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

Written by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

Narrated by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

The Yarn Harlot takes time away from her knitting to offer observations, meditations, reflections, and rants to soothe and delight the knitter's unraveled soul.



Like golfing, fishing, and gardening, knitting is an obsession. It's an activity fraught with guilt, frustration, over-optimism, sly deception, and compulsion, along with passionate moments of creative enlightenment. Not to mention heaps of yarn you really think you'll knit someday.



Stephanie Pearl-McPhee totally understands. In this hilarious collection of tangled reflections, she offers ample reassurance for anyone who has ever wondered, "Am I alone in my mania?" Casting off with some of her favorite quotations, she muses on why it's impossible to knit too much, how many calories knitting burns (about ninety an hour, not counting the extra for retrieving your ball of yarn from under the couch), and when it's okay to stalk a man in the grocery store (not because he's good-looking, but because he's wearing an Aran sweater you want to know how to knit).



The first step toward recovery is getting help—and having a good laugh at your compulsion. At Knit's End is a wicked and wickedly funny fix for any knitter.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Highbridge Company
• Release date: Jun 4, 2007
• ISBN: 9781598875256

Reviews for At Knit's End

[pferdina · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A cute little book of one-page meditations on knitting and knitters. Each page starts with a quotation, then there are a few sentences about the author's personal experiences, and finally a pledge like "I will pride myself on my stamina as a knitter." I enjoyed the little stories of knitting gone wrong. A few of them, near the end of the book, were substantially repeated (such as the one about single sock syndrome). On the other hand, many of the stories made me smile. Overall, a nice, light book to please any knitter.

[justicefortibet_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fun book about the obsessions we can develop for yarn, yarn shops, the latest gadgets and all things knitting. Good for times when you only have time for 5 minutes to read or when you just need a pick me up.

[mamacate_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Hilarious. Lots in here to show the spouse: "look, I'm not the only one."

[dancingwaves · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

An amusing look into the lives of obsessive knitters. Set up as a "meditation" book, so rather interesting; very quick to read.

[knittygritty_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Even if you are not a crafter, you will enjoy these musings. Stephanie is a great story teller as well as very entertaining. You might even be tempted to visit your local yarn shop to find out why crafters have so much fun.

[katya0133 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Stephanie's first book and probably still her best. She's got the "knitting humor" market locked down for a reason.

[vriesemafamily · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Its great to find a way to laugh at something you hold near and dear. This book is the equivalent of my husband's Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Series. I've placed it in my knitting basket beside my chair and pull it out for a wee bit of humour when the stitches get mussed and the prospect of a massive "frog" leaves me ready to swear off knitting forever... or at least until tomorrow.If you find yourself bristling when someone tries to "make you smile" then this isn't the book for you. If you're the sort who stands in awe at the fact that "you're a grown up!?!" then you'll likely love this book!

[Lynda Lumsden · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was surprised to like this book so much. Usually I listen to audio books as background company rather than actually take them in but this book was one I actually listened too. It may be because I was suffering a temporary pause in my knitting due to an injured shoulder hence the choice of a knitting book but it was so funny. Page after page struck a chord from the funny stories to the philosophical quotes. I will remember some of the quotes and stories for the rest of my life. In addition it cheered me up and made me realise I am not mad just a keen knitter( not sure the family would agree). I would recommend it to knitter and non knitter, if a knitter it will prove you are not mad if not a knitter it might make realise what you are missing or at least make you look more kindly on knitting friends.

[craftylibrarian_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A hilarious spoof on self-help books, this features quotes and "meditations" regarding obsessive knitting. Say it with me now... "See, I'm not the only one!"