March Reader Who Crochets: Cindy Regnier

DestiKNITters, you know what the third Wednesday of each month brings: a reader! Meet Cindy Regnier, a fellow lover of books and yarn.

Cindy, ware you crocheting right now? 

A cardigan sweater. I am so excited to see it finished.

What feels like your favorite crochet accomplishment? 

The year I made crochet projects for my three kids at Christmas.

What feels like the worst crochet mistake/foible/wrong choice you’ve ever made? 

My son asked for a slouchy beanie hat. I found a great pattern, but was in a hurry to get started so I used a hook that was too big. Result: weird looking hat, but he loved it. Said it was something no one else had. 

Do you have a favorite stitch? 

Not really. What I enjoy is a project that uses a variety of stitches.  A textured afghan I made for my DIL used some new stitches I’d never done before. 

Metal or wood needles? 

I have always used metal hooks (and knitting needles), but I'm not opposed to trying new materials.

White chocolate, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate? 

I’m a dark chocolate girl.

Coffee or tea? 

Um that’s hard. I guess I’d say tea since I drink iced tea all day. I do like a good cup of coffee in the morning.

What’'s your favorite Allie novel? 

That’s a tough one because they’re all great! I would choose The Texas Rancher’s Return as my favorite because I absolutely fell in love with Gunner.  I love the entire Blue Thorn Ranch Series.

What are you reading now? 

A new novel by Erica Vetsch called My Heart Belongs in Fort Bliss, Texas.

Do you have a favorite crochet/knitting character from a book, movie, or television show? 

That would be Laura Ingalls Wilder. I love all the Little House books and the mention of Laura knitting lace for a petticoat during The Long Winter is what comes to mind. I believe Laura gave that lace to her sister Mary as a gift.

Give a shout out to your favorite local yarn store.
I stole this one from my sister-in-law as I usually order yarn online, but it is close by and a great store: 

The Shivering Sheep

308 N. Buckeye

​

Abilene, Kansas 

theshiveringsheep.com

For being a Reader Who Crochets, Cindy receives ten hanks of Cascade 220 in "Cotton Candy" and a copy of The Lawman's Oklahoma Sweetheart for herself, and a copy of Coming Home to Texas for a friend.  If you'd like more information on how to be featured on Readers Who Knit/Crochet, email me at allie@alliepleiter.com for details.

"Hatapalooza" hats from Great Yarns - Day 5

A tale of three tails…

KnitCol cap duly finished, it was time to top the thing off with its trademark curly-cues. Oddly enough, I thought these little squiggles only doable by crochet, but this hat taught me they can be achieved through continual knit-it-front-and-back stitches.  It makes perfect sense now that I think of it, and makes me happy because despite many attempts, I just can’t take to crochet. (Don’t post mean comments, okay? It’s just the way I’m wired.)

I decided I wanted my hat to have a bouquet of unique curlies, so I planned three different variations of the pattern.  I did one according to pattern instructions—a bit thin for my taste, and not quite curly enough.  

Craving something a little thicker, I added a second row of knit-in-front-and-back stitches to achieve a bigger, more tightly wound spiral on the next version.  

For the third I went for something in-between, adding a second row but only increasing every other stitch—almost as thick, but not as tightly wound.  And in all cases, lots of colors showing up everywhere.  I like the variety I achieved.  I also varied the length by casting on different numbers of stitches.

With all the parts complete, it’s time to block my hat. The headband refuses to stay down right now, insisting on flipping defiantly up, and I’m hoping blocking solves that.  Then I’ll attach my curlies and turn my attention to the final stretches of cable on the Knotty but Nice.

June Reader Who Crochets: Amy Drown

The third Wednesday of each month we chat with someone who shares our love of books and yarn. DestiKNITters, say hello to Amy Drown.

Amy, what are you working on right now? 

I’ve actually had to pack up all my craft supplies at the moment because I just received a new job that requires me to move in a few weeks! But I was about to start on a new tartan afghan in colors that will (hopefully!) mimic one of my family’s clan tartans (I’m Scottish on both sides!).

