For awhile now, we’ve been posting Knitter Profiles on the blog, and they’re loads of fun. It’s great to hear about other artists and crafty types who want to share their love of JP and yarny goodness with the rest of us.
The name, however, leaves something to be desired, doesn’t it? I mean, it’s just so plain. Plus it leaves out people who carry JP bags that wouldn’t perhaps call themselves knitters. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a crochet profile?
Well, the opportunity has come, and we’ve got a crocheter in the wings for our profile. We figured it’d be a perfect time to unveil the new name as well. Meet Kathryn Vercillo, the newest of our Fiber Fashionistas!
JP: When do you enjoying crocheting most?
I crochet almost every day. The most common scenario is for me to put on a documentary or TV crime drama and crochet while half-watching it. However, my very favorite time to crochet is with I’m with my mom and/or sister and we can craft together, talking about stuff and creating new things. Bonus points if there’s a fireplace around.
I was really happy about that. So many of the totes for crafters that are out there are really unstylish and my crochet blog readers are always looking for trendier options that are not only functional but also make them feel sexy. JP’s bags offer that and I was glad to have an opportunity to tell them about that.
JP: If you could eat or drink anything with no consequences, what would it be?
I generally believe that it’s okay to eat/drink anything as long as you’re doing it in moderation. That said, I’d probably more frequently have loads of mashed potatoes soaked in butter, sour cream and cheese!
JP: What projects are you working on right now?
I just finished spending thirty days crafting scarves using the patterns in Sharon Silverman’s new book called Crochet Scarves. (I kept a 30-day diary of the experience.) It gave me the chance to challenge myself with some new techniques and I discovered that I really love broomstick lace so I’m thinking that the next project I start may use that technique.
JP: What’s the one crocheting project you’ve always wanted to try but just haven’t gotten around to it, or you’re just a little intimidated by?
Broomstick lace was the main one. It sounded like it was going to be really tedious so I was holding off even though I really love the look of it. I feel like I achieved a major accomplishment having now tackled that. I think the next challenge might be Tunisian crochet.
JP: How many JP bags have you bought over the years?
So far I only have The Rio. I am very much someone who finds a single bag and uses it all of the time until it’s completely and thoroughly worn out.
But I have been considering getting The Crafter’s Tool Butler (in the Eggplant Purple color). It seems like a great way to organize your craft tools in one easy place.
If I do get another JP bag soon it’ll be a tough call between the functionality of The Messenger and the super cuteness of The Bella (which I’d choose in black).
JP: Do you have any favorite quotes or sayings?
Favorite general quote:
“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it.
It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. – Martha Graham
Favorite crochet quote:
“I think it’s time to set my sights on new goals and higher aspirations in crochet as an art form. It is time to infect the internet and the world with global domination of the versatility, practicality and coolness of crochet. I seek a cro-pocalypse. A veritable domain of the hook, with zombie-like contagion and cult indoctrination – only without the blood, flesh craving and Kool-aid.” – Aberrant Crochet
The first dress she crocheted.
JP: Any advice for new crocheters?
Trust your own sense of creativity. There is no wrong way to do crochet!
JP: What’s the best (audio) book or podcast you’ve read or heard lately?
I’m really loving Stacey Trock’s Crochet Chat podcast. It’s relatively new and is the only crochet-focused podcast that exists right now. Stacey’s really personable and does a great job with her chat. I also really enjoy the CraftyPod podcast, which has great tips and information for crafty solopreneurs and business owners.
JP: What kind of music gets you in the crafty mood?
I like really cheesy, campy music – the stuff you’d hear on 80’s night in a dive-y dance club, or accompanying a drag queen on stage or sung at karaoke. I also love Christmas music although I am sane enough to only listen to it around the holidays. If my crafting requires more focused attention, though, then I’m more likely to put on indie folk music (Dar Williams, Indigo Girls, Susan Werner).
JP: Coffee or tea?
Coffee. Always coffee. Actually, I’ve learned to like tea a lot more in recent years, especially after doing some of the tea tastings in Chinatown here, but I’m still mostly a coffee girl at heart.
JP: What inspires you?
What doesn’t?! No, honestly, I’m most inspired by people’s stories – my own, people around me, people who have written books. I love learning and I love hearing first person experiences of all sorts. Sometimes this inspires the specifics of my crafting. It often inspires my writing. But more than that, it just inspires me to go live life and living it creates my own experiences that inspire my creativity.
Kathryn’s Hyperbolic Crochet Sculpture
JP: How did you learn to crochet?
I originally learned the basic chain from my mom when I was a kid, but I didn’t really do anything with it. I re-taught myself a few years back mostly using kids’ crochet books. I did look at a few YouTube videos as well but I’m really not a visual learner; I learn better with words so books worked better for me.
JP: What was your first crochet project?
My very first was just this long yellow crochet chain that I wound up on a rolling pin and kept going forever and ever. I have no idea whatever happened to that, though, since that was the one from childhood.
My first new project was a scarf. It was from one of those kids’ crochet books and I didn’t really take into consideration that it would be kid-sized. Nevertheless, I really loved it because it was the first thing I’d made. Crochet had really saved my life, helping me get out of depression, so that first product was special to me. I still have it and even still occasionally wear it even though it’s a little ridiculous.
JP: It’s the zombie apocolypse. What’s your weapon of choice?
Kill ‘em with kindness.
JP: What’s one of the strangest things you’ve put in your JP bag?
I actually probably haven’t put anything strange into mine. I am really a minimalist when packing whether for the day or for a vacation. I walk almost everywhere I can so I tend to keep it as light as possible!
JP: What’s the last movie you really enjoyed, whether you were crocheting or not?
My Week with Marilyn. My sister and I saw it in an indie theater here last year. It was a really good movie that portrayed Marilyn Monroe in an interesting light, the cinematography was well done and I had good company.
JP: What’s one of your favorite outdoor activities?
Hiking. I don’t enjoy a lot of “sports” and I hate running but I could hike every day.
JP: Do you have a favorite type of crochet project?
I tend to like really simple projects that don’t have complicated stitch techniques. That’s because I really enjoy the meditative aspects of crochet that allow for relaxation. The repetition also releases serotonin, which acts as a natural anti-depressant so that’s a bonus. So I tend to make a lot of really large granny square blankets as well as large sculptural pieces of hyperbolic crochet.
JP: Do you do any other sorts of crafty stuff?
Crochet is what I do most. But I also do a lot of collage art. I used to do a lot of scrapbooking but now I only do it once or twice a year to keep my personal albums up to date. I eventually want to get into spinning and dyeing yarn.
JP: Do you prefer to crochet alone or with friends?
Usually alone because that’s where I really feel the benefits of the craft. However, I have enjoyed some craft nights with friends and I always enjoying crocheting with my sister.
JP: If time and money were no object, what would you be doing?
Writing my next book. Next to a beach that is far warmer than the beach here in the San Francisco Bay Area!
JP: Aside from your blog, where can we find you online?
Crafting is important. It isn’t just a leisure hobby. It’s a form of self-expression, a tool for relaxation, an opening to social connections, a way to give back to others and a skill.
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Thanks so much for sharing your stories and photos Kathryn! And thank you for helping us open our arms to more folks out there who love fashion and fiber. We’re thrilled!
If you’d like to be featured in Fiber Fashionistas, we’d love to hear from you! Email or leave your info in the comments and we’ll make it happen! Don’t worry, you don’t have to submit photos of yourself if you’re not into that (but we do want to see your projects and your bags for sure).
Knitting in public is something that, for most knitters, isn’t relegated to the month of June. We’ll knit at the dentist office, on the subway or really anywhere we’re standing still (or kinda still).
In our latest Knitter Profile, Christine tells us about one place she knits that threw us a little, but it seems like a good idea. Read on to learn more about Christine and find out a great place to catch up on some knitting.
