It's time to meet another reader who knits--DestiKNITters, meet Dallas Duncan!
Dallas, what’s on your needles right now?
Which pair?! I constantly have multiple projects going so I don’t get bored and tuck something away for a rainy day that never comes. Right now I am working on the first of two 66-by-66-inch “patchwork kwilts,” a knitting take on the traditional patchwork quilt. I also have a pair of monster pants and my third and final “Glam Shells” shawl in the works.
What feels like your favorite/greatest knitting accomplishment?
I finished my first-ever knit-along this summer for the afore-mentioned “Glam Shells” pattern! This was also my first, second and soon to be third shawl ever. Did I mention there was lace involved? Like, a lot of lace. I re-started the first shawl five times, taught myself three new stitches in the process and felt the way Allie feels when she does a top-down shawl that is hundreds of stitches long. The first was a labor, the second and third had more of a labor of love feel to them! But I love the yarn that all three of these worked with and learned a lot. I can’t wait until I’m able to design my own.
What feels like the worst knitting mistake/foible/wrong choice you’ve ever made?
Like many, I’m sure my first project is probably the worst mistake I’ve ever made! It was a thick, warm scarf knitted with Red Heart green yarn. It started out as about 30 stitches, which increased by a few as it got longer, then decreased, then stabilized once I realized what I was doing. But I didn’t know how to tink … so it stayed a little wonky. And that’s not even the worst part! I was unaware of dye lots. The original yarn I started with was a gift from my next door neighbor at UGA’s Creswell Hall, but that ran out about halfway through the scarf. I purchased two additional skeins. About another foot along, I realized that the green I’d bought was lighter than the original – just a tad, but enough to notice! So I switched to the second new skein, which was darker than the one I’d been using … and the scarf ended up being three different subtle shades of green. I guess you could say I made ombre knits cool before they were cool.
Straight or circular needles?
Ninety-nine percent of the time, straight needles. But I do have a great pair of size 15 circulars that make a satisfying clinking sound when I use them.
Metal or wood needles?
Metal!
White chocolate, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate?
Milk chocolate. Specifically Hershey’s. That plus a Coke, nothing better!
Coffee or tea?
Does it count as coffee if it’s mostly flavored syrup and milk?
What’s your favorite Allie novel?
The Perfect Blend, although I must say I’m excited to read Bluegrass Christmas! I did some snooping and it appears Allie has a couple of new rancher-themed romances heading our way in the next few months. Being an agriculture grad of UGA, I can’t wait to see what she’s come up with for those storylines!
What are you reading now?
I just finished The Writing Circle by Corinne Demas. It’s about a former author who is encouraged to join a writing group and get back in the game once a friend find out she’s working on something new. There’s an interesting twist when what seems like a straightforward plot becomes a bit of a mystery, as characters delve into a fellow writer’s past to determine what drove her to write – and keep secret from them – a first novel.
Do you have a favorite knitting character from a book, movie, or television show?
Yes. His name is Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.
Give a shout out to your favorite local yarn store:
My favorite yarn store that I live close to recently closed, so I’ll give a shout-out to my favorite that I can’t wait to travel back to!
Silver Threads & Golden Needles
41 East Main Street
Franklin, NC 28784
In thanks for her participation, Dallas chose a copy of Bluegrass Christmas for herself and The Firefighter's Homecoming for her friend. Thanks to the awesome folks at Cascade Yarns, Dallas also receives a nifty tote bag and ten hanks of Cascade 220 in Bright Red.
If you would like to be a featured Reader Who Knits, email me at allie@alliepleiter.com for an application.
