors humor, writing, and the lessons she learned from knitting. It is truly amazing how the simple art of knitting can be applied to many of life's lessons.

The book is also inspirational. Reading her knitting adventures just makes me want to knit more and also, I want to delve into her other knitting books!

[Reading Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm working on an all-over stranded steeked cardigan on size 2 US needles, and needless to say, it is S L O W going at times, so I took a break by reading this book. As usual, it's more like a snack than a book--easily readable in one sitting, and full of funny silly truths about knitters. It's true: I'm patient as heck waiting....as long as I have my Purse Sock. Put me in a waiting room without knitting and I'm a caged chimp.

Thanks for another fun fluffy read!

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a relative newcomer to knitting, I picked this up for some relief from a big project I’m working on now. This book is so spot-on in its description of the knitting process — the joys and frustrations both! I laughed out loud over several of her “things” (short essays). This woman knows how to knit and how to write. It was just what I needed as a break from a heavier topic I’m reading right now and the knitting that occupies much of my day.

If you’re a knitter, this is a must-read!

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually like her books a lot. This book was a quick read but didn't quite do it for me. There we're some times I felt that she was trying to be too hard to be funny or I couldn't tell if she was trying to be funny or serious. Overall though, the book was entertaining and easy to read. I thank her for writing books like this, because sometimes you don't feel like knitting, can't knit, or you are just too tired.

[Nikki Merkt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading a book about Something you love, especially a funny, light-hearted book, is sometimes the only thing you need to fall in more in love with that Something.

This book is a super quick read and exactly what I was hoping for when I checked it out from the local library. The final lines of this book are an excellent reminder and I’m thankful for having the leisure time and opportunity to read it.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephanie is a great writer (duh) and this book has been so much fun to read. She’s always funny and thoughtful and I love her glimpses into the life of a knitter. I laughed out loud and sighed softly with this book because it’s so well written. A must read for any knitter or even someone who loves a knitter.

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. An enjoyable read that had me nodding along at times, but not at others as my style and knitting philosophy is very different from the author's. Even just over a decade later the rise of Ravelry and Instagram have totally changed the world of knitting and the way that knitters connect, leaving the book feeling dated.

[Joan M · Rating 3 out of 5]

McPhee is a professional knitter who takes her knitting seriously and not too seriously at the same time. If you're looking for step-by-step instruction stick with patterns. Her books are musings on the craft, the things she's learned snd the things she's ignored. Sometimes to her detriment, but its a learning experience.

And she's funny.

[H3dakota · Rating 4 out of 5]

"If you knit bobbles on the front of a sweater, they look like nipples. Furthermore, multiple bobbles down the front of [the] sweater make it look as though you're equipped to nurse a litter."

LOL, true true. Fun little read appreciated best by we knitters.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of what made this book so much fun is two of my sisters read it first. In the margins they left funny notes. They underlined their favorite parts. Reading it was like having them both with me. They live half way across the nation so that was a treat.

[Theresa F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is primarily a work of humor, but there are some underlying truths beneath the lighthearted writing. Amusing, thoughtful, and above all, concise.
Did I like it? Yes.
Would I reread it? Maybe.
Would I recommend it? Yes.

[Atlantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed all of the books by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. Her writing has a nice flow and is always entertaining. Her love of knitting and how she relates it in the little lessons of life is encouraging and thoughtful.

[Henri3tt3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee schreibt mit viel Augenzwinkern von den Parallelen zwischen ihrem wolligen Hobby und anderen Bereichen des Lebens, z.B. Kindererziehung und Ehe. Manches ist trivial, anderes sehr klug. Wer strickt, kann sich in vielem wiedererkennen.