Knitting Rules!: The Yarn Harlot's Bag of Knitting Tricks

Very pleased with this purchase! Item is as described in the listing. Would purchase from this seller again. Price is reasonable.

I love this book!! I got it at my local library, and by the second chapter, I knew I had to own it!! I have been knitting most of my adult life--over 50 years--but I was never really 100% satisfied with what I made. The garments either came out too large, too small, or just plain not what I'd expected. No more. If you follow the author's advice, you will be able to knit hats, scarves, even sweaters and socks, without having to look up from your needles, trying to remember where your place was in the pattern. You won't always HAVE to use a pattern, but if you choose to, this book will make it easier for you, as well. The author provides you with a "recipe" that will be fine-tuned to the specific measurements you need for what you are making. Once you add color and/or texture, you will be able to make a truly unlimited wardrobe of knitted garments. She instructs by mixing humor in with her vast knowledge of knitting short-cuts, and even explains why the the dreaded "swatch," something I always considered a total waste of time for an "experienced" knitter, is the cornerstone of EVERY experienced knitter. Not only will I never make another garment without making that swatch first, but I'll also launder it "...in the manner the finished garment will be laundered." (The few times I HAD made a swatch in the past, I certainly hadn't wasted MORE time washing it! Big mistake! Huge!!) This is the one book that is a MUST if you want to learn how to do serious knitting. It is now my go-to book for all things to knit!!

I bought this on a whim and am so glad I did. I earned a lot of helpful information. Did you know that the distance from one fingertip to another of a person's outstretched arms -wingspan - is the same as their height? Or that the length of a person's foot is the same as the distance from their elbow to their wrist? These tips can be very useful if knitting a surprise gift for someone (a shawl or socks). As useful as the information and patterns in the book were, that wasn't my favorite part. I really enjoyed her style of writing. Her turn of phrase was at times so amusing that I'd laugh out loud. This is just a word of warning in case you think you can sneak in a chapter or two when you wake up in the middle of the night. As quiet as you try to be, the bed shaking that results inevitably wakes up your husband. And as I live in California, he thinks it might be another earthquake. Highly recommend!

The book I always give to new knitters, or wannabe knitters (fortunately, the mother of the 11 year old I gave it to was cool with her daughter's saying: "mom, she said 'ass'! right in this book!"). My copy is cat-eared, i.e., chewed on by cats. If I had to downsize to Only One Knitting Book, this would be it. Over June Hiatt and the big Vogue book and all the rest. Even over Anna Zilboorg. You need something else--youtube, or a neighbor, or your LYS (local yarn shop) to learn the knit stitch and then the leap to purl; affter that, Stephanie's book is enough for a lifetime. Admittedly, I own a few dozen other knitting books and am not looking to downsize, but I've bought I think 4 copies of this (sorry, Amazon, not all from you).

If you are a beginning knitter or a seasoned veteran: you need this book. Aside from being hilarious, this reference book addresses what patterns, yarn companies, and salespeople do not, and that is, WHY gauge is essential (and when it is not) and WHY yarns behave the way they do, based on an array of variables.In many ways, this book supports what many knitters do intuitively. Knitting is a mechanical exercise and yet, the best results emerge when a knitters rely on their intuition to gauge whether or not the pattern is working for the desired result. This book fills in the gaps for the newbie knitter who may not yet have those seasoned intuitive skills, and yet, it also guides the seasoned knitter who may want to change up the pattern, the yarn, or the gauge. In other words, the "yarn harlot" eliminates much of the guesswork and head scratching.The book also includes a simple and (almost) fool-proof recipe for knitting socks. (Fools are on their own!)All of the above is woven (no pun intended) into a narrative that will give you chuckles as you think to yourself... Oh, so I am not the only one! Enjoy!

This book is awesome. It’s well written, very funny, and geared towards the knitters in your life. It characterizes knitters like butterflies on pins. The observations are not always comfortable as you recognize yourself in the pages of this book, but they are often hilarious. And, I have found some very useful and relevant tips and tricks. I’ve been reading bits of the book to my spouse, and he grins wryly as he recognizes the behaviors described. Well worth a read. Wildly entertaining.

