Day 3: Knitting Hero [3KCBWDAY3]

 I have written and rewritten this blog post a few times now and sorry, I don't think I can pick just one person; there are so many people who inspire me, in big ways and in small. I am a member of two knitting groups and everyone at both of them has given me ideas in one way or another (and made me laugh. a lot).

{Photo credit uncertain; thanks to whoever took it!}

I come from a long line of knitting women and love to chat about knitting with my grandma, aunts and mum, and love hearing about my great-grandma (who I never met) knitting socks for the whole family, seemingly mostly in bed.

{Crafting with my mum, Photo by Ewenique}

I read countless blogs which all give me ideas; most notably those of organiser extraordinaire Eskimimi, the Yarn Harlot and Wendy at Knit and Tonic.

[Me wearing Simple City, by Eskimimi] 

The yarns dyed by The Yarn Yard send my head into a spin, and if I weren't on a yarn diet then Abstract Cat and Wharfedale Woolworks would be getting my custom. And I have enjoyed knitting with sparkleduck this year, bought at Woolfest last year.

[All the Yarn Yard Yarn I own. Apparently I'm in a Blue Phase]

In terms of patterns, I do love the designs of Ysolda and Kate Davies, the socks of Cookie A and the hats of Wooly Wormhead, and love reading their blogs and about their lives and inspiration.

[Me wearing the Orchid Theif Shawl by Ysolda Teague. No, I'm not talking about Lauriel, still]

But by far and away, there are two people who inspire me the most - sum totalling a vast amount of inspiration between them. First, Ewenique, for opening the door to the knitting world, getting me knitting in public, showing me how to use dpns (and indeed what they are), getting me on ravelry and a ton of things besides. And last but by no means least, the eternally lovely Steph, housemate and crafter. I am greatful to you for seeing that my door to the knitting world was opened a crack, then forcing the thing open and wedging it with a ton of books; never, I fear, to be shut again.

My Knitting and Crochet Time - 2KCBWDAY7

Write about your typical crafting time. When it is that you are likely to craft – alone or in more social environments, when watching TV or whilst taking bus journeys. What items do you like to surround yourself with whilst you twirl your hook like a majorette’s baton or work those needles like a skilled set of samurai swords. Do you always have snacks to hand, or are you a strictly ‘no crumbs near my yarn!’ kind of knitter.

While writing thinking about this post, I realised there is a vast list of places I have knitted, even in a usual week. There was two knitting groups, one of which I remembered to take a photo of - Stitch & Bitch at Leeds University. The other is on Ravelry as Leeds City Knitters, this week at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, but we had a very cute and very distracting four-month-old visiting this week.

Then there is the knitting I do, where I'm the only person knitting. On the bus and train always happen, whether it's the quick journey home or the long journey north to Edinburgh. At my desk when my work gets really frustrating and I just need to do something else for ten minutes. In a normal week, I'd say that it's about half-and-half between social and solo knitting

But this week, I have rediscovered knitting alone in my house. Of course, this is how my forefathers (or foremothers) knitted, of an evening after a long day, by lamplight. I've realised why they did it too - I'm treating it as quality time to myself, an hour or so of self-indulgence before bed. And since the remit asks for detail, I thought I would photograph the Knitting Chair, and tell you about it.

First, the obvious red spotty knitting bag and rainbow blanket - these are probably two of my favourite things in the world, so involving them in the knitting makes my happier and obviously warmer. The rug is an old faithful; I've had since I moved to my first proper flat in Edinburgh which had an uninspiring grey carpet in need of brightening up, and this room is no different with this beige number.

There is also the radio for company and inspiration - I love listening to it when knitting, because if I get stuck I can stop paying attention more easily than I can with TV or films. Having said that, I do watch old favourite films when I've got a whole evening knitting.

The blue magazine rack to the left of the chair mainly contains knitting magazines and miscellaneous patterns. On that is the perennial mug of tea - a necessity when I'm knitting, but equally a necessity whatever I'm doing - and my hand cream of choice, currently Body Shop Mango Body Butter, 'cos I love the smell. I often have some biscuits to hand if I'm knitting for myself, or chocolate if I'm knitting for someone else (it's easier to get the crumbs off).

I sit next to the beautiful cast-iron fireplace which is easily the best feature of the room. It is a shame that my too-big shoe collection lives in front of it, but they have to go somewhere!! This does mean there is a lot of stuff near the knitting chair, with all those shoes and the niknaks on the mantelpiece, and lotions, potions and jewelry on the dressing table.

So the answer to the questions posed in the remit, in summary - all of the above! I like social and solo knitting, I like snacks but am crumb-conscious, and I like to have a vast number of my belongings within arm's reach!!