“There are lots of things I can’t do, but if there is some sort of zombie apocalypse, I can contribute knitting. Someone can raise the sheep, someone else can spin the yarn, and I’ll knit the yarn. I knit great hats. We’ll be all set.”
What sort of projects do you work on as a maker?
I primarily knit, but I also quilt and crochet. I enjoy taking photographs, though I’m an extreme amateur. I’m best when I’m hands-on, when I have knitting needles or some tool in my hands that I can manipulate. When there’s a machine involved, I have to take a lot more time to complete projects. I love stitching, and I’m trying to get back into embroidery. There are just not enough hours!
How did you get started as a maker?
I came to knitting kind of late. I’ve done needlework my whole life, but about 6 years ago, I was underemployed and feeling kind of down. So I grabbed a book titled “Stitch ‘N Bitch: The Knitter’s Handbook” by Debbie Stoller, and taught myself how to knit from that book. It was such a boost. My job was a great job, but it wasn’t utilizing all my skills and talents, so to be able to come home and make something with my hands was so gratifying.
What I love about knitting is that so many people are finding it now. I have complete and utter respect for grandma’s craft, but I love that it can also be modern and updated. It’s not just for grandmas and it’s not just for women. It’s all ages. People learn when they’re 6 and do it their whole lives. People learn when they are 60. It’s not something you grow out of or grow into. You can do it anytime.
The handmade movement is so fascinating and important – keep things local, keep things handmade.
How long did it take you to get a hang of it and complete a project?
The trick is to use thick yarn and big needles. You can complete a simple project in about a week start to finish, or even over a weekend if you’re really dedicated and have lots of good TV. And you can keep making those simple projects your whole life and not vary. Or, and this is the part that I love; you can learn new techniques. If you want to make cables which are twisting stitches in a pattern, teach yourself that and you’ve got a whole new category of things you can make and embellish. You can make the simplest of things or the most elaborate of things; it’s just so gratifying to know you made it. When I wear something that I have made, and people compliment me, it’s the best feeling.
How did you start blogging about knitting?
I started blogging about it almost immediately. In fact, what prompted me to start knitting was reading other knitting blogs. I already had a blog of my own, and once I started putting projects up on it, I realized that my regular readers may not be interested. So I started a second knitting blog, and it just developed from there.
What’s amazing is that there’s a huge online community for knitters. Back then there were mostly just blogs. Now there’s an actual social media site called Ravelry.com that’s dedicated to knitting, crocheting, and the fiber arts. It’s fantastic. You can post your projects, what yarn you used, what problems you had. There’s a whole community section where there are forums, groups that you can ask questions, and a lot of them aren’t even related to knitting. Knitting can be as social as you want, or if you’re like me, as quiet and shy as you want. I’m more of an online geek. I have a group of knitting friends on Twitter from New York, Boston, Texas, Michigan, and Atlanta. We’re friends not just based on common interests, but also personalities I get along with, which is not a jab at Louisville knitters, but instead, on my own personal shyness.
One project on your blog is titled “Three Minute Socks.” Would you mind telling us more about it?
Actually, I need to pick that up again. The project was inspired by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee’s book titled “At Knit’s End”. In it she mentions that knitting is great because it’s a “pick up and put down” craft. You don’t have to spend time setting up any equipment. Then she claims that if you could do it for only 3 minutes each day, it would take you a year to knit a pair of socks. And I thought, huh, would it really only take a year for me to knit a pair of socks if I did it for only 3 minutes each day? So I started doing it and got sidetracked, but I’m planning on picking it back up. At the rate I was going, it was going to work out to only taking 6.5 months to finish. Each day I would knit for 3 minutes and photograph my work. Those 3 minutes would feel like nothing was happening, but when I looked at the pictures over time, I would realize that in a week, I had made a lot of progress. It’s proof that even if you only have three minutes each day, if it’s something you really love to do, eventually you will finish.
You’re a native New Englander and lived in Chicago before moving here. What brought you to Louisville?
My husband and I were actively looking for a nice mid-sized city to move to – the economy was starting to get bad and we wanted to live somewhere with a lower cost of living. When we would drive to my husband’s parents from Chicago, we would drive down I-65 and come over the bridge into Louisville. I would always notice the gorgeous Waterfront Park and the beautiful skyline. Being theater geeks, we already knew about Actors Theatre. And we heard about all the amazing restaurants. So we decided to try to move here, and I was lucky enough to find a job. We knew absolutely no one from Louisville when we moved here, and discovered that everyone is welcoming. Everyone is excited to hear that I chose to make Louisville my home.
The pride that this city has at Derby time blew me way. Even a Super Bowl win in Chicago would only last a weekend. It’s not like our month-long Kentucky Derby celebration. And it’s not just a certain group of people who participate: everyone finds some way to take pride in it. Whether it’s the chow wagon, the parade, Thunder Over Louisville, or the race itself. Everybody has something they love about it, and it’s infectious.
– Grace Simrall
Bio:
Knitter, handmade enthusiast, fabric lover, crafty dabbler.
Title:
Marketing Strategy Coordinator at the
Courier-Journal
Age:
40
Location:
St. Matthews
Contact:
How to buy remedies online at best prices? In fact, it is formidably to find of repute drugstore. Kamagra is a far-famed curing used to treat emasculation. If you’re concerned about sexual malfunction, you probably know about dosage of levitra. What is the most vital data you have to know about levitra doses? More information about the matter available at levitra dose. Perhaps you already know some about the question. Usually, having difficulty getting an hard-on can be embarrassing. This disease is best solved with occupational help, generally through counseling with a certified physician. Your dispenser can help find the variation that is better for your condition. We hope that the info here answers some of your questions, but please contact physician if you want to know more. Professional staff are experienced, and they will not be shocked by anything you tell.
Pingback: I’m in The Paper!