JP: Hope you’re summer is going well. What do you knit this time of year?
My knitting is no different during this time of year than any other. I’m still knitting/designing hats, shawls and fingerless mitts right now!
JP: When do you enjoying knitting most?
I enjoy knitting anytime, anywhere! I take my knitting with me everywhere I go! That’s where my JP bags come in handy! I knit in the car (when my husband is driving that is), I knit at events, doctor’s offices, etc… I even knit while standing in line to ride rides at Universal Studios.
JP: How did you find out about JP?
I think I first found out about her back in 2008, possibly earlier. We had just moved to the SF Bay Area’s Silicon Valley and I was looking for a knitting group to join. I had Debbie Stoller’s SnB Nation book. So I chose the San Jose SnB group and decided to pay them a visit!
But they told me that their founder, Jordana Paige, was no longer attending. So it wasn’t until 2010 that I actually met her for the first time when I attended a trunk show at Bobbin’s Nest Studio.
Author Julie Turjoman of “Brave New Knits” fame was also there. Here’s a photo of Elizabeth, Jordana, Author Julie Turjoman, and myself. As you can see, I brought my blue knitter’s satchel along that day!
JP: What was your reaction?
When I found out that she was designing knitting bags, I got very excited! I’ve always been a “bag lady,” but a “knitting bag” is even better!!! I couldn’t wait to see what she had to offer! I’m now the proud owner of 5 JP bags!
JP: If you could eat or drink anything with no consequences, what would it be?
I would probably enjoy having desserts more often after a meal, which I normally don’t do.
JP: What projects are you working on right now?
I have a triangular shawl design in progress…
JP: What’s the one knitting project you’ve always wanted to try but just haven’t gotten around to it, or you’re just a little intimidated by?
A sweater! I’ve made doggy sweaters and a doll sweater, but I just haven’t gotten around to knitting one for myself. I tend to stick to smaller items. I like the instant gratification! But I know once I find the perfect sweater that strikes my fancy, I will finally knit one for myself!
JP: Tell us about your bags. Which one is your favorite?
Well, like I said, I have 5 JP bags. Two Satchels, one L.J. Kaelms, one Rio, and one Bella. The Satchel in Grape is my favorite! I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I haven’t knit a JP pattern yet. I really like the Royce and the Catalina though. If I can decide on which one, I’d love one of those to be my very first sweater!
JP: Do you have any favorite quotes or sayings?
“Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, and it doesn’t hurt the untroubled spirit either.”
- Elizabeth Zimmermann
JP: Any advice for new knitters?
Never give up! Don’t let intimidation stop you! Anything is possible! I guess I should take my own advice and tackle that sweater!
JP: What’s the best (audio) book or podcast you’ve read or heard lately?
JP: What kind of music gets you in the crafty mood?
Upbeat, feel good music… Although I don’t need music to be in a crafty mood.
JP: Coffee or tea?
Both! I love my coffee in the morning and in the mid-afternoon. I’m a cream and sugar gal. I also enjoy some sweet iced tea with meals! And last but not least, a good Chai tea every now and then.
JP: What inspires you?
I find inspiration everywhere especially in nature! I love textures and a rustic feel. I’m also a big fan of stitch pattern books.
JP: How did you learn to knit?
I took a free knitting 101 class at the library when I lived in Aurora, IL. They taught me the basic garter stitch. I ran with it after that and have pretty much self-taught myself everything else since then!
JP: What was your first knitting project? How did it go?
A scarf! What else? In Lion Brand’s Wool Ease Thick’nQuick. I guess most people think that’s the easiest project to start with. I still have that first scarf. It turned out lovely if I do say so myself. I gave it to my daughter and she loves it!
JP: It’s the zombie apocolypse. What’s your weapon of choice?
I’m wielding my knitting needles!
JP: What’s one of the strangest things you’ve put in your JP bag?
Well there’s some crumbled dried lavender buds in my bag right now. My kids gave them to me while we were out one day so I tossed them in the bag. It sure smells good!
JP: What’s the last movie you really enjoyed, whether you were knitting or not?
I watched Benny & Joon again recently for the umpteenth time!
JP: What’s one of your favorite outdoor activities?
Hiking at Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve. This popular open space preserve offers abundant wildlife, a working farm, and 23 miles of trails.
JP: Do you have a favorite type of knitting project?
Not really. I love a good challenging stitch pattern on quiet evenings when I can concentrate. Otherwise I enjoy mindless knitting when I’m knitting in public.
JP: Do you do any other sorts of crafty stuff?
I’ve been trying my hand at using my sewing machine lately. I’d love to come up with a needle roll for my needles and a small project bag (that can both be carried inside my JP bags of course)!
JP: Do you prefer to knit alone or with friends?
Both. I need to be alone when I’m designing, otherwise I get scatterbrained and end up frogging what I’ve done. But I do enjoy knitting something simple when I’m with friends. So long as I can chitchat and knit at the same time, It’s all good!
JP: If time and money were no object, what would you be doing instead of writing this email?
I’d be exploring castles in Scotland. I’ve been there a couple of times, and would love to go back. It’s in my blood!
Well, I have two beautiful children, Caitlin is 8 and Brandon is 6. I’m a knitting/crochet instructor at Beverly’s Fabric & Crafts store.
Reading and knitting are like therapy to me! Both help me to unwind after a busy and hectic day!
I’m originally from Oklahoma, but have traveled worldwide, and I now eat, sleep, knit and design from my home in the San Francisco Bay Area.
I am proud to announce that I have partnered with Jimmy Beans Wool to fight heart disease in women! As a Stitch Red partner I will be donating a percentage of my gross profits from the sale of my Cables & Bobbles & Lace, Oh My! Hat Pattern.
Donations will go to Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) in support of The Heart Truth®, a national awareness campaign for women about heart disease, sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
And last but not least I’m working on a knitting book at the moment. Details to come… so follow me for more info!
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Thanks so much for sharing your stories and photos Christine, and for sharing the great theme park knitting tips. That’ll be one thing we pack on our next trip to ride the roller coasters.
If you’d like to be featured in our knitter’s profile, we’d love to hear from you! Email or leave your info in the comments and we’ll make it happen! Don’t worry, you don’t have to submit photos of yourself if you’re not into that (but we do want to see your knitting and your bags for sure).
As a newbie knitter there are many different and challenging techniques to check out and drool over, but most times (at least in Rebecca’s case) because you’re new you dismiss the pattern as too difficult or something to try after a few more projects.
One question we always ask in our Knitter’s Profiles is What’s the one knitting project you’ve always wanted to try but just haven’t gotten around to it, or you’re just a little intimidated by? Our newest knitter Diana didn’t answer that question, but it didn’t take long to realize why.
Read on for a serious dose of inspiration in our latest edition of JP’s Knitter Profiles.
JP: Happy spring! What’s your favorite season?
Autumn – I love the weather, the colors, the festivals. There’s nothing about Autumn that I don’t love. It has always been my favorite time.
JP: When do you enjoying knitting most?
I love to knit at any time or place. I don’t have a favorite place – I even knit when I’m in line at the market.
JP: How did you find out about us?
I first learned of JP while watching a re-run episode of the TV show Knitty Gritty hosted by Vicki Howell. Jordana was demonstrating a cute vintage apron with strawberry pockets. During the demo, Vicki asked her which came first, designing knitting bags or knitting – as I am a total handbag fanatic, I instantly went and looked her up online. I love her knitting bags and Jordana is a lovely and talented person.
JP: How many JP bags or patterns have you bought/knit over the years?
L.J. Kaelms by Jordana Paige, The Heathers Scarf by Diana
JP: Do you have any favorite quotes or sayings?
Relax – it’s not Soylent Green. or You can do it – it’s knitting, not brain surgery.
