This is the week that knitters take to the streets, to create a spectacle and take part in World Wide Knit in Public Day (WWKIP). As well as hosting two WWKIP events this week, one in Canberra and the other in Sydney, I am honoured to be interviewing five wonderful ladies on my blog. Asking them about their knitting (or crochet) journey and all of their knitting secrets, including UFOs and stash size!
So sit back, maybe with a cup of tea and enjoy today's guest blogger jane, who is enthusiastically returning to the knitting scene. Click on the 'read more' link below.
First
up, do you knit or crochet or both?
I
only knit these days, but in my previous life I did do a little bit
of crocheting – the most basic though. Taking some lessons in
crocheting is on the list of things to do. I love the way it seems to
grow so much faster!
Tell
us about how old you were when you learnt and who taught you.
My
mother taught me to knit when I was probably about 8. She was very
frustrated though because I let the needle go, put the yarn around,
and picked up the needle again. I knitted like this until 18 months
ago when a ‘no weight bearing broken ankle’ kept me on the lounge
for six weeks and I persevered and now knit the correct way! Not
satisfied though, I want to have a go at knitting continental as
well.
Tell
us about what project/(s) you have on the go right now.
I
have a few on the go at the moment. Panoramic Stole, by Hannah Fettig
in BC Garn Silkbloom Fino which is my ‘anywhere’ knitting
project. I carry it in my bag ready for any opportunity to sneak a
row or two in. Of an evening I am knitting Hayward by Julie Hoover in
Mad Tosh Light – a boxy and stocking stitch jumper; and then at
home with no distractions I am just finishing up a Georgie Hallam
cardigan using BC Garn Semilla for a one year old which is great
because it is challenging me in different and new ways of doing
things.
Tell
us about the project that you hold most dear.
Four
years ago I knitted my first thing after 20 years – a Debbie
Abrahams blanket. I picked the easiest called Building Blocks and
knitted my way through a terrible period filled with grief. I
couldn’t believe how therapeutic it was, how rewarding it was, and
how life saving it was. Knitting then became my new best friend and
remains so today. I have no doubt it will always now be such a major
part of my life, and can’t imagine ever sitting down with my cup of
tea, coffee or wine without automatically reaching out for the
‘project’!
We
never stop learning or perfecting our craft. Tell me what is on your
'to learn or conquer' list.
Knitting
a cardigan/sweater for me top down! I purchased Hannah Fettig’s
featherweight pattern and yarn in September 2012, followed by Kirsten
Johnstone’s Raiun pattern and yarn in December 2012. I have the
patterns, I have the yarns, but I always manage to find something
else to knit first. I will, however, conquer this and hopefully end
up with garments I love as much as I do these two patterns in the
pictures. The other is to knit beautiful perfectly even stocking
stitch which is why I made myself learn to throw the yarn properly in
the hope it would help. Still hoping!
Just
because we want to rid ourselves of some guilt…
How
many UFOs have you got in your cupboard?
I
have been thinking about this. It is embarrassing. I have three
garments that need to be sewn up, and I have the three work in
progress ones I mentioned above. And if I was really honest, I am
sure I could find a couple more unfinished projects lurking in the
back of the cupboard.
Could
you open a yarn store with your stash?
I
could definitely open a display of yarns for people to see! I love my
yarns, and I cannot help myself from adding more and more to the
stash. I have this terrible habit of thinking things will run out so
best buy now while it is there. I also have a tendency to pick safe
colours but am really liking the beautiful colours available,
particularly with linens and cottons, and starting to step out of my
comfort zone. I just wish my needles could work as fast as my
imagination and my Paypal account.
…and
because we're curious
Are
you a year round or seasonal knitter/crocheter?
I
am definitely a year round knitter. I knit with the cottons, and more
recently, linen in the summer. And then I knit with the winter
weights in winter.
Do
you have a favourite fibre or yarn that you like to work with?
I
don’t think I have a favourite as such, but I am particularly
finicky about the ‘feel’ and content of yarns so that is the
factor that decides me on which yarns to use. I try to choose yarns
with a nice drape. I don’t like yarns that grow or have any
roughness to them. I love Shibui Staccato, Tosh Light, and my lastest
stash addition, though not knitted with yet, is the Malabrigo which
feels nice and soft. When I was a teenager living in Canberra I loved
knitting French patterns with Angora and am when I see old photos am
surprised at what I actually knitted and finished. Unfortunately
living in Sydney the beautiful worsted weights and arans are too
heavy for me except knitted into a scarf. I am really looking forward
to adding some Quince & Co to my stash as I find I spend far too
much time looking on line when I could be knitting.
What
will you be doing for World Wide Knit in Public Day this year?
I
am not sure – spreading the word by sitting somewhere in public
with my needles. I love that knitting has made a massive comeback. I
just taught my daughter in law to knit and my three week old first
grandchild is wearing the very easy garter stitch cardigan she made
while pregnant – mistakes and all! I thought it was great that she
wanted knits for the baby, so I am one happy new Granma with lots of
projects in that queue as well to do!
