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!
JP: How did you find out about JP?
JP: What was your reaction?
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).
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It’s no secret we’re fans of the furry friends who brighten our lives. I mean, c’mon, how could you not love faces like these?
