I dont usually read this kind of non-fiction essay type book but I picked this up second hand because it looked interesting. Really enjoyed the authors writing style and found her stories both hilarious (the yarn in the elevator incident was my favorite) and relatable (even though Im much more a crochet person and rarely knit). Several struck a more serious note as well as the author takes a look at self esteem, family, and feminism. Easy to read and fun for any knitters or fibercraft types. ( )

I enjoyed it!

Random thoughts:
* Are there really people who walk and knit? If so, my weirdness with knitting has not quite hit that point (yet).
* I didn't know there were special bags for carrying around your yarn so it doesn't roll around on the bus. I promptly went out and bought this: Sock Knitting Project Bag Hexipuff Small Crochet Wip Bag - Crazy Calaveras so that I can carry around my socks in progress (SiP?).
* The story of the ball of the yarn in the elevator seriously cracked me up.
* The story of the little girl learning to knit was awesome.
* I no longer feel quite as guilty at the thought of having multiple needles of the same size so I can have more socks going at once. There is nothing wrong with my addiction and it's very nice to have it confirmed.

It was a light-hearted, funny book that poked fun at all of the things we do as knitters - or things that we think about doing but don't actually do.

I also really liked Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off: The Yarn Harlot's Guide to the Land of Knitting - I listened to that one on audio book. After all, what's better than reading fun knitting annocdotes than knitting *and* listening to an audio book about knitting? :) ( )

A collection of short stories and essays about knitting and knitters. I did not find them "laugh out loud" funny, for the most part, but many were humorous in a wry "been there" way. My favorite was probably the Dear John letter written to a sweater that was not working out. ( )

I don't think that there was a story that I could say "I've read this on her blog or in another book." That's awesome! The other books had a bit of a crossover on some of the stories. They were also longer for the most part than just a page or two and that was also great. ( )

Pearl-McPhee, Stephanie
Free-Range Knitter : The Yarn Harlot Writes Again

Nonfiction
"Never in a million years would I become one of those people who reads books about knitting." I guess I'll have to eat those words. Meet Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, a fantastic knitter, brilliant woman, and great writer. The world seen through her eyes is full of interesting characters, a lesson is learned around every corner and the mundane turns into adventure. You won't get very far into this book before you forget it's about knitting or knitters. Two favorite chapters are "Glory Days," about a competition called The Furnace Wars, and "Things Crappy Yarn Taught Me," which offers insights far beyond judging yarn quality. Start with those if you're skeptical. I know you'll want more. If you do, try Drunk, Divorced, and Covered in Cat Hair: The True-Life Misadventures of a 30-Something Who Learned to Knit after He Split by Laurie Beasley Perry, recommended for knitters and nonknitters alike. This reading experience was so good I'm thinking of branching out into books about fishing, or perhaps even a golf memoir.
Recommended September 2009