Free-Range Knitter: The Yarn Harlot Writes Again

This book is a collection of stories. While it's written by knitters for knitters, you don't actually have to be a knitter to appreciate the stories. (The lingo might make a bit more sense though.) Since one of my ex-girlfriends liked to knit (and consequently, I've been on trips to buy yarn), I'm not entirely unfamiliar with knitting, but I've certainly never done anything with knitting needles that didn't involve pretend sword-fighting.However, like I said, you don't have to be a knitter to appreciate the stories. The book's author/compiler, Susan Pearl McPhee, winds her own stories (and humourous letters) throughout the book, giving it a nice overall cohesiveness, and the stories that she's brought in from other writers are quite good. Broken up into sections which have knitting names ("Cast On" for the first, "Cast Off" for the last, etc.), the book is easy enough to read by story or by section.There were times during the stories when I found myself laughing out loud, so I'm confident that others will really enjoy this book. Even though it's skewed toward a female audience (there's only one story about a male knitter, written by a woman, who then talks about how women view male knitters) the underlying themes of family, trials, tribulations, love, loss, happiness, and yes, knitting, speak to a human audience.

Stephanie's newest book leaves me unable to find words to match those inside the book. I doubt I can do this book justice.This fine book is about knitting, yes, but really not so much about knitting as about what happens when knitting is part of life. The stories and essays glide and ripple and twist, carrying the reader pellmell into intimate contact with men, women, children, animals, ideas, and humor - and always the light of knitting is leaking through, shining its innocence, tough love, and grace onto stumbling humanity.Stephanie is a master at fostering reflection through story-telling. The first story, about a very young knitter named Annabelle, holds many layers of meaning about incredibly important things. And the last story, about a very old knitter, who needed no yarn to knit, let me close the book with a sense of fulfilment. We knitters, as well as non-knitters (who would love this book) are so very lucky to have someone like Stephanie spinning tales for us, with her sharp and shiny wit rising so naturally from an honest heart. I am grateful.

I had forgotten just how funny Stephanie's (may I call you "Stephanie"?) prose is. I had read the DTB version of some of her books but when I saw the Kindle version of this one On The Cheap, I had to snag it and re-read it. Problem is: I'm trying to read it slyly at work on my iPhone app and I keep giggling madly at parts of it.It's increasingly hard to make people in the office think I'm checking really long work-related emails when I snort coffee out of my nose.One more thing? You want to see an unusual knitting style? Try mirror-style, left-handed English-style -- and I knit back, mirror-style, left-handed Continental. oh yeah, it stops traffic.I love Stephanie's (may I call you "Stephanie"? ha) books. I want them all on my Kindle/iPhone/iPad and some quotes tattooed on.

I enjoyed pretty much all the stories in this book. The only one I did not enjoy at all was the one about her definition of "crappy yarn" and how absolutely nothing made out of it will be pretty or any good. And anyone knitting with such yarn is wasting their time. And how the stuff they make is ugly and should be thrown away. And how the only "pretty" knitted things are the things made out of the expensive yarns. I am a knitter on a very limited budget and have to use the cheaper yarns. It's either that or I don't get to knit at all. And for me, that's not a choice. I feel that it shouldn't be about how expensive the yarn is you're using, it should be about the fact that you are knitting . I think that maybe instead of criticizing those of us that aren't rich and can't afford the high priced yarns, she should maybe be encouraging us and say it's more important that you're knitting. Just my opinion.

I highly recommend this book, even for non knitters. The essays are thoughtful, funny, and well written. The essays on raising kids were some of my favorites.

Always enjoy reading Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's stories. Sometimes they strike a familiar chord with another knitter, and are quite humorous. This book did have some of her personal experiences, which may not be as entertaining unless one has an old washing machine. All in all, a nice little book of stories to read at odd times.

I love to read books that I can relate too, and Stephanie's books (this is the second one that I've read) are definitely full of stories I can relate too. I often found myself laughing out loud at something in the books that I've done or said. There is no way, really, to do justice to the way these books are written, or to the absolute joy they are to read. You'll just have to read them for yourselves, and I highly recommend that you do so. You'll be glad you did!

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee is an excellent author. She writes well, with both well crafted prose and hysterical rants that will have you with tears in your eyes. (Don't read her stuff in public, people will stare as you alternate with giggles and tears!) You will agree with her because she manages to grab the most interesting topics and make them funny. She also outs every knitter's lust for more and more yarn, and the inevitable goof in various projects. I will be reading everything she writes, just hope she keeps on putting those wonderful books out!

You might not enjoy this as much as I did if you've never had your significant other try to stage an intervention over the fact your yarn is beginning to take over your home. But if you're a knitter, you'll probably find something you enjoy in this book.

I love this author's books and this was no exception. A great observer of knitters and other ( can't really say lesser) humanity.Would also amuse non knitters who might just be converted.

Fabulous as always! A hilarious mix of knitting stories and stories about life in general that is sure to embarrass you in public. My only regret is that I read it too fast!

this book is very good, easy read, very good for holidays when you have had enough of knitting. The lost knitting needle made me laugh so so typical I can imagine doing that my self, but perhaps not quite to that degree.

a good laugh like her other books, nice size book for your pocket or hand bag, once picked up you cant put it down.