Featured Knitter: Nancy

I decided it would be fun to feature some of my favorite knitters, and of course, the obvious first choice was my mom. As I've posted before, she is such an inspiration to me, in all aspects of my life. I feel like this new bond we've created with knitting has brought us even closer together than before!

Enjoy reading the interview with Nancy, knitter extraordinaire!

How did you become a knitter?

Growing up, I admired my mother who was so artistically talented - she sketched, she sewed, she embroidered, and she knitted. Whenever she could squeeze in some time (usually late into the evening when my siblings and I were asleep) she'd create something beautiful with her magic hands! I think some of her "magic" rubbed off on me. I, too, sketch, sew, embroider, knit, (and crochet!). I became interested in knitting around the age of 11 or 12. Mom gave me some coral colored yarn to begin my first project - a scarf. I remember my tension was pretty off - that scarf had a wavy look to it! My best friend's mom taught her to knit around the same time - I remember sitting in her basement, both of us so focused on our projects that all you could hear was the clicking of the needles. Knitters often like to knit together. This is one hobby that can be done in a group setting or on ones own. It's fun to share knowledge, patterns, and experiences with one another. My mother told me that she first learned to knit on her lunch break by one of her coworkers. They traded their cigarette breaks for knitting circles!

Knitting highs? Knitting lows?

Hmmmm. I can distinctly remember a knitting low . . . not too long ago either. I made myself a sweater that turned out to be a cape of some sort. Moral of the story - double check measurements and take into account the style of the garment you're making as well as your own figure.

Knitting high? Being very proud of the "finishing" of a recent project. I've read many articles about how your finishing technique(s) can really ruin your hard work. Although I have yet to take any knitting classes, it's probably not a bad idea. There's always new information out there. Whenever I see a finished project displayed in a yarn shop, I'm often drawn to not only the garment itself, but how the pieces were sewn together.


Why do you like to knit?

I like the quiet time - me, a medium DECAF, skim mocha with milk chocolate, no whip from Caribou, and often HGTV on the tv. I usually don't sit down and knit until the errands are run, the chores around the house are completed and the dinner is made. I still find it pretty amazing what gorgeous pieces can be created from a ball of yarn. The patterns I choose are what immediately catch my eye and I never hesitate to challenge myself. I also prefer to use the yarn suggested because part of what catches my eye is the yarn itself. Finally, admiring your work no matter how difficult the project was, is very self satisfying. Time to pat yourself on the back and show it off (except the in the case of aforementioned cape!)

Take a look at Nancy's latest piece -
Gorgeous jacket and hat, modeled by the cutest baby ever!

Please do not duplicate these photos for your own purposes.

Thanks, mom, for being the guinea pig on this one!

xo,
J.