Interview with…Me.

Circulars or pins?

Double Pointed Needles (is that cheating?) I really don’t do well with long straight needles.

DPN or magic loop?

I like them both, but I keep forgetting how to do magic loop, so if I’m away from my notebooks or computer, I stick with what I know.

 

English or Continental?

Continental unless I’m doing color work, then both, a strand in each hand.

 

Novelty yarn or classic plain?

I love tweeds, but eyelashes and extra fuzz confuse me, or wind up on the back of my knitting, or make my crochet hook loose rhythm. I don’t really understand space dyed yarn…yet.

 

Socks or Sweaters?

I’ve only made two pairs of socks, but I sure loved wearing wool on my toes.

 

Crochet too?

I learned to knit in the first place so I wouldn’t be someone who could only crochet. I need more crochet stitch dictionaries to keep me motivated.

 

Garments or things that don’t have to fit anyone in particular?

Garments. But I’ve finally learned to make big swatches, and launder them before taking measurements. Also not to knit for people who might go on a diet before the garment is done!

 

Short Answer Questions (skip any that aren’t fun!)

 

What is your usual process on a fiber project, for instance, do you start with a yarn, a cute pattern, a need you’ve noticed, something exciting you saw in a movie you want to copy, or a technique you want to learn – then what do you do next and then what?

I have more processes than I know what to do with. When I was younger my yarn budget determined what I could knit, it involved trying to make things out of odd ball sales or hoping someone would take me up on the “you buy me yarn, I’ll knit you something.” deal. So I started with yarn. Now that I am trying to design, I’m finding myself knitting and crocheting samples over and over, but I’ve managed yarn support once or twice.  Sometimes I start from someone else’s pattern, or an article about technique, or a cool stitch pattern, or a wardrobe hole.

I’m much more likely to buy a pattern I admire now than when I was young, even if I don’t have time to knit it. Just because I can start from scratch doesn’t mean I have to.

 

Does anything intimidate you in knitting or crochet?

Not if I can find a good resource book – although there is a brioche pattern in BGW I never got right. I’ve never tried two color brioche either.

 

When you want to learn something, do you look it up in a book, on U-tube, or seek a real person to teach you?

I hit the library and blogs. U-tube is nice too, but if my kids are napping the sound would wake them.

 

Any repetitive motion disorders due to knitting or crochet? How do you deal with them?

Carpal Tunnel syndrome. I use finer yarn, try to stop when I’m tired, and remind myself that self publishing means longer deadlines.

 

Do you frequent a particular yarn store?

Dee’s Nimble Needles in Walpole

 

Do you usually finish things? If not, does it bother you?

Yes.

 

What makes you buy a pattern (lovely photo, the story of the project, it looks do-able, it looks slightly challenging…)

Either my kids fall in love with it while looking over my shoulder on Ravelry, or it has such an intriguing technique that I can’t figure it out from the photo.

 

What gives you the feeling that you got your money’s worth out of a pattern?

The “Oh that’s how you do that.” feeling. Especially if I see how to lay out a pattern, and format a multi sized design.

 

What do you most enjoy about knitting or crochet?

The peaceful rhythm and the sense of accomplishment as the piece grows. Oops, that’s two things.

 

What are your crafting ambitions?

To learn what to do with the colored roving Kathleen sent me at Christmas, to make more cards, to get my photos in a book, to keep up with my blogs, and to finish the mitten patterns for publication this year, make M a sweater and B dragon mittens, and something for my cousin’s new baby.

Want to be interviewed? Download the questions here and mail them back to me with your answers to christine at christineguestdesigns dot com

Thank you!