Synopses & Reviews
A Knitters Home Companion is an illustrated collection of stories, patterns, and recipes from beloved knitter and essayist Michelle Edwards. This heartwarming title will appeal to knitters interested in not only stitches, yarn, and patterns, but also in the lives of other knitters, the lessons that can be learned from their craft, the ways knitting helps knitters cope during difficult times, and the role of knitting in family life. “Let [this book] keep you company when you need another knitters voice beside you,” Edwards writes in her introduction.
Like a good friend, A Knitters Home Companion will inspire readers to laugh, cry, remember, be thoughtful, cook, and, of course, pick up their needlessometimes to soothe, sometimes to celebrate, and sometimes to just pass the time. Divided into four chaptersMotherhood, Home, Community, and Legacystories range from “But She Doesnt Have Any Underpants,” about the challenges of knitting for family to “Home Ec Workshop and the Mystery of the Indian Slipper,” about finding community at a local yarn shop. Projects range from mittens and socks to a baby blanket and afghan.“This is a charming and utterly alluring book that makes you want to cook and knit and have a little chat about the kids. I love Michelle Edwards drawings, and the design of the book is an artwork in itself. This is a book you want to buy for yourself, and maybe to give to a few close friends, as well.” Jane Smiley, Author of many novels and knitter of many sweaters
“A cozy and charming collection of essays about the joys of knitting complete with lovely patterns and yummy recipesto leave you feeling warm and inspired.” Kate Jacobs, Author of Friday Night Knitting Club series and Comfort Food
“Michelle Edwards writing remind me of a simpler time when I grew up in a small town where family was the center of everything. When I read her stories, I think about the legacy I am leaving to my daughter by teaching her the craft that I love so much and what a treasure a handmade gift really is. Beyond the delightful and heartwarming stories, the patterns, and the recipes is a wonderful message about what is really most important in life.” Vanna White
"It was Edwards' love of knitting and her desire to find a nurturing community that led to her newest book, A Knitter's Home Companion, which is a love song that she's written to knitting and the process of forming a community around her lifelong passion of shaping strands of wool into hats, scarves, sweaters, socks, mittens, and even egg warmers."
-Wordswimmer.com
Review
"Pearl-McPhee had the crowd in - ahem - stitches."
A front-page feature in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution covering Stephanie's event stated, " "It's like our version of Woodstock," Atlanta business owner Karen Jacobson observed wryly of the event." Another quote reads, " "It's like when I saw the Beatles in 1964. Better, actually. This time I didn't have to hitchhike to get there."
Review
"Stephanie Pearl-McPhee is a master storyteller."
Synopsis
With a knitter's perspective, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee describes the astonishing wisdom and hard-to-swallow truths that are embedded in everyday cliches. You'll laugh with Pearl-McPhee as she realizes that "babies grow" after spending nights knitting a now-too-small sweater. "Beginning is easy, continuing is hard" takes on a new meaning to the knitter who has five projects going, but wants to start another. The next time you drop a stitch, take a cue from this insightful collection and remember, "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again."
Synopsis
The Yarn Harlot strikes again! Best-selling knitting author and humorist Stephanie Pearl-McPhee is back with an irresistible collection of witty observations on how knitting and life wisdom are spun together.
In Things I Learned From Knitting (Whether I Wanted To or Not), Pearl Mc-Phee examines age-old aphorisms in light of knitting. From "Hope Springs Eternal" to "A Friend In Need Is A Friend Indeed" and "Birds Of A Feather Flock Together," Pearl-McPhee casts a fresh, off-beat light on these sayings. Presented in quick, punchy takes, each entry in this book calls out to be read aloud and shared with anyone who enjoys playing with yarn and needles.
Pearl-McPhee's observations are hilarious; the situations she describes strike a familiar, "not you, too?" feeling in the heart of anyone who knits. Interspersed throughout the book are her notes on the things that "Knitting is still trying to teach me. . ." That no matter how well you knit, looking at your work too closely isn't helpful. It's like kissing with your eyes open. Nobody looks good that close up.
Synopsis
"Beginning is easy, continuing is hard" takes on special meaning for a knitter faced with five projects already on needles, yet struck by the irresistible urge to start something brand new. Share Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's amazement at the resounding, and even astonishing, truths found in everyday clichés and adages. Babies grow is a hard-learned lesson if you are a knitter who's stayed up nights making a tiny sweater for a special newborn, only to discover that a baby's ability to grow far exceeds your ability to knit. Knowing that you gotta roll with the punches can push an airborne knitter to the extreme of casting on with a couple of coffee stir sticks. After all, as every knitter knows for sure, idle hands are the devil's workshop.
Synopsis
Pick up the needles, grab a skein of yarn, cast on…and let the life lessons to begin! From
Patience is a Virtue and
Hope Springs Eternal to
Look Before You Leap, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee applies her trademark humor and wry insights to reveal the wise (and sometimes unexpected) truths contained within 45 familiar adages, understood as only a knitter could.
These irresistible reflections on life will have you laughing, crying and marveling out loud at how amazingly fortunate you are to be living your life as a knitter.
About the Author
Michelle Edwards is an essayist for Lion brand Yarn Company's e-newsletter and the award-winning author/illustrator of many children's books. She lives in Iowa City, Iowa.