JP: What kind of music gets you in the crafty mood?
I love all music and will knit or craft to anything.
JP: Coffee or tea?
Both – coffee first thing – one mug. Then Starbucks Zen tea (it’s a green tea with lemon verbena) in the afternoon or evening.
JP: If you were an animal, what animal would you be?
Probably a bird or something that lives in the oceans.
JP: What inspires you?
So many things. There are so many things in the world to love – I try to keep my eyes open and let things speak to me as they will. My dear husband has always been the person that inspires me most.
He has a younger brother with Down Syndrome and every morning as he gets up he reminds himself that his legs work, his lungs breathe, and he can think with clarity. That’s a powerful thing to understand in this world. That was my mantra when I was going through cancer surgery and treatment 5 years ago and it helped me every single day.
JP: How did you learn to knit?
I had two grandmas – one knit and one crocheted. When I turned 5, each decided to teach me their art. So, I’ve been knitting and crocheting for 45 years. I’ve always considered myself to be extremely fortunate to have both of these wonderful women in my life. Each taught me so many life skills.
JP: What was your first knitting project? How did it go?
It was a sweater for me doll. My gran did not believe in teaching me to make a scarf. She asked me what I liked about knitting and I had said I loved the sweaters (she made lovely sweaters). So, as was her way, she taught me as I should proceed. If I loved sweaters, then sweaters I would make.
She taught me to make it in the smaller doll size, but I learned all those skills and was never afraid because Gran never said the words, difficult, hard, complicated, too advanced. I think that’s where I get my attitude that anyone can knit anything they want. That’s my mantra when I teach knitting. It has served me and others well. It’s a real confidence builder.
JP: What’s one of the strangest things you’ve put in your bag?
My wig when I was in cancer treatment – I needed to show it to one of the nurses that had asked about it so that she could share with other patients. My knitting was on one side of the bag and my wig on the other.
JP: What’s the last movie you really enjoyed, whether you were knitting or not?
The Most excellent Marigold Hotel at the cinema. I was knitting until they put out all the lights.
JP: What’s one of your favorite outdoor activities?
Hiking in the Cascade mountains with my husband.
JP: Do you have a favorite type of knitting project?
I love small projects, that’s why I like designing accessories. I also love making baby clothes.
Diana’s original design: Esme’ scarf
JP: Do you do any other sorts of crafty stuff?
Crochet, jewelry making (metals and gems) scrapbooking, decorative painting, sewing, quilting (taught by the same gran as taught me knitting) cross-stitch. Yes, my name is Diana, and I’m a craft-a-holic.
JP: Do you prefer to knit alone or with friends?
When I am designing, I like to be alone as I really need to concentrate. Other than that, I love knitting with students, groups, friends, etc…
JP: If time and money were no object, what would you be doing?
I’d be doing a yarn crawl through all yarn shops in Chicago. I can do some major harm in the name of yarn. :>)
JP: Anything else you want to tell us?
I am a bio-linguist (a biologist that studies language and learning through all of human history) by education, but I am also a knitting accessory designer with my own blogs and a small website. My site and knitting business endeavors are all fairly new, but I live in the country now and I have lots of time to dedicate to my favorite art form – knitting.
I’m spending lots of time making ‘How-To videos and teaching on Ravelry. Oz Dust Designs is my website if you’re interested. My other passions are reading (everything fiction and non-fiction) and cooking. I’ve been married to Dave, my Mad Scientist for 30 years – best decision I ever made was marrying him.
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Thanks so much for sharing your stories and photos Diana. You’re a knitting inspiration: After reading your interview, Rebecca bought the yarn to knit her first sweater!
If you’d like to be featured in our knitter’s profile, we’d love to hear from you! Email or leave your info in the comments and we’ll make it happen! Don’t worry, you don’t have to submit photos of yourself if you’re not into that (but we do want to see your knitting and your bags for sure).
Many knitters are mothers. (Happy belated mom’s day to all of you!) These are the most amazing knitters of all, if you ask me. Somehow they manage to squeeze these amazing creations out of the very little time they have in the day.
Our newest knitter featured here in JP’s Knitter Profiles is Kristi, and not only has she made beautiful things with her hands, she managed to get her son in the mix too. Read on to see what I mean.
JP: Happy spring! What’s your favorite season?
I love all 4 seasons but I think fall is one of my favorites. I love unpacking the sweaters (hand-knit or not), getting ready for the cool weather, and the smell of the leaves on the ground when you are raking.
JP: When do you enjoying knitting most?
I love knitting on the bus on my way to work because I can turn on a podcast or music and just zone out while I knit. I also like to turn on the TV and get hooked into a series and watch it while knitting on a cloudy day. However, with a 2 year old in the house, there is not as much time to do that as I’d like.
Knitting at 1.5 years old. Impressive!
JP: How did you find out about us?
I found out about Jordana’s bags in an advertisement or featured product add in Interweave way back in 2005 or 2006. My first bag was The Knitter’s Messenger Bag in pink & black. I think I have tried every bag once, except for the Bella. I just got an L.J. Kealms and I love my new bag.
JP: What was your reaction to the bags?
I was in love! I loved all of the useful pockets and how there was room for my purse stuff and my knitting. I also loved the pattern protector in the top of the bag. As I have acquired more of them, I have noticed that they are the bag that I get the most compliments on. I can carry a Coach bag, a purse from Kohls or Target, any of the other knitting bags out there, but when I carry a JP bag I get sooo many compliments.
JP: If you could eat or drink anything with no consequences, what would it be?
Non- alcoholic: White Chocolate Mocha, Alcoholic: Cosmopolitans
JP: What projects are you working on right now?
I have a few on the needles now- I have a Leaflet cardigan I am doing for the warmer months using Blue Sky Alpaca Worsted Cotton, and then I also have another Daybreak I am actively working on using Madeline Tosh Merino Light.
WIP: Daybreak
I have been on a shawl/ cardigan kick, but I think after this I’m going to continue working on my Color Affection shawl as it doesn’t have purling. I also just spun some yarn up and I am going to make ZuZu’s Petals with it. It’s a gorgeous mix of BFL and Silk in a gradient.
JP: What’s the one knitting project you’ve always wanted to try but just haven’t gotten around to or just a little intimidated by?
I would LOVE to make Dale of Norway sweater. However the amount of colorwork and the small gauge is really intimidating to me.
JP: How many JP bags or patterns have you bought/knit over the years?
I have purchased probably 4 bags, and I have knitted Cadence. I loved Cadence as I used the yarn that was called for and it is so nice and it’s a little sexy for a night out with my husband. My favorite bag is probably the Rio, but like I said, I just got the LJ Kaelms and I think I will like that one even more, especially now that I have an iPad & it can carry it easier.
Kristi in Cadence
JP: Do you have any favorite quotes or sayings?
“What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” Reading that inspired me to get out of the job I had been doing for the past 7 years because it was something I was comfortable doing, and into a new, more challenging job that I am loving as I can be around people more.
JP: What kind of music gets you in the crafty mood?
Dave Matthews Band, even though my husband hates it.
JP: You mention you’re in love with you L.J. What’s so special about it?
Before I was carrying a purse plus a messenger bag. When I’d have to bring my laptop home for work, that meant either I couldn’t bring my knitting & iPad to work, or I had 3 bags on the way home on the bus. The L.J. simplifies things so much. Everything fits in my (heavy) bag without a problem.
In here I’ve got 2 knitting projects (one on each side), my iPad in the middle pocket, Respect the Spindle book, latest copy of Interweave Knits, checkbook, wallet, misc purse stuff (pens lipgloss, ect), notions, headphones, iPhone, keys, and most importantly, my son’s epi pens (which fit great in the side pockets so I can find them easily in an emergency).
