Category: tips
why I write by hand
My brain has never been reliable for the little things I want to remember. Early on I discovered if it wasn’t written down it didn’t exist. In high school, I was gifted my first Filofax and used it to track assignments, what I needed to practice, my PBs1, and more; it worked when my brain…
when swatching for gauge, size matters
I know I’m unique in my love of swatches. Many of my swatches are for fun, aka fundamentals; they’re how I get to know a stitch, a yarn, a tool. I approach them in a manner I believe speed dating might be like. These swatches are often very small and worked quickly; I’ll frequently start…
stitches in the moment
I’m not someone who works only one project from start to finish. It’s not that I’m easily distracted; I want to have the right thing for where I am in any particular moment. Some days I need intricate lace that demands my full attention. Other times I want to zone out with stockinette in the…
a swatch can teach you more than a ball band
My newest student knit me a beautiful swatch the other day. Even tension, consistent stitches, a lovely rectangle of garter stitch fabric. There was one just problem: I’d meant for them to knit stockinette. I asked them to “knit for several inches.” By that I meant knit one row, purl one row, aka stockinette. They…
students teach clarity
Recently, I’ve been helping some newer students work through their knitting projects, and I’ve noticed something: they keep getting stuck in similar places. It’s not because the knitting is hard, but because the patterns aren’t as clear as they could be. There’s a teaching in Pirkei Avot that asks, ‘Who is wise? One who learns…
Yarn and Fiber Care for the Changing Season
As the seasons shift (at least on the calendar), I like to pause and give my yarn and fiber stash a little extra attention. Just as I care for my tools in the winter months, I believe our materials deserve the same respect. Some seasons it’s a full sort-and-organize, other times it’s just opening a…