Terri McClure has been smoking for over 30 years. She’s a server at Filippi’s Pizza Grotto in Temecula, recognizable by her long blond hair, bright blue eyes and a pin that reads, "I Y Q". Today, instead of taking her usual smoke break, she took a trip to the place to buy what she’ll need to quit. So, is she using the patch, pill, gum, hypnosis? No. She’s going to knit. That’s right; Terri has decided her method of quitting will be knitting.

"I’m going to make scarves for all of my kids," says Terri, holding a blue and gray marbled ball of yarn in her hand. "My aunt told me this is how she quit and she used to smoke two and a half packs a day!"

In the evenings, Terri’s ritual is to sit on her front porch with a cup of coffee and a cigarette or two, admire the view and smoke a little more. This helps her unwind, she says. She figures that the size of the knitting needles are the same as a cigarette and that the knitting action will keep her hands busy.

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[ Chatton and Associates ] When Debbie Holve, owner of Daily Fiber Yarn Company, overheard our conversation, she joined in. "That’s how I quit smoking. Peggy, the knitting instructor here, taught me how. My first project was a scarf; you can do it!"

Holve admits, "There’s a part of me that misses smoking, but I knit instead."

Studies show that half of the people that try to quit smoking fail. Among the reasons it’s especially difficult for women: typically their weight increases after smoking is stopped and second, they have a tendency to look at a cigarette as a companion.

Terri says the reason she decided to quit is because her sister, who has smoked for years is, "very sick." She didn’t elaborate on it, but the look on her face said it all.

It seems Terri will have a built-in support group with the women at the Daily Fiber but can she do it? We’ll be giving you updates on her progress.

It’s been a little over a week. How’s Terri doing? See for yourself: