Georgi From To Knit and Write has interviewed me...
Georgi: When did you learn to knit and what was your first project?
Sandra: I first learned when I was about 8 - my Mom taught me the basics, and I'm pretty sure I knit a scarf for my Barbie. I do remember it being a hideous purple and white variegated acrylic yarn. I think I then graduated to Barbie doll rugs and possibly blankets - anything square and in garter or rib stitch. (I could rib, but never seemed to do anything in stockinette). I then put it down until University - saw a girl in my dorm knitting, said, "I know how to do that", went out, bought yarn and a Patons pattern booklet, and proceeded to make a sweater, mostly by following the directions. I believe it was purple Patons Shetland Chunky. I knit on and off like that (I also sewed, quilted, painted and cross stitched, so I was always doing SOMETHING) for a few years, and then about 10 years ago, something hit me like a V-8 smack to the head. I think it was seeing the influx of the wonderful natural fibres, and realizing that I was okay knitting with synthetics, but MAN! did I LOVE knitting with natural fibre. I was reborn from a person who can knit to a KNITTER, and I have never looked back. I still sew, quilt, weave and sketch, but really, I knit.
Georgi: Describe what your dream knitting project would be, if time and money were no object.
Sandra: I don't know if that exists for me. I've never felt held back by time or money in my knitting. If something grabs me, I find a way to get it. I've never knit an afghan, but to be honest, it's not a project that holds a lot of interest for me. I've knit scarves, socks, adult, baby and kid sweaters. I've used wool, alpaca, silk and cotton.
Maybe quivit - a quivit cowl - since that seems to be a bit extravagant.
Georgi: Whom do you prefer to knit for? Children, hubby, friends, charity, yourself or . . . And why?
Sandra: I love knitting for family and friends. Those that appreciate it. My husband, FIL and nephew are my favourite sock recipients - they love them and show them off and take care of them. They get socks all year long - no need to wait for an occasion. I love to knit for my son when he lets me. He's 10 and getting rather particular, so sweaters have to have a certain "look". But he still loves the hats I make for him and proudly tells people "My Mom made it". My girl friends all love the stuff I make, so I'm always on the lookout for a great pattern for them, and of course - me. With the size of my family, I don't get a lot of time to knit for charity, so I make up for it in other ways - I support causes that I hold near and dear in any way I can.
Georgi: When do you find is the best time for knitting? Is this a time when you need to relax more or is it just something to keep you busy?
Sandra: Any time I can! I always have a small travel project - usually a sock - with me I knit at lunch at work, during my son's basketball practices and games, and swimming lessons. (The other parents are quite used to it by now). I always have a bunch of projects around - always one near my chair in the kitchen/family room, so I can pick it up and knit even a few stitches. I love to knit in the car on the way to the cottage (my husband drives...) because it's one of those places where I would find it a waste of time not to. I think because I have a relatively busy life - work outside the home, a husband who works long hours, so I'm doing most of the work inside the home as well, and a child with a busy life, I find all the bits and pieces of spare time and make the most of it.
But my most favourite time is time spent at the cottage - a Muskoka chair by the lake, kids swimming nearby, good friends close by for chatting and a drink and my knitting in hand. Heaven.
Georgi: I see from reading your blog that you read a lot (so do I). Do you have different books that you read at different times or in different areas? (For instance, I always have a romance in the bathroom (does not matter if I put it down for a couple days) a book by my chair in the TV room, another book by my bed and another in the car.) What is your favorite type of book for general reading? What do you like to read in bed?
Sandra: I've always been a voracious reader. My dad always read a lot, and felt that any book in the house was fair game for me. If I chose to pick up a book and read it, he supported me, and would always answer any questions. Hence the fact that I started reading Robert Ludlum at an incredibly young age. Young enough that Dad had to explain the Cold War to a 9 year old. I may not have understood all the nuances of spy thrillers at that age, but I did read them, and I have gone back since and re-read them. They made a lot more sense to a 20 year old... In grade 5, my teacher, Mrs Colgan changed my life. She knew I read, and always saw me reading Hardy Boys and Trixie Belden books. Once during a test when I had finished early, she sent me down to the office to pick up something out of her mailbox. I cam back with two ancient leather bound books, and gave them to her. She gave them right back to me, and told me that she was giving me her copies of two favourite books (she had no kids of her own, I found out later). She told me not to read them right away, but when I wanted to. The only thing was, I had to come back and talk to her about them. I ended up reading Little Women and Rebecca within that year, and many times since. She started me on the classics, and I will never forget that. I remember going back to her retirement party (I was in grade 10 at the time), and told her how treasured those books were to me. That's all she ever wanted.
I always have a book or books on the go - usually from the library - right now it's Cross Country by James Patterson (love him!), and I always keep favourites by the bed in case I don't have a good one on the go - the Harry Potters, Twilight series, Little Women and Rebecca (of course!) and a few others. I tend to like mysteries and spy/suspense books, and I love series - I love to follow the development of characters. Favourite authors would include (but not be limited to): Clive Cussler, James Patterson, Philip R. Craig, Sue Grafton, Linda Fairstein, Perri O'Shaughnessy, Robert Ludlum, and so many more that are not coming to mind right now...
Bathroom reading? Well, I'm not sure if she will consider this a compliment or not, but I have Stephanie's books there, along with a big stack of knitting magazines...
For those of you who might want to be interviewed, here are the directions:
1. Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.”
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions and I will need your e-mail.).
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
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6 comments:
I think I waited until I was 13 to read Robert Ludlum :-) I also love to read and have books and knitting stashed all over the house for when I sit down. I even read when the tv is on, unless it is Top Chef. Great interview!
Lucky: So Sandra..You seem like such a passionate knitter!
Sandra: Why yes, Lucky, I am! Thank you!
Lucky: So what do you think makes you so passionate about it?
Sandra: I feel immense passion when the arseholes of the world invade my knitting psyche, especially in places like doctors' offices. You know Lucky, when you're at the doc, you're already a little stressed out, thinking about those darned oven mitts and all, and really hoping that other people in the waiting room see the sharp pointy lil' sticks you're holding and don't say anything to you.
Lucky: But they're not always so smart, are they?
Sandra: Oh, nooooooo. No siree. In fact, my passion the other day drove me to grab the receptionist's stapler and staple this particularly bothersome type to the waiting room floor. I mean, I couldn't help myself. He was asking for it. He's lucky I didn't grab my needles....
Lucky:...and lodge'em where the sun don't shine.
Sandra: That's right Lucky, you think like I do.
Lucky: How do you think you'll cope next time?
Sandra: Well, Lucky, I went out and crocheted myself a big bag for my sewing machine with two needles instead of a hook. I'm going to cart around my sewing machine instead from now on when I have appointments. It's so much faster than crocheting on two needles and I can plug the machine in pretty well anywhere. And I can whip off clothes while I'm waiting for the annual exam like you wouldn't believe...no pun intended. This way, I don't have to deal with anymore smart-ass comments about what I'm knitting.
Lucky: Good on you, Sandra. Good on you! Thank you for taking this time today.
Sandra: You're welcome. 'Scuse me, I see that stapler needs a refill.
I'm thinking Lucky liked the doctor's office story...
and I am amazed again at the similarities and parallels between us, from knitting at 8 and Little Women to Huggy Bear - somewhere, sometime, we have to do this in person...
I am ROFL at Lucky's comment. I shared your doctor's-visit post link with the Elannites, and it's been a huge hit.
I love today's post/interview; makes me really want to come to Toronto to meet you in person, even more than our years of online friendship have done. Glad to know I'm not alone in having multiple books in progress, which has become even more complicated since I started listening to audiobooks.
I always carry my knitting with me, but the comments I get are usually about projects that others have or ones in their closets. Maybe because I am the granny type.
You know, I think I'd like to give this Interview thing a try. You can find an email address for me in my Blogger profile.
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