circs or pins?
Depends on the project
Dpn or magic loop?
Depends on the project, and what needles are closest. Usually I use dpn.
English or Continental?
Both. I try to alternate so that I don’t wreck my wrists, but I like picking because I can do it about twice as fast and throwing.
Novelty yarn or classic plain?
Classic. I once knit a scarf out of novelty yarn and it ended up looking like road kill. I’ve stuck with classic yarn ever since. But my favorite is homespun.
Socks or Sweaters?
Socks when traveling, sweaters when home. (Socks are smaller)
Crochet too?
Yes
Garments or things that don’t have to fit anyone in particular?
Garments
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 usually decide medium I want to to work in (ie. quilt, sweater, felt, spinning, weaving). Then I spend a lot of time looking at other people’s work or photographs. And I draw (or doodle) to let my ideas start to take a shape. Sometimes the sketches will go on for days and days. Once I have a basic plan, I choose my materials to make my idea a reality. I almost always wing it; no patterns, no set plan, and – gasp – no swatches. A lot of times, I just let it evolve by itself on some seemingly random path. But one thing is for sure. I make it because I just plain feel like it. If I don’t feel like it, it will never become a reality. (That is why I very rarely do commission work.) Virtually everything I make is inspired by a mood that I want to keep. The piece might evoke a place or something I love, or something I find relaxing. Most of my work is inspired by nature. I like making things because I love to hold my dreams.
Does anything intimidate you in knitting or crochet?
Not usually; though I suppose, blankets might. They aren’t difficult,
but they take so dang long to make. Generally, the projects that are most intricate and complicated and varied are the ones that keep me interested.
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?
Usually a book – but I don’t like project based books that much. I like technique based books. I would prefer text books, but I haven’t found too many.
Any repetitive motion disorders due to knitting or crochet? How do you
deal with them?
I have to be careful. I do get fatigued, but I try vary my techniques; and projects. If my wrists are tired, I might quilt for a bit, or felt, or spin. Then I’ll come back to knitting or crochet in a week or two – or three or four. I also stretch my wrists and do shoulder exercises. And I have been told that it is very important to keep your wrists warm. I’d like to knit myself some wrist warmers this year.
Do you frequent a particular yarn store?
Not now. But I do miss The Yarnery in St. Paul, MN terribly. I used to get a ridiculously priced coffee and then go there for a fiber jolt during my lunch breaks when I worked at 3M. Hmmmmmmmmmm …… fiber jolt!
Do you usually finish things? If not, does it bother you?
I finish things about 70% of the time. I usually have about 10 projects going on at a time. So some projects take years …. and years ….. and years. But if I don’t like it, I don’t waste my time finishing it.
What makes you buy a pattern (lovely photo, the story of the project, it
looks do-able, it looks slightly challenging…)
I have a confession: I can’t follow directions. I don’t know if it is because I don’t understand them or if I am just plain obstinate. I secretly think I am am obstinate. But as a consequence, I very rarely buy patterns.
What gives you the feeling that you got your money’s worth out of a
pattern?
If it fits and I like the finished project, I suppose.
What do you most enjoy about knitting or crochet?
I love the creativity of making my own patterns and I like the feel of wool. Both the creativity and the wool are so soothing to me.
What are your crafting ambitions?
I love making things …. in all mediums. Fabric, yarn, wool, wood. I started selling my felted pieces to make sure my crafting supplies are completely paid for. Somehow it has evolved into a (very) part time job. But long term, it is my plan for working and still being an accessible parent to my three children once they are in school. I’d really like to set up my own shop someday. The current plan is that it would include materials, but would mostly serve as a fiber education center.
Just for you;
Where did you hear about felting?
I had a friend, Nancy Zalusky Berg, give me a five minute tutorial the day before I moved from MN to NH. Once I got to NH I ordered some wool online, and I haven’t looked back since.
Have you developed new techniques?
Nothing significantly new. But I have explored techniques and pushed their limits farther than a lot of people. This is mostly because I am an engineer; most fiber artists like abstract art but I like very concrete images. I learned to control wool in order to get the level of detail that I really love. But others have done this. It is nothing new to felting; felting has been around for thousands of years and is the oldest know textile.
What about felting most makes your math brain happy? (engineering
brain? Structure brain?)
I really love the material properties of wool. It is important to understand the material properties so that you can control the piece of work without distorting a very defined image. This doesn’t matter nearly as much if you are doing abstract work. But with a picture, you can really elongate it, or shrink it in only one direction – one of my first pieces was a picture of my brother fishing from a canoe. But in the end, it looked like my brother was standing in a tiny little boat (my brother got taller and the canoe got shorter).
How can someone take your classes?
They can contact me directly or check my website. (www.mhfiber.com). On occasion, I also give classes through the League of NH Craftsmen, and you can always check their websites.
See your work?
My felt is for sale in the League of NH Craftsmen galleries around NH. You can always contact me, Most of the time I have pieces that are not in galleries. I also have a photo gallery of my felt on my website – you can contact me about any of these pieces. Generally, I don’t sell anything besides felt. So if you are interested in seeing my knitting, spinning, weaving or wood working, contact me directly. Also, I usually include these on my blog.
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!