Some days I’ll bring all of this to work, some days I won’t, but it is comforting to know it all fits and I won’t be the “bag lady” on the bus on the way home. This is BY FAR my favorite bag. The top stays shut, the bag doesn’t tip, the shoulder straps stay on my shoulders, and I love the material. I wish I would have purchased it sooner.
JP: Coffee or tea?
Coffee- with plenty of sugar
JP: How did you learn to knit?
I worked at Keepsake Quilting one summer in New Hampshire. While there I learned how to piece quilt tops together, but couldn’t bring all of the tools back to school with me. I really enjoyed being creative, so the women I worked with at Keepsake taught me how to knit as well.
They sent me back to college with 3 balls of Patons and a pattern for a hat (as Keepsake Quilting is owned by the same people as Patternworks is). Shortly after that, I discovered the book Stitch ‘N Bitch by Debbie Stoller, and being in college at the time, the book was just right. I then visited my first LYS shortly thereafter and was hooked ever since. I’ve been knitting for 8 years now.
And spinning too! Here's some of that BFL silk spun yarn. *drool*
JP: What was your first knitting project?
The first project that I actually kept was a “Ribbed for Her Pleasure” scarf from Stitch ‘N Bitch. It was just a basic ribbed scarf, knit out of Brown Sheep. I still have it. However the funniest story I have about knitting was a hat for my now husband.
I cast on, without doing a gauge swatch, and ended up knitting him a hat that could have easily been a ski mask because it was so big. Then, I ripped that out (again, didn’t check my gauge) and ended up with a hat so small it didn’t even fit me. The third hat, I decided to actually do a gauge swatch for (shocking, I know) and it fit perfectly. He still has it & wears it.
JP: It’s the zombie apocolypse. What’s your weapon of choice?
Sniper Rifle- can’t let them get too close.
JP: What’s one of the strangest things you’ve put in your JP bag?
Diaper rash cream & diapers for my son.
JP: What’s the last movie you really enjoyed, whether you were knitting or not?
I just saw the Hunger Games last weekend (and knit during it). I’ve read the series 3 times and I think they did a really great job with it.
JP: Do you have a favorite type of knitting project?
I am currently on a shawl/ shawlette/ cowl jag. I love how you can put them with so many outfits and get a different look. Plus it’s another use for all of my sock yarn stash.
JP: Do you prefer to knit alone or with friends?
If I am working on something that I can actually talk and work on, hands down I would rather knit with friends. I love having this in common with people and getting inspired by what they are working on.
JP: If time and money were no object, what would you be doing?
Knitting/spinning and traveling to all of the fiber festivals/ workshops I could possibly attend to meet more knitters.
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Thanks so much for sharing your stories and photos (particularly that cutie pie knitting)! You can connect with Kristi on Twitter or Ravelry. Kristi was kind enough to recommend some great yarn shops in Minneapolis. Thanks for that too!
If you’d like to be featured in our knitter’s profile, we’d love to hear from you! Email or leave your info in the comments and we’ll make it happen! Don’t worry, you don’t have to submit photos of yourself if you’re not into that (but we do want to see your knitting and your bags for sure).
You’ve heard the phrase It’s in your blood, right? Basically, since all your family does something, by nature, you probably could do it too. I’m going to venture that Nedra, our latest Knitter Profile, has knitting in her blood.
The reason? Well, Nedra’s a great story-teller, and it’s too good of a tid-bit to spoil right away, so I’m just gonna let you find out for yourself. Read on and enjoy!
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JP: When do you enjoying knitting most?
Any time I’m on a screen porch. My husband and I moved from Michigan to the mountains of North Carolina about a year and a half ago. One of the things we love most about living in milder temps is porch time!
My mom taught me how to knit and is a major knitting guru herself. She and my stepdad have an amazing screen porch and live just a few minutes away. It’s as comfortable as a living room and has a breathtaking mountain view. It was on their porch that I reconnected with knitting in the last couple of years.
It will always be a special place to me. My husband and I have a nice big screen porch now too! The woods around it are teaming with birds. Now that spring is here, I’m already out there quite a bit knitting. It’s my favorite place to be!
Pure JOY! I am a MAJOR addict of great bags. When we moved, I think I gave away about 20 purses and bags to my nieces and sister in law. And yet I still have a closet of purses and bags in my new house?!
I am always on the hunt for the perfect bag. I am an in-home spa consultant and trainer with BeautiControl, a direct sales company. I’ve been running my own business with them for about 10 years.
When I go to do a training or meet a client or a consultant, I need something that looks cute and trendy but can also keep my personal stuff, my business stuff and now my knitting stuff organized.
JP’s bags are by far the best bags I have ever come across in 10 years. They look incredible, and they fit all my needs.
Nedra's L.J. Kaelms, packed with everything she needs.
JP: If you could eat or drink anything with no consequences, what would it be?
Mexican Coke, homemade popcorn with real butter, M and Ms and ice cream!
JP: What project are you working on right now?
The Chinook scarf in a royal blue cashmere merino silk and the DROPS flounce jacket in a hot pink bamboo cotton.
JP: What’s the one knitting project you’ve always wanted to try but just haven’t gotten around to or you’re just a little intimidated by?
Entrelac! I love the Lady Eleanor Entrelac Stole but whenever I talk to someone who’s made it, they say it took them forever. Plus I just can’t wrap my mind around how entrelac works. I know I need to take the plunge and do it – that’s the only way it will ever make sense to me.
JP: What’s one of your favorite breakfasts?
Breakfast at Tupelo Honey Cafe in Asheville! Breakfast is my favorite meal. I love a fluffy omelet with fresh ingredients, toast made from homemade buttery bread, and organic sausage.
JP: How many JP bags or patterns have you bought/knit over the years?
Two so far – The Rio in Black and the L.J. Kaelms in Deep Taupe. I’m a matchy-matchy person, so I wanted to get my basic winter and summer purse. But now I’m seriously looking at the LJ Kaelms in kelly green andor turquoise. Who can resist those colors?!
JP: Which one is your favorite?
That is hard! I love them both for different reasons – the Rio for its glasses pocket and the LJ Kaelms for its yarn pockets and ringlets to run the yarn through.
JP: Coffee or tea?
Both! A cup of freshly ground coffee in the morning and tea in the afternoon – usually peppermint or lemon.
JP: What inspires you?
Big panoramic views in nature – the ocean or the top of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Climbing a mountain or to the top of a waterfall. Strong women who withstood trials and still prevailed – like Julia Child, Martha Stewart, and Margaret Thatcher. Anyone who came from nowhere and achieved their dreams, whatever those dreams are. Watching Rocky inspires me too!
Nedra and her mom Becky at Stitches South
JP: How did you learn to knit?
From my mom, Becky. She learned when she was a little girl from my Great Grandma Blanding. She did everything – took care of her large family, their home, made all of their food, sewed their clothes, knit and I am sure much more!
Mom says that Great Grandma Blanding was known to doze off and keep knitting – she was that busy and that good! Mom taught me how to knit when I was about 26. I made a couple scarves.
I got absorbed in building my business for about 8 years after that. Then I realized that I needed my knitting again, so I started making simple blankets with Lion Brand Homespun Yarn on those huge SpeedStix. After a couple years of knitting the same blanket over and over again, I was ready for something more and we had a big transition in our life.
We decided to move to North Carolina. I spent A LOT of time on my parents’ porch there, so much so I started calling it the “knitting porch.” That was about 18 months ago and that’s when I really started to expand my horizons when it came to knitting. I’ve done fingerless mitts, cable projects, and sweaters since then.
JP: What was your first knitting project? How did it go?
My first knitting project was a simple scarf. I like to think I made up my own stitch! I didn’t realize that to purl, I needed to pass the yarn under the needle and into the front. So I kept increasing and then decreasing, not really understanding what was happening.