What feels like your favorite/greatest crochet accomplishment? 

Definitely my first tartan afghan (see picture above)… because it came out square! :-) I’m terrible at keeping my loops and rows uniform. My cat, Rob Roy, however, is fond of the first one I ever completed, a large bedspread with a fun diamond pattern (see picture).

What feels like the worst crochet mistake/foible/wrong choice you’ve ever made? 

So I attempted this great red, white and blue patriotic afghan with a great border and star-shaped cutouts and… well, afghans aren’t supposed to be trapezoidal. It was so bad, Goodwill wouldn’t even take it, and a coworker ended up using it to pad a box for her dog to have puppies in!

Do you have a favorite yarn you like to work with? 

No, I’m afraid I’m still too new and inexperienced in the craft to be this particular! Anything soft and abundant enough to handle my myriad mistakes and do-overs!

Metal or wood crochet needles? 

Um… is it terrible if I didn’t even know crochet hooks came in wood? I’ve only ever used metal or, when I was a kid, plastic!

White chocolate, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate? 

I like all three! Lately my grab-and-go has been the Hershey’s white chocolate cookies ‘n’ cream.

Coffee or tea? 

Tea. Always and forever tea. Black, with milk and sugar. 

What’s your favorite Allie novel? 

Homefront Hero

What are you reading now? 

All Waiting Is Long by Barbara J. Taylor

Do you have a favorite stitching character from a book, movie, or television show? 

Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Our skills are about the same.

Give a shout out to your favorite local yarn store:

The Knit ‘n Needle Yarn Shoppe

14 Lupfer Ave

Whitefish, MT 59937

polkadotsheep.com

As her prize for being featured, Amy chose a copies of Yukon Wedding for both herself and a friend.  Thanks to our friends as Cascade Yarns, Amy also gets 10 hanks of Cascade 220 in Silver Grey.  If you would like to be featured as a Reader Who Knits or Crochets, contact me at allie@alliepleiter.com for details.

March Reader Who Crochets: Leslie McKee

It's that time again where we meet a reader who loves yarn as much as we do. DestiKNITters, say hello to Leslie McKee.

Leslie, what are you working on right now? 
I’m currently between projects, trying to decide what to do next. I was on an unexpected break for quite a few months due to an injury to my dominant hand/wrist. I tend to do most of my crocheting during football season, as I believe it helps my team, the NY Giants, win. And, as I was injured last season, I believe that played into their losing record. I love minions, so I’m considering how to use that for my next project. I haven’t made any hats yet, so I may try that … or perhaps try a minion amigurumi.

What feels like your favorite/greatest crochet accomplishment? 

It’d probably be finishing my first afghan.

What feels like the worst crochet mistake/foible/wrong choice you’ve ever made? 

I’d always been told to buy all your yarn at once. Well, I didn’t follow that advice once, and you can clearly see a patch in the afghan that’s slightly different due to the yarn being from a different batch. Thankfully, it was one I had planned to keep for myself.

Do you have a favorite yarn you like to work with? 

I generally stick with the brand my gram used to teach me to crochet: Red Heart. However, I’ve used a few different brands when going with softer yarn for a baby blanket.

Metal or wood crochet needles? 

Metal

White chocolate, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate? 

Without a doubt…dark chocolate! (I can eat milk chocolate, but I don’t like white chocolate at all.)

Coffee or tea? 

Tea, particularly herbal/decaf ones. My favorite splurge is pumpkin chai tea from my church.

What’s your favorite Allie novel? 

A Heart to Heal – I used to be a special education teacher, so I was able to have a bit of a personal connection to it.

What are you reading now? 

I’m always reading review books.  I just finished The Ringmaster’s Wife by Kristy Cambron (June release). I just started reading Small-Town Nanny by Lee Tobin McClain (June release) and Playing the Part by Jen Turano (March release).

Do you have a favorite stitching character from a book, movie, or television show? 

