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.

FEBRUARY READER WHO KNITS: Beverly Laude

It's the third Wednesday of the month, so it must be time for Readers Who Knit!  DestiKNITters, meet Beverly Laude.

Beverly, what’s on your needles right now?  

Another hat, of course!  I hadn’t done any knitting for a long time because I broke my right arm (dominant one, of course!) in Feb. 2013.  I took up crochet after it healed, but was only able to manage knitting after having one of the plates removed last year to allow more flexibility and less pain.

What feels like your favorite/greatest knitting accomplishment?  I finished a sweater that I had started years ago.  My first garment and I actually got it sewn together and have worn it.

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

Buying yarn just because I love it, then having it sit in a tote for years because I can’t find the “perfect” pattern.

Straight needles or circular?  

I have come to enjoy working with circular needles for hats & large projects.

Metal or wood needles?  

Metal….never used wooden needles!

White chocolate, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate?  

The darker, the better!

Coffee or tea?   

Coffee

What are you reading now?  

Several books, including Beyond the Ice Limit by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child and Warriors from the Reverians series by Sarah Noffke.

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

Not really a favorite one, but I enjoy reading books with characters that knit.

Give a shout out to your favorite local yarn store:   

www.fiestayarns.com

As her thank you for being featured, Beverly chose ten hanks of Cascade 220 in Fuschia, a copy of Mission of Hope, and a copy of  My So-Called Love Life for her friend.  If you'd like to be featured on Readers Who Knit, contact me at allie@alliepleiter.com.

January Reader Who Knits: Liz Barringer-Smith

It's the third Wednesday of the month, so it's time to meet this month's Reader Who Knits.  DestiKNITters, say hello to Liz Barringer-Smith!

Liz, what's on your needles right now?

I’m making a simple lace scarf for a friend’s January birthday.

What feels like your favorite/greatest knitting accomplishment?

That I sell my work in an art gallery in Columbus.

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

Trying to do something that is too involved either pattern or time-wise because I am a busy working mom and I also breed labradoodles and teach Tai Chi so I my knitting needs to fit in with all the other stuff.

Straight needles or circular?

Straight

Metal or wood needles?

Bamboo

White chocolate, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate?

Milk chocolate

Coffee or tea?

Both, coffee in the morning and tea the rest of the day.

What’s your favorite Allie novel?

Falling for the Fireman

What are you reading now?

Outlander

Give a shout out to your favorite local yarn store:

We don’t have one anymore and my mom buys WAY too much yarn so she gives me most of my yarn (lucky me!).

As a thank you for participating, Liz chose a copy of Mission of Hope for herself as well as ten hanks of Cascade 220 in Eggplant, and a friend receives The Lawman's Oklahoma Sweetheart.  If you'd like to be featured in Readers Who Knit, email me at allie@alliepleiter.com for details.

November Reader Who Knits: Katherine John

It's time to meet this month's Reader Who Knits! DestiKNITters, say hello to Katherine John.

Katherine, What’s on your needles right now?
This hat for a friend.

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

My first sweater. I knit the hemline too short and did some sort of wonky shaping in the sleeves that I hoped would straighten out in the blocking process. It didn’t. However, I still wear it. Occasionally. When all my other sweaters and jackets are in the wash. ;)

Straight needles or circular?

Circular, because they are less easy to lose and more comfortable.

Metal or wood needles?

Metal! I love the way the stitches slide off the needles.

White chocolate, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate?

If it’s Hershey’s: Milk Chocolate. If it’s “fancy”: Dark Chocolate!

Coffee or tea?

Plain, hot green tea every day!

What’s your favorite Allie novel?

“My So-Called Love Life” Hilarious!

What are you reading now?

Colossians. As a college student, the Bible is the only non-textbook I have time for. Thanksgiving break is coming up soon, though, so I plan on catching up on my reading then!

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

Galen from “Princess of the Midnight Ball” by Jessica Day George.

Give a shout out to your favorite local yarn store:

I haven’t found any near me, yet. But I have hope that one will open sometime soon!

As her prize for being featured, Katherine receives ten hanks of Cascade 220 in Silver Gray. She chose a copy of A Heart to Heal for herself and Mission of Hope for a friend.

If you'd like to be featured on Readers Who Knit, email me at allie@alliepleiter.com for details.

September Reader Who Knits: Sherri Gallagher

It's time for this month's Reader Who Knits feature.  Say hello to Sherri Gallagher, a reader, an author, and a knitter.

Sherri, what are you working on right now? 

I am trying to make mittens to go with the balaclava I talk about below. It is tough going!

What feels like your favorite/greatest knitting accomplishment? 