The good news is – it miraculously came out straight and the same width from start to finish. It still hangs in my closet today!
JP: If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be?
Laser focus!
JP: What’s one of the strangest things you’ve put in your JP bag?
A flashlight! My husband is famous in our family for his love of two things – flashlights and batteries. He likes to be prepared. He asks me to carry a flashlight in my purse because you never know … and you know what, I’ve used it a few times!
JP: What’s the last movie you really enjoyed, whether you were knitting or not?
Moneyball. Like Rocky, it’s a fantastic comeback story.
JP: What’s one of your favorite outdoor activities?
I have two. Hiking – to relax and visit with my hubby. Running – to get me energized, clear my mind and believe anything is possible!
JP: Do you have a favorite type of knitting project?
Sweaters! I have always been a fan of cardigans for every day and cropped sweaters to wear with dresses. I’m tickled with the idea that I can actually make them for myself now!
JP: Do you do any other sorts of crafty stuff?
I treasure my home, and I love to make it cozy. In that effort, I’ve dabbled in scrap booking, stenciling, stamping and even candle-making. But if there was anything that came second to knitting, it would be sewing pillows, curtains and tablecloths.
Oh! And thanks to an excellent teacher, Jennifer Cantrell, I also now know how to crochet flower coasters for my home!
JP: Do you prefer to knit alone or with friends?
Both! Knitting alone helps me work out my thoughts and just have a calmer approach to everything. But I also love to see my knitting friends. There’s something about spending time with people who have mastered the same art as you. It fills up a certain place inside my heart.
JP: What kind of music gets you in the crafty mood?
French cafe music! Or indie music from my college days, like Tracy Chapman and Indigo Girls.
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Thanks so much Nedra! Can you believe her great grandmother would fall asleep and continue knitting? Am I the only one who is just stunned by that?
You can connect with Nedra on Ravelry. One thing I loved about corresponding with Nedra was her signature on her emails:
“Knit on, with confidence and hope, through all crises.” - Elizabeth Zimmerman
If you’d like to be featured in our knitter’s profile, we’d love to hear from you! Email or leave your info in the comments and we’ll make it happen! Don’t worry, you don’t have to submit photos of yourself if you’re not into that (but we do want to see your knitting and your bags for sure).
Life is all about learning new things, and that’s one of the reasons I’m growing to love knitting more and more. There are so many different techniques, projects and ideas!
I’m constantly learning from the myriad knitting blogs and magazines, but I think my favorite is from our Knitter’s Profiles. In our newest one, I heard a word I didn’t know and asked about it. When Jordana explained the technique, my heart dropped into my stomach; she laughed and said, “Your face!”
Read our newest profile with Lynne, and see if you can figure out what shocked me so much it made Jordana giggle. I’ll post it at the end of the blog.
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JP: How did you learn to knit?
My mom taught me how to knit sometime while I was in middle school. She used to knit things for us when we were little, and I’d tried crochet but never got past the 19 feet of chain stage.
JP: Do you have a favorite type of knitting project?
It’d probably have to be socks. I knit socks constantly. But, I have also knit umpteen hats and pairs of fair isle mittens, love lace and have a pretty decent selection of sweaters.
JP: What project are you working on right now?
What am I NOT working on right now? Hmmm. Currently on the needles and started are a lace shawl that’s been languishing for ages. I started it during the summer of 2010 right before a road trip to Winnepeg. It’s almost done, but because I’m getting close to the end and it’s a circular shawl, the rows take forever.
I also have two pairs of socks (a pair of footies and a full pair of socks), a double-stranded laceweight cardigan which will be my first steeking project, a lace scarf, yet another pair of fair isle mittens, a pair of fingering weight fingerless mitts, a sock yarn blanket and a pieced afghan that I haven’t touched in forever.
JP: Any knitting resolutions in 2012?
Nothing specific, but I do try to learn something new all the time with regards to my knitting. I like learning new skills and expanding my horizons. A couple of projects that I’m currently working on are ”firsts” for me (i.e., steeking and beading).
JP: When do you enjoying knitting most?
Anywhere and everywhere! The vast majority of my knitting is done on the couch in front of the tv (even if it’s not always on) but I also knit at work on my lunch and whenever else it gets quiet and I have a few minutes to myself.
JP: How did you find out about JP?
To be honest, I can’t remember. Maybe a knitting magazine? Most likely Interweave Knits. . . It was a looooong time ago.
I’m not a girlie girl by any stretch of the imagination, but I’m always on the lookout for the “perfect purse” and I was really excited to see the blend of functional purse that was geared towards knitters because by that time, I was already starting to cart my knitting around and it wasn’t always easy to make my purse work for knitting.
After using my teal LJ for a little over a year, I just switched back to my red Rio and remembered why I love that one so much. It is my absolute favorite and I’m seriously thinking that I need another one … In BLUE!
JP: If you could eat or drink anything with no consequences, what would it be?
Probably chocolate and Mountain Dew. I already enjoy both of them without regard for consequences, but I get headaches from both, so it’s a calculated risk. Alternatively, carbs in most any form.
JP: What’s the one knitting project you’ve always wanted to try?
There are some things I haven’t tried yet, like bobbles or intarsia. But those are mostly because I haven’t found a project that uses either one of them that I’ve fallen in love with and HAD to knit. I keep looking though, just so that I can say I’ve tried it. Oh, and entrelac. Haven’t tried that either. I’m not a fan of picking up stitches (it never looks right to me when I do it), so entrelac hasn’t found it’s way into my skill base yet.
JP: How many JP bags or patterns have you bought/knit over the years?
I currently own three JP bags (Rio, LJ and Bella) and have given away two others (a pink/black messenger and another Rio). And I’ve bought or downloaded most JP patterns, but so far have only knit a Landon (which I knit for the Rio giveaway contest 2-3 years ago) and have JUST finished Cerie. I also bought yarn for a Starsky a few months ago, just haven’t gotten to it yet (Christmas knitting strikes again!).
JP: What kind of music gets you in the crafty mood?
I don’t usually listen to music when I knit. I either have the TV on or enjoy a few minutes of quiet (which seems rare in my house sometimes). Occasionally I listen to knitting podcasts or mellow-ish music like Dido or Enya.
JP: Coffee or tea?
Neither. The aforementioned Mountain Dew. Or Pepsi.
JP: What’s your knitting inspiration?
I am a shameless copycat. When I’m struggling to figure out what to do with a skein of yarn, I troll Ravelry and see what else other people have done with the same colorway and when I find something I love, I tend to “steal” the idea.
I’ve got several projects like that in my queue and just finished a pair of socks that were spawned from the same process.
JP: What was your first knitting project? How did it go?
I’d rather not talk about it. . . A bad combination of pastel acrylic and adult sized booties. My mom had come up with her own design for these slipper things and of course all we had at the time was acrylic (this was mid 80′s) in pastel colors. I, of course, decided I needed to use various colors instead of just making them solid. I pitched them a million years ago.
JP: It’s the zombie apocolypse. What’s your weapon of choice?
I’d have to rig some sort of launcher for my seemingly endless supply of DPNs.
JP: What’s the last movie you really enjoyed, whether you were knitting or not?
The last thing I saw in theaters was the new Mission Impossible movie which was good. Didn’t slow down much. I see a lot of action movies, courtesy of my husband.
JP: What’s one of your favorite outdoor activities?
I love kayaking and camping, but don’t get a lot of opportunities to do either. We used to do a family camping trip every summer when I was growing up (us girls: my mom and sisters) and those are the basis of most of our best stories.
JP: Do you do any other sorts of crafty stuff?
