October Authors Who Knit: Yours Truly!

Someone bugged me the other week that they didn’t know my own answers to the author feature questions I’m always asking other people.  Since I’ve got a book releasing November 1 (which may already be on the shelves in your local bookstore or supermarket), I decided to accept the challenge.  So this month, the “Author Who Knits” is...me.

What’s on your needles right now?
I’m currently working on the Mapes shawl from Lovin’ Knit, the KnitAlong from my visit to Atlanta.  It’s a lovely mix of stockinette and a decorative stitch that requires a little more attention.  

What feels like your favorite/greatest knitting accomplishment?
There was a sock from FiberWild! in Galena, IL that really challenged me.  All kinds of cables and spiffy gussets and complicated patterns. It’s absolutely lovely, but it’s also absolutely lonely--I could never muster the courage to make the second.

What feels like the worst knitting mistake/foible/wrong choice you’ve ever made?
There was a blue sweater that I created using Elizabeth Zimmerman’s formula method.   Great in theory, not so great in execