All Wound Up: The Yarn Harlot Writes for a Spin Hardcover – October 18, 2011

It's been a while since I've read Stephanie Pearl-McPhee or her blog, so I had forgotten how jealous I am of her knitting skills. Having tucked my bitterness away, I proceeded on with her latest.Having said that, I have to say I enjoyed this collection much more than her last effort because it was, gasp, a bit "darker" - and it's not as if she has gone serial yarn killer or anything - than her other works. In this volume her musings are more about the darker side of her personality: she is "All Wound Up," so to speak, and it is refreshing to know that sweet smiling woman is just as bitter as I am about several things. Beloved and faithful appliances choking out their last when the household budget can ill-afford it, idiots making inane remarks regarding her knitting in public, and heart-crushing sadness. She also touches on the less finer points of dealing with daughters, adolescent dating, and determining whether one's penchant for fiber qualifies as an addiction. The Yarn Harlot is nothing if not humorous, and this is humor to which I can relate.I can forecast that some fans may complain that there are more topics than just the love of knitting. Yet this is just what I feel makes this collection stronger than earlier efforts. No matter what the topic, she knits it all together with love, laughter and yarn.Well done.

This book was very enjoyable, but was a departure from her normal laugh until you hurt type. Don't get me wrong, there are still some very funny, laugh out loud moments The stories/essays in this book give you a glimpse into a life well lived. There were many I could relate to on a personal level. One of my favorites talks about what people must think when they walk by windows in people homes and peek in as they go by, often seeing the same people doing the same thing every time they pass. As a fan who has read most of what Stephanie has written, I can absolutely recommend this book.

I love knitting and so does Yarn Harlot, obviously. And she has had some of the same experiences as other knitters and writes humorously about them. Her books are a great diversion any time but especially now.

Drop everything. No, carefully put down your knitting, and buy this book! It goes way beyond a series of funny essays and is even quite philosophical. Worth it just for Stephanie's take on being productive vs idle time. I won't spoil it but you'll be quoting that riff to friends for a long time to come.This is easily her best book, and I loved the ones before it. Laugh out loud funny wrapped around smart observations. She's always been humorous but this book vaults her into the Erma Bombek, Nora Ephron stratosphere. Funny even if you *gasp* crochet or do other hand crafts. I have never met and have no connection to Stephanie except as a fan.Great job Stephanie! Can't wait for more.

I'm a fan of the Yarn Harlot. I like her writing. She makes me feel a little bit more sane, or at least like I'm not alone when it comes to yarn obsession. I've read her blog, but I prefer to read her stuff in print. I'm not sure if there is overlap from her blog posts and her books, but I don't care. I like the books. I've read 6 of her 8 books. Of those 6, I have love 6 of them. So, that's pretty good.

I thought I’d read every one of Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's books, but All Wound Up: The Yarn Harlot Writes for a Spin escaped my eyes until this week. While she’s a masterful knitter, she doesn’t always write about knitting (who can’t relate to the devastation three little kids can wreak in a house while armed with fully loaded water balloons?). However, in a chapter where she was writing about knitting, she described perfectly the bamboozled feeling knitters have when they start out knitting a little garment and end up with “something closer to elephant lingerie.” Word picture: perfectly painted. Frustration: perfectly captured. Laughing so you won’t cry: she nailed it!

As a part-time knitter, I found the book interesting regarding our craft. That was to be expected. The non-knitting parts of the book were about life, humor, personalities, love, making do, and all the other thing that go into making a life full. It was a quiet, but entertaining, view of her life in Canada complete with her knitting "obsession" as a background.

I really enjoyed dipping back into the world Stephanie Pearl-McPhee again. Her writing is delightful, and I also appreciate how she shares snippets of her life, including some vignettes are that not rosy and full of yarny goodness.

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee is an excellent knitter, and writes extremely enjoyable books, publishes her patterns and runs a knitting blog. If you are a knitting enthusiast and have never bought any of her books, read her blog or tried her knitting patternsplease have a look. I am sure you too will be captivated. My daughter and I are.

a fun book for people mad about knitting... so, this was (with others by same author), the best present to my daughter who has always got several knitting projects going on at the same time.

Even if you don't knit I'm sure you'll enjoy this book as it deals with a lot of day to day situations. Of course, if you're a knitter and know Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's work you'll love it.

I found the whole book sweet and gentle with a soft humour that allowed me to laugh along with her life but that was a perfect contrast to the moments of seriousness and sadness that briefly touch the life of a knitter.

I bought this as a gift for my Mum who is an avid quilter, knitter and sewer, she absolutely loved it, so much so she ordered one for her friend!