Mrs. Weasley in the Harry Potter books. She’s always making sweaters for her children and Harry. (I also like how Dumbledore mentions knitting patterns!)

Give a shout out to your favorite local yarn store: 

I actually get the majority of my materials from 

Michaels 

2601 W Lake Ave B8

Peoria, IL 61615

locations.michaels.com

Thanks to our friends at Cascade, Leslie gets 10 hanks of Cascade 220 in Caribbean and a copy of Bluegrass Hero.  She chose a copy of A Heart to Heal for her friend.  If you'd like to be featured in a future "Reader Who Knits/Crochets" post, send an email to allie@alliepleiter.com.

November Reader Who Crochets: Anaida Morales

We don't just feature readers who knit, DestiKNITions also loves to hang out with readers who crochet!  This month we get to do just that--DestiKNITters, say hello to Anaida Morales.

Anaida, what's on your hook right now?
Right now I am crocheting a new scarf for the coming winter days.

What feels like your favorite/greatest crocheting accomplishment?

I am an intermediate crocheter. So, I feel that being able to crochet a nice looking doily has been my favorite. I've also made baby blankets that have turned out just like the picture. :)

What feels like the worst crocheting mistake/foible/wrong choice you’ve ever made?

My choice of yarn was not great at the very beginning. Later, I started reading about the different kinds of yarn in order to pick the best for a particular project.

Metal or wood needles?

I like the metal crochet needles best.

White chocolate, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate?

Milk chocolate

Coffee or tea?

Coffee

What’s your favorite Allie novel?

The Doctor's Undoing

What are you reading now?

Amor Redentor (Spanish version of Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers)

Do you have a favorite needleworking character from a book, movie, or television show?

Agathy Christie's Miss Marple

Give a shout out to your favorite local yarn store:

It's a bit of a drive for me, but I really like  

Sheep's Clothing Knitting Supply

60 West Lincolnway

Valparaiso, IN 46383

www.KnitDoctor.com

Anaida chose a copy of Masked by Moonlight for herself and Family Lessons for her friend.  Thanks to our sponsors at Cascade, she also gets a nice big batch of Cascade 220 and a nifty totebag, too!  If you'd like to be featured on Readers Who Knit and get similar spiffy prizes for yourself, send an email to me at allie@alliepleiter.com for instructions.

Multi Textured Vest from Fiberwood Studio - Day 5

Bigger is better...

Adding those extra rows to the back was definitely the right thing to do.  Sometimes it's easy to forget that certain knitting projects are garments, not just art.  If they fit poorly, all the stitchwork and fiber in the world won’t redeem them.  And I am not among the “just knit it and find someone it will fit” school of knitters. If I like something, I want to like it on me when I’m done.

  

It’s why even if the yarn is the most stunning thing I’ve ever seen on  God’s green earth, if it’s orange or yellow, it’s a no.  I look ill in those colors, no matter what.  Coral, salmon, anything in that warm/bright category.  I’m a card-carying “winter”--cool, bright colors, pastels and neutrals only if used with care.

As I spread out this piece to photograph, I was reminded of knitting’s transformational qualities.  On a flat surface, this is essentially a large rectangle with two holes.  That doesn’t sound especially flattering.  That’s the thing about knitting with a drapey fiber, though, it doesn’t stay flat.  And Barbara at Fiberwood Studio is smart enough to knit this side-to-side to accentuate that quality.  As such, this piece curves when you put it on.  Straight lines become angles, edges become arcs, and the art of fiber art happens.  I never get tired of that, ever.

I never get tired of new things to do with yarn, and today I have a bonus for you!  A young friend of mine with a very clever eye for design has created this pattern called a What's It?.  A quirky little squiggly thing done up in a series of crochet spirals around a circular base, it can be anything from a cat toy to a baby toy to a package decoration or an embellishment. 

I’ve never, ever taken to crochet (despite numerous efforts), but even I had to smile when I made one of these.  Pop on over to Ravelry or click the name above to snag the pattern for yourself.  Show a young fiber friend how DestiKNITters can support!