The most difficult was a balaclava for dog owners working dogs in the winter. I made a one for every member of our search and rescue team. I am trying to make mittens to match but I've started over about 6 times now. I bought a different sized needles to see if that will get the gauge closer to the pattern. My favorite was a simple baby blanket. A friend had her baby at 27 weeks and it was touch and go for a very long time. I wanted to do something special so I knit a simple blanket and said a prayer for the baby and his parents with each row. He is now a happy, healthy 14 month old and I got back to knitting after a 40 year break. 

What feels like the worst knitting mistake/foible/wrong choice you’ve ever made? Trying to knit mittens! It seems like they end up doll size or something a giant would wear.

Straight needles or circular? 

So far I've had the best success with circular needles - I keep losing stitches off the back end with the straight ones.

Metal or wood needles? 

I just bought a set of wood ones that are so pretty. Up to this point All I've used are metal. The yarn moves nicely on the metal and I hope it will be the same on the wood ones.

White chocolate, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate? 

Dark chocolate!

Coffee or tea? I was a coffee drinker for years and I love my Kuerig. The problem is I have to avoid caffeine to protect my bone density. It is hard to find unflavored coffee in decaf and the environmentalist in me abhors the wasteful plastic cups. I got the reusable ones and that worked great then a couple of years ago I found a local shop that sold decaf lavender earl grey tea and I was hooked. So now more tea than coffee. 

What’s your favorite Allie novel? 

I guess Falling for the Fireman, but all of her work is well written and worth reading multiple times and giving as gifts.

What are you reading now? 

I just finished reading Thin Ice by Irene Hannon and Adirondack Audacity by L.R. Smolarek.

Do you have a favorite knitting character from a book, movie, or television show? Hmm, you got me on this one. One of the reasons I like Allie's books is that her characters knit. I really don't see that in other books I read.

Give a shout out to your favorite local yarn store: 

Unraveled Yarn Shop in Wauconda was a huge help when I was getting back into knitting. I couldn't have done it without their help. Unfortunately they just closed but they have a website and give knitting lessons at the library. 

Sherri wins ten hanks of Cascade 220 in Puget Sound and a copy of The Firefighter's Match for being featured.  She also won a copy of Family lessons for a friend.  If you'd like to be featured on DestiKNITions, email me at allie@alliepleiter.com for details.

August Reader Who Knits: Julie Dietz

It's the third Wednesday of the month, which means it's time to meet our Reader Who Knits.  DestiKNITters, meet Julie Dietz!

Julie, what are you working on right now?  

Currently, I’m working on hats using up leftover yarn.  I donate them to our Community Christmas project – several of the local organizations which provide assistance to families at Christmas time started pooling their efforts and resources a few years ago, and we do one, huge Christmas project which serves close to 1,000 families.  Families get PJs, underwear, gifts, wrapping paper, blankets, and personal care products for all the children, and food for Christmas dinner.  Hand-knit hats are a popular thing at the event, so…I’ll be busy with this from now until early December.

What feels like your favorite/greatest knitting accomplishment?   

I have two:

1. When I started knitting again in grad school,  my first BIG project was the Vogue World Map Sweater.  I didn’t know enough to know it was supposed to be difficult, so…..I just jumped in and made it for my mom.  My daughter has it now – classic late 80s, oversized sweater she loves.
2. Dale “Lillehammer” sweater for my husband.

What feels like the worst knitting mistake/foible/wrong choice you’ve ever made?  Hmmm…..other than accidentally washing and felting said Lillehammer sweater last summer?   I haven’t had any MAJOR disasters.  But….I’ve learned to listen to potential recipients, and not try to convince them they’ll love something I’ve made for them when they have tried to tell me all along that they wouldn’t.

Straight needles or circular?  

Circular all the way!

Metal or wood needles?  

Depends.  If the yarn is “sticky” I prefer metal, and if I’m trying to knit fast, I generally prefer metal.  But I have to admit I love my rosewood circulars for almost everything.

White chocolate, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate?  

White.

Coffee or tea?  

Coffee in the morning. Tea the rest of the day (Earl Grey, of course!).

What’s your favorite Allie novel?  

The Firefighter’s Match

What are you reading now? 

Health Behavior and Health Education:  Theory, Research and Practice.   Sorry – I’m prepping a graduate course in health behavior theory at the moment, so I don’t have much time to read for pleasure.  I AM listening to the Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes in the car.

Do you have a favorite knitting character from a book, movie, or television show?  Mrs. Weasley from the Harry Potter books, and Miss Marple!

Give a shout out to your favorite local yarn store

The Yarn Studio

2 E Main St.

Casey, IL  62460

www.the-yarn-studio.com

As her prize for being featured, Julie chose a copy of The Lawman's Oklahoma Sweetheart for herself, a copy of The Firefighter's Match for her friend, and a ten-hank package of Cascade 220 in Dark Plum (thanks to our friends at Cascade Yarns!).  If you'd like to be featured as a Reader Who Knits (or Crochets), email me at allie@alliepleiter.com

The nice folks at the FCC ask me to tell you this post contains affiliate links.

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.