Knitting does rule and this book rocks! What I love about Stephanie Pearl-McPhee is she allows me to combine my two favorite addictions, books and knitting. As a confirmed knitaholic and bookaholic, this book is exactly the kind of reading Im constantly looking for. I not only get to read about my favorite past-time and (this important for all you bloggers out there) I can put it on my bookshelf where I can pull it out and enjoy it again and again.I've got nothing against blogs but there is nothing like a wonderful book, a book you read once, then go back and read again. "Knitting Rules" is full of great knitting tips, fun callouts and interesting facts. This is a book that will have turned down pages, comments in the margins and a rolled up cover. This is a book that will show how much it is loved.I recommend "Knitting Rules" not only for your personal library but as a great gift for a person who is a new knitter or someone you are try to incite to the knit side. For those people who say knitting is too complicated,takes too long and is boring, they need to spend a little time the Yarn Harlot.

I am a relatively new knitter and I have found this book to be invaluable. The author puts me in mind of the renowned knitting guru Elizabeth Zimmerman, in that she encourages the reader to learn techniques and adapt these as needed rather than simply following patterns. I found myself understanding knitting in a way which I thought I never would. The author makes the subject very accessible, and I have found myself reading the book straight through and then referring back to it as problems with my knitting have occurred. A fabulous book, well worth the money and written with a great sense of humour.

Reading this book has liberated me from the guilt of having five huges plastic boxes crammed full of sock yarn (sock yarn isn't 'stash' yarn apparently which means unlimited quantities should be purchased in case I can't afford it at some time), plus several cardboard boxes full of yarn that I couldn't live without at the time and just need because it's necessary that it's in my possession. Until reading this book, I thought I was alone and 'odd' but thanks to the Author, the realisation has struck me that this is extremely ordinary and acceptable behaviour and to be otherwise would be flying in the face of a Knitter's nature and duty to sheep and alpacas everywhere.In a world of political correctness and stuffy purists, this lady with her reasonable insanity and logical wisdom understands Us Who Knit. When I've stopped crying with laughter, all those technical tips are going into a notebook so they can be found when needed. What a great book!

If you're a knitter and a reader then you will understand my dilemma. I love them both but, not having two pairs of hands, find it difficult to balance both interests. Stephanie Pearl-McPhee has come to the rescue with a series of books about knitting. Now, there are lots of other books about knitting on the market. There are pattern books, books of techniques and how-to books galore but they tend to be books you use rather than books you read. Knitting Rules, on the other hand, is the kind of book you read with joy from beginning to end. In it, Stephanie shares her love of knitting in a friendly, down-to-earth tone that often had me giggling. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced knitter - I am in the middle - you'll find something in this book to interest and inspire you. I found the perfect solution to Christmas 2012 and I'm looking forward to visiting with Stephanie again soon for more ideas.

This book is brilliant, I've had it a few years now and I keep returning to it whenever I have a question.It's invaluable for those times when you want to knit basic, functional items. Can't remember when to start the crown shaping on a basic hat? It'll tell you, as well as giving average head sizes for age groups. Can't remember how to distribute stitches over three needles when knitting a sock? It'll tell you that too. You'll never need a hat / sock / glove pattern again, as this book tells you how to calculate how many to cast on, where to increase / decrease, and recommends the best type of increase / decrease for the job.As well as being very very informative, it's funny as well, as you'd expect. I can't praise this book highly enough!

I bought this book after being an avid follower of SP McPhee's blog. Even after so many years of owning this book it is one that I look at over and over again,; many other knitting books have been destined for the charity shop but slim, unassuming little book has stood the rigors of time.It is spread into sections, generally about hats, scarves, shawls etc and tells you a basic 'recipe' that you can follow and customise as you wish.I would highly recommend this book, both to beginners and to more experienced knitters, if for the comedic value only!