Free-range knitter is a humorous mix of articles on knitters, knitting and related topics, by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee.
This is the second book of knitting essays by New York Times best seller, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, who is also known as the Yarn Harlot in her popular blog of the same name. Her first also is called Yarn Harlot. Although I have been a keen reader of her blog, this is the first time that I have reviewed any of her books.
Free-range knitter is divided into seven sections, each with a knitting related title. The articles are grouped together like a knitting project, with the first section called cast on, then knit two together, yarn over, left-leaning decreases, make one, continue to work even, and finally cast off. In each she explores various knitting related topics; sometimes a story about a friend or relative, sometimes a personal viewpoint on herself or on a knitting theme.
Most of the material in the book was new to me, but some had already been published on the Yarn Harlot blog.
Stephanie has a lifelong obsession with knitting and is a self proclaimed observer of knitters. Through her observations she is able to voice the heartbreak, joy, pain and happiness of knitters as they strive to come to terms with this compulsive art. Her understanding creates thoughtful and unique essays.
I like the cute sheep knitting from its own wool on the front cover. The book has a personal style and you will either like or you not. I found it touching, thoughtful, humorous, clever and insightful. The focus is less on the craft of knitting or knitting patterns but rather on the people who knit. It is the reflections of the knitters, from young to old, which resonate with me and I really enjoyed the portrayal of her family and friends.
I loved the sequences describing the author’s skills as a mother to three daughters. From her subterfuge to try to get them to take up knitting, her joy when her 5 year old (kind of) learns to knit without instruction to her measured dialogue with her 12 year old daughter as she tries to knit her first hat!
There is a wonderful self-deprecation in the sections about the author herself. I particularly liked the sequence when she goes to a writing retreat to be alone in the woods. I can also totally relate to her feeling overcome with the beautiful yarn on entering a yarn shop.
“once I know I’m being weird and jumpy, I try not to be worried about that, and by then I’m so nervous that I do the only reasonable thing, which is to fold like a deck of cards, buy seventeen skins of sock yarn, and get the hell out.” Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
There are passages that are extremely funny. Prepare yourself to have good old laugh and be especially warned if you are going to be reading this book in public. One of my favourite episodes starts out with her knitting in public – something that I don’t often have the courage to do. The sequence of events that follow build up into a hilarious sequence. I also loved when she knit a baby sweater in case she was invited to a friend’s baby shower, “A Knitter’s Sense of Snow” and the letters from Winterwool Inc.
I was fascinated by the author’s observances on people’s different styles of knitting, and how they use their hands. Watching the way that these people approach knitting (though the author’s eyes) tells so much about their lives and their personalities. It is the author’s underlying understanding of the art that makes it feel very much like the reader is having a conversation with a fellow knitter.
There are parts of the book that provoke thought too. A particularly poignant one involves the memories of Stephanie’s elderly Aunt Helen. Helen was a long time knitter who was not capable of knitting anymore. Despite this, her hands wouldn’t sit still make the same repetitive movements as if she could. Another concerns a friend who ordered a huge afghan pattern and twenty-six balls of yarn in a bid (along with therapy and medication) to knit her way out of depression!
Some of the more powerful sequences in the book involve wider perspectives. For example, the author considers how people react to a male knitter as opposed to a female knitter. This opens up a discussion on how people see knitting and knitters in society. Also well observed is the section on knitting retreats and the reaction that the author gets when she admits to embarking on one.
This was a great book to curl up to on these cold winter months. It is a book that knitters of every skill level (or none) can enjoy. I have to confess to reading out certain particularly good sections of this book to family members. I will definitely look up some of the author’s other books in the same vein.
If you haven’t visited Stephanie Pearl-McPhee’s blog, you are in for a treat, you can find it here.
The yarn used for the main colour in the shawl featured in the photos is Opal Lucky Sparkle Sock Yarn colour 9484 Cool contrasted with one of my own Hand Dyed Opal Sock Yarn in a Deep Teal colour.
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