Not really, no. I’d like to spin, but when I try I’m not very good at it. I’ve been knitting so many years that I don’t like starting over on the learning curve. I had a mini-spinning lesson a couple years ago and immediately went home and knit because I needed to do something I was GOOD at. I used to do cross-stitch and attempted scrapbooking briefly. Nothing else has stuck though. Knitting just takes up all of my free moments that I don’t make time for anything else.
JP: Knitting: alone or with friends?
I prefer to knit with friends because I have very little social interaction as it is. Nothing makes you feel good about yourself like taking your knitting projects to Knit Night and showing them off to ”oooohs” and “aaaaaahs.” But I am waaaaay more productive when I knit alone.
JP: If time and money were no object, what would you be doing?
Sitting at home knitting, of course! Or maybe taking a nap.
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Thanks so much Lynne! You are a brave woman for trying steeking! (That’s the technique that shocked me.) You can find Lynne with her countless sock projects on Ravelry.
If you’d like to be featured in our knitter’s profile, we’d love to hear from you! Email or leave your info in the comments and we’ll make it happen! Don’t worry, you don’t have to submit photos of yourself if you’re not into that (but we do want to see your knitting and your bags for sure).
One of the big reasons we have our Knitter’s Profiles here at JP is so we can learn more about the people who love the craft and Jordana Paige’s bags. I have a confession though. I also love the profiles because I get a chance to ask quirky questions and most times I get an answer.
When we chatted with Susan of With Pointed Sticks, her answer to the question about how she likes her eggs cooked was just brilliant. I’ve been asking that question a long time (as a waitress and journalist) and this is the best answer, hands down. Read on and enjoy our latest Knitter’s Profile.
Susan and her brand new L.J. Kaelms
When do you enjoying knitting most?
I do 90 percent of my knitting on the train to and from work. I have a two-hour commute each way, so I put on a podcast and settle in with the uninterrupted knitting time. It makes complicated projects easier, because I can’t get distracted.
How did you find out about JP?
I’ve known about her as long as I’ve known about knitting. I can’t remember the very first place I saw her bags and patterns, but one of my first knitting memories is seeing the Starsky cardigan in Knitty. It looked so cozy and so out of my realm of doing. Knitty was the first place I saw patterns I might actually want to knit, rather than the sweaters I saw in my grandmother’s old knitting pamphlets, and Starsky was one of them. I also seem to remember seeing an ad in Interweave for JP bags, and thinking they were gorgeous, but at that point I didn’t think I’d ever be good enough at knitting to warrant a purse designed specifically for carrying projects.
If you could eat or drink anything with no consequences, what would it be?
I really. Like. Eating. All things. It’s so hard to think about this. Most recently, my fiance and I took on a Bloomin’ Onion from the Outback, and it was so disgustingly perfect, but goodness gracious I never wanted to eat again after that!
What project are you working on right now?
Oof. Still Christmas knitting. After that, I’m planning on some complicated lace shawls, since I was on a stockinette kick for a long time. I’m ready for a change.
What’s the one knitting project you’ve always wanted to try?
I’d love to try beading, but it seems so fiddly that it makes me nervous. I also don’t know if it’s something I’d actually wear. I might try a lace-weight, long cowl with beading at some point, because cowls are fairly non-committal.
How do you like your eggs cooked?
In cake.
You just got your first JP bag … congrats! Tell us a little about that.
Ahhhh! I know! I’m so excited about it! I made a decision a few years ago to only buy cheap purses so that I could replace them as soon as I got sick of them without feeling bad. But after a particularly awful Target purse, I was ready for something that would hold up for awhile. L.J. Kaelms was the first bag I thought of, because I’ve been drooling over it forever!
Susan reviews her L.J. on her blog
Coffee or tea?
Coffee. Always coffee.
What inspires you?
As far as knitting goes, I’m most inspired by Fall. My mental queue starts at the end of August, and I’m always so inspired by the upcoming Fall that I come up with enough projects for the entire year.
Most recently, I was inspired by a woman I saw knitting on the subway. She was blind, and came in with a seeing eye dog. She sat down, pulled out her knitting, and started knitting faster than anyone I’ve ever seen. She had a huge smile on her face the whole time she was working.
How did you learn to knit?
It wasn’t one of my finer moments actually. For my thirteenth birthday, my grandmother wanted to get me a “Teach-Yourself-To…” kit, but didn’t know which one. My grandfather decided I should learn how to knit. It had plastic needles and acrylic yarn, and I was SO BAD at it. Which shouldn’t be a big deal, but when I was in middle school, I couldn’t handle being bad at anything.
I ended up throwing the needles and deciding never to knit again. Both of my grandmothers teamed up to teach me how to knit and purl after that. I stopped for a few years, then when I was 17, I got a random urge to start knitting again, and I haven’t stopped since.
What was your first knitting project?
Aside from the standard garter stitch rectangle everyone’s supposed to knit, my first real project was the Alexi scarf from Berroco. It was made of Caron Simply Soft, and took me six months because there were so much cabling and seed stitch. It’s not especially functional, because it’s not long enough to wrap around my neck, just drape over my shoulders, but I was so proud of it that I wore it to school all the time just so I could look at it periodically during the day.
When I went to a real yarn store (that is, not Michael’s) for the first time, I was wearing my scarf, and I told the store owner that I was scared of knitting a sweater because I didn’t think I could handle sleeves. She looked at my scarf and said, “well, if you can knit that, you can knit anything!”
Forget knitting ... she's on to designing these days.
Have you ever knit a JP pattern?
Currently I haven’t, mostly because I love her sweater patterns, but up until recently I’ve knit maybe three sweaters my entire knitting career. I just finished college, so dropping a sweater’s worth of money all in one go was overwhelming. After calculating the time and money I spend on small projects, though, sweater knitting might just be more economical, in which case Starsky is on my list. It’s one of the first patterns I remember seeing in Knitty, and there’s a bit of nostalgia for me in those patterns. It’s nice to remember the things that initially inspired you!
What’s one of the strangest things you’ve put in your JP bag so far?
It’s so new that so far there hasn’t been anything out-of-the-ordinary in it. I have, however, been able to fit a strange amount of things in it. I was at my LYS the other day (Windsor Button in downtown Boston), and the woman asked me if I needed a bag for my *many* skeins of yarn.
I looked at the yarn, then down at my new Jordana Paige bag, and said I thought I could handle it. I put my bag on the counter, and she said, “ooh, is that a Jordana Paige? I’ve never seen one in the wild!” I stuffed yarn in it, on top of the several projects that were already in there, and I said, “YES! I love it! I can fit so much crap in it!”
What’s one of your favorite outdoor activities?
I went to Cape Cod with a few friends two summers ago, and we went kayaking in the ocean. It was the first time I ever did it, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since. We also spent a good chunk of time screaming songs from the early 2000s, so that could be why I enjoyed it so much.
Do you have a favorite type of knitting project?
It changes all the time, depending on the season and what’s in my yarn cabinet at the moment, but currently I’m in a fingering-weight shawl place. I tend to run hot, and they’re the perfect layering option when cardigans are too warm.
Do you do any other sorts of crafty stuff?
I sew a little, crochet a little, make jewelry now and again, and I had a brief stint with collages. I have a lot of things I try out, but knitting is the only thing that sticks. I just started spinning a few weeks ago, and I’m hoping that takes. It very well could because it goes with knitting so well. I’ve also always wanted to make mosaic tables, which is a weird one, but I’ve had an urge to do it for several years now.
Do you prefer to knit alone or with friends?
I’m almost certain I would prefer knitting with friends, and I’ve tried to teach a whole bunch of mine, but none of them liked it as much as I do. I started a podcast last week, in the hopes that it will give me the opportunity to talk about what I love, and talk to other knitters as well.
If you’d like to be featured in our knitter’s profile, we’d love to hear from you! Email or leave your info in the comments and we’ll make it happen! Don’t worry, you don’t have to submit photos of yourself if you’re not into that (but we do want to see your knitting and your bags for sure!).
If there is something that’s been on our minds lately here, it’s been travel. Here to fan the wanderlust flames at Jordana Paige is knitter, designer, author, teacher and avid traveler Donna Druchunas. She sits down for a chat in our latest edition of Knitter Profiles.
Knitting in Rome
JP: What’s the best time for you to knit?
DD: I love knitting when I travel. It keeps me from getting nervous, frustrated, or just plain bored when in airports and planes or when on long car rides. I especially love buying one skein of a special yarn I find at a shop I visit and making a small project that I can finish
during my trip. In fact, I’m working on a booklet with a “knitter’s dozen” of patterns that I made during my year of travel in 2010. I went to Hawaii, Alaska, New York, Florida, Wisconsin, England, Scotland, France, The Netherlands, Italy, Geneva, and Lithuania. It was an amazing year.
JP: That sounds so awesome. We’ve just been talking about how well-traveled JP bags seem to be. What stamps are on your L.J. Kaelms’ passport?
DD: Alas, I didn’t have my bag on last year’s trip. But this year it’s already been to Oregon for Sock summit, and then to New York, New Jersey, Maine, Nova Scotia in Canada, Boston, and Vermont in October and we’re getting packed to go to California, Vancouver, and Denver this month. Now that I’ve had time to experience using my L.J. Kaelms bag, I can’t imagine ever traveling without it.
JP: How did you find out about JP?
DD: Jordana very generously sent me a bag for Sock Summit. I’d seen her bags before in yarn shops and had been drooling over them, but never had the gumption to actually order one!
JP: What was your reaction?
DD: Futterwackin! I was so thrilled.
JP: If you could eat or drink anything with no consequences, what would it be?
DD: Right now? A whole box of Scottish shortbread. Sometimes I want to devour a whole NY pizza or a 3-lb Maine Lobster drowned in melted butter. I love good food, especially when in the company of good friends.
JP: Where is one of your favorite places to travel?
DD: It’s so hard to pick. I’m hooked on Europe these days. I love going to Lithuania and I have wonderful friends in Switzerland and England. The hardest part of traveling is falling in love with places and people that you won’t be able to see again for a long time.
Donna at Woolfest in England
JP: How did you get into knitting and cruising?
DD: I don’t remember. Somehow I got in touch with Melissa at Craft Cruises and I was excited about doing an Alaska Cruise because I’m always looking for another excuse to visit Alaska again. The cruise let me visit places like Haines and Juneau that I hadn’t been able to get to on my previous research and teaching trips.
Now I do a cruise every year. This last one to Canada and New England was with an absolutely AMAZING group of women and would have been a wonderful experience even if we’d never gotten into port to explore. But, OMG, the yarns we found once we got off the boat. I’m back to familiar territory with another Alaska Cruise in May 2012.
JP: What project are you working on right now?
DD: Beaded fingerless gloves. I’ve adapted an Estonian lace/leaf pattern with beads. I’m making a second pair for myself now and then a pair for my niece for Christmas. I’ve also promised some Facebook followers that I’d get a pattern written soon, too.
JP: What’s the one knitting project you’ve always wanted to try but just haven’t gotten around to it, or you’re just a little intimidated by?
I bought an Intarsia sweater kit from LaLana wools years ago and I don’t know if I’ll ever actually make it. I don’t hate knitting Intarsia, but I don’t know when I will have time for such a large Intarsia project because even though the knitting itself is simple, it requires a lot of attention and is slow going. I’ve been daydreaming about making a mitered-square or lace shawl with the yarn instead…we’ll see.
JP: I love the portrait of you and your kitty on your website. Who drew that?
JP: How many JP bags or patterns have you bought/knit over the years?
DD: Two now! I picked up a Bella bag, which is smaller than the L.J. Kaelms bag, at Interweave Knitting Lab so I can use it when I’m not on the road.
JP: Coffee or tea?
DD: Both. Mostly coffee. But I love Chai and my English friends have taught me to drink black tea with milk and sugar. It’s quite addicting!
Coffee time in Vilnius, Lithuania
JP: What was your favorite book to write?
I know it’s politically incorrect to say, but Arctic Lace. Because I loved the travel and research that went along with that book, and learning about a different culture. I’m working on a book about Lithuania right now that will be a lot like Arctic Lace, although (obviously) the details and knitting projects will be completely different.
Donna with her kitty, Uno.
JP: What are your cats’ names?
DD: Uno, DeeDee, and Buddy. They all came with their names from the shelter, and I didn’t see any reason to change them. Although I sometimes call them Monkey Boy, Tiny Girl, and Budski.
JP: What inspires you?
Everything, but especially travel and beautiful yarns. It is impossible for me to take a trip and visit new yarn shops without creating an entire pattern line in my head. The hard part is when it comes to making them real. There’s only so much time in the day (the year!) and I have to force myself to focus.
JP: How did you learn to knit?
DD: My grandmother taught me. I don’t even remember learning. It’s like I was born knowing how to knit.
JP: What was your first knitting project? How did it go?
DD: I don’t remember making anything except a swatch of honey comb cables when I was a girl. Obviously if I was knitting cables, I’d done other things before that. But I don’t recall any projects and whatever I made is now lost.
JP: If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be?
DD: Flying like Superman so I could visit any place on the planet in an instant!
JP: What’s one of the strangest things you’ve put in your JP bag?
DD: God knows. LOL. I carry it with me all the time when I’m on the road, so everything gets tossed in at one time or another. A chewed off fingernail? Leftover paella?
JP: What’s one of your favorite outdoor activities?
DD: Swimming in salt water. I miss living by the ocean so much, being land-locked in Colorado. I’m not a big fan of lakes with slimy, muddy bottoms.
JP: Do you prefer to knit alone or with friends? Why?
DD: Alone. Whenever I go to knit group I either a) mess up my knitting or b) put it down and just enjoy chatting with my friends.
JP: Thanks for all your time answering our questions! You’re an inspiration to the knitting traveler.
Thanks for inviting me. This was fun! I love talking about knitting and travel and my Jordana Paige bag has become the intersection of these two loves in my life. PLUS it has room for all of my writing materials, too. Amazing!
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You can find Donna on Facebook, Twitter, and Ravelry. If you’d like to be featured in our knitter’s profile, we’d love to hear from you! Email or leave your info in the comments and we’ll make it happen! Don’t worry, you don’t have to submit photos of yourself if you’re not into that (but we do want to see your knitting and your bags for sure!).
Something I’ve noticed about any new skill or industry you get into, there seems to be a lingo, doesn’t there? When I first started working at Jordana Paige, I kept hearing these strange words and phrases. Skeins? Knitting in the round? I had to ask Jordana what a knit along was.
But now that I’ve been here a bit, I feel like I’m starting to feel like I belong to a secret club almost. It’s obvious that knitting is so much more than an industry. That’s what you call working in tech or in hospitality.
You don't see people programming software in public, do you?
Knitting is a lifestyle and a connector. When someone sees you knitting, you instantly bond. It’s awesome. There are so many interesting and helpful people around the world involved, which is why I’m loving our series of knitter profiles we’ve started. It gives us all a chance to get a little peal into eachothers’ lives.
Sarah has been a knitter for around eight years and took the time to chat with me about her first 12-foot long knitting project and how knitting saved her life: She probably would’ve died from boredom watching all those sports with her husband!
And her answer to my question about eating whatever she wants without consequence definitely has my stomach rumbling.
JP: When do you enjoying knitting most?
S: I knit constantly. I knit in front of the TV a lot while watching ‘FRIENDS’ reruns. Vacation is usually when I knit the least, unless I am on a train or in a car or on a plane (basically, in transit).
JP: How did you find out about JP?
S: I saw an ad in a magazine about 5 1/2 years ago for The Knitter’s Satchel (in red). Oh sheer delight!
JP: What was your reaction?
S: I fell in love with the bag and told my husband I needed one for the next holiday or gift giving time. He forgot, of course.
JP: If you could eat or drink anything with no consequences, what would it be?
JP: What’s the one knitting project you’ve always wanted to try?
S: I have wanted to knit a dress but I’m intimidated by the amount of time it would take.
JP: How many JP bags or patterns have you bought/knit over the years?
S: I have bought 4 Jordana Paige bags and own 8. I have knit Landon and several Mila hats, and am about to start Cerie.
JP: Which one is your favorite?
S: It’s difficult to find a beret that keeps your interest throughout the entire pattern but Mila does just that. I have all of her sweaters on my ‘queue’ but finding time to knit them has been a challenge.
JP: What inspires you?
S: Color, cables, organic and sleek designs.
JP: How did you learn to knit?
S: I learned to knit in early 2003 (approximately) when my Husband was in graduate school. We were poor college kids without much to do.
While he watched sports on television I was going crazy so I decided to find something that would keep my hands and mind busy without being too expensive or taking time away from our marriage. I bought an “I taught myself to knit” book and the rest is history.
JP: What was your first knitting project? How did it go?
S: A stockinette scarf. It ended up being about 12 feet long and the stitches looked horrific! lol
JP: If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be?
S: I would want super fast knitting skills to finish all those WIP’s
JP: What’s one of the strangest things you’ve put in your JP bag?
S: I carry my life in my JP bags, so I would have to say the day I was carrying my lunch, clothes and a 2 liter of soda in my Rio to put in my desk at work. When I was pulling everything out of the bag the other woman in my office asked if clowns were going to start stepping out also.
JP: What’s one of your favorite outdoor activities?
S: I love to go to the beach and smell the air, take in the sights, walk in the sand.
JP: Do you have a favorite type of knitting project?
S: I love projects that are stockinette or simple enough that I can knit in the theater, car, anywhere. Socks and sweaters in the round usually.
JP: Do you do any other sorts of crafty stuff?
S: I like to dye yarn and the few times I have spun it mesmerized me.
JP: Do you prefer to knit alone or with friends?
S: Both. I like to knit alone because it is a bit like meditation. I like to knit with friends because you have usually finished a round before you realize it.
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Thanks so much Sarah for taking the time to share with us! Now I just might have to head to the store to get some hummus. Yum!
If you’d like to be featured in our knitter’s profile, I’d love to hear from you! Email me or leave your info in the comments and we’ll make it happen! Don’t worry, you don’t have to submit photos of yourself if you’re not into that (but we do want to see your knitting and your bags for sure!).
One of the most quiet understated guys I know told me recently about how he scaled a mountain and then snowboarded down it. To look at him, you would never guess this. I’m a firm believe that everyone has stories worth telling, as long as you ask the right questions.
So in the spirit of introductions and stories, we’re starting a new series here at the JP blog, which focuses on you, the Jordana Paige fan, the knitter, the reason we’re all here in the first place, right?
One of the first people I talked to about a knitter’s profile was Gynna B, partially because she’s bought six bags and at least three patterns but also because she’s chatty on Twitter and Jordana has chatted with her several times at different events.
After talking with her, it’s apparent she’s a girl after my own heart. If she was going to be a superhero, she would be Cat Woman. “She can do anything! Jump, fight, hear, see and is really fast…”
Keiki, Gynna's cat, loves the Rio, now that she won't fit in the Bella anymore.
I’m a huge Cat Woman fan, so she’s already scoring major points (even without that awesome photography and adorable kitty). That and the girl loves to ride her motorcycle on nice days when she’s not knitting, which has to be on my short list of awesome outdoor activities as well.
Here’s a bit of our Q&A with Gynna. I think my favorite part has to be about the strangest thing she put in her JP bag. Read on:
JP: When do you enjoying knitting most?
G: I actually always have my knitting with me. Usually even two projects! I knit a minimum of 15 minutes a day and if I don’t, I’m a complete mess!
JP: How did you find out about JP? What was your reaction?
G: Oh wow, that’s a good question. I know it was in 2005, and it seemed like everywhere I looked the Knitter’s Satchel was everywhere!!! I immediately fell in love and HAD to have one! I of course started stalking the website and finding shops where I would be to try one out and then ended up purchasing the Ocean Blue Satchel from Ancient Pathways Yarn shop in Fresno.
JP: If you could eat or drink anything with no consequences, what would it be?
G: Oh that would definitely be Fish and Poi. My family is from Hawaii and growing up my Gramma would always make us Fish and Poi for special occasions. I also could go for Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream!
JP: What project are you working on right now?
G: Haha what project am I not working on? Off the top of my head: two pairs of socks, Bel Air sweater, two shawls, a Wedding Shawl and Shane
JP: Which JP bag is your favorite?
G: Can’t choose a favorite, I love them all! But my Black Rio and Bella get the most love… I typically use 2-3 bags at a time. This past weekend for example I used all three of my current JP bags!
My Egg Plant Purple Rio is my overnighter bag, perfectly holds 3 outfits, change of shoes, toiletries/makeup case and my Kindle. My Black Onyx Rio is my camera bag: it goes on all my photo shoots with me and is absolutely perfect for holding my Canon DSLR, mini computer, knitting, camera accessories/lenses.
My Black Bella is my go to everyday purse. I usually have a knitting project, sunglasses, wallet, small camera, iPhone and any other random stuff I think I’ll need for the day.
JP: How did you learn to knit?
G: I taught myself how to knit in 2002 my Freshmen year in college. I learned how to crochet the year before but wanted to learn how to know also. I look online and read a bunch of tutorials and just practiced til it was perfect.
JP: Nice! How did your first knitting project go?
G: My first knitting piece does not actually exist! When I first started I knit sooo tightly, I was using horrible scratchy yarn and these needles my mom had used when she was a kid.
Needless to say after casting on and knitting then ripping out a few times I tossed the yarn aside and went to JoAnn’s and purchased soft yarn and better needles and then the Magic Happened! I knit a simple garter stich scarf… but it was perfect and I gifted to a close friend.
JP: What inspires you?
G: I get my inspiration from a lot of different places and people. If I am particularly desperate I will go outside and just look, no matter where I am, just the act of going outside and looking up and actually seeing the world around me is inspirational!
I also find inspiration from many online artists and of course Ravelry!
JP: What’s one of the strangest things you’ve put in your JP bag?
G: A zucchini. It actually JUST happened. A friend had some extra from her garden and I slipped one in my Rio as I was walking out the door. When I got to my next stop, I was setting up for a photo shoot and was surprised when I reached for a lens and grabbed a zucchini instead!
You put *what* in here?
JP: Do you do any other sorts of crafty stuff?
G: Most definitely! I’ve taken up spinning and weaving, I also Sew, got my first machine when I was 7 and haven’t looked back! I still sew clothes for myself but now I mostly sew for my Etsy shop, I also do beading and make stich markers and jewelry which I hope to have in my shop soon.
Do you prefer to knit alone or with friends? Why? I like both. Alone if I want to learn something new or have a deadline or to decompress. With friends because everything is better with friends! I love the companionship and camaraderie and that no matter what your age or background knitting brings everyone together.
You can check out Gynna’s blog is if you want to check out her work or just say hi. She’s also Gynnab on Ravelry.
If you’d like to be featured in our knitter’s profile, I’d love to hear from you! Email me or leave your info in the comments and we’ll make it happen! Don’t worry, you don’t have to submit photos of yourself if you’re not into that (but we do want to see your knitting and your bags for sure!).
JP: When do you enjoying crocheting most? 
JP: Do you have a favorite type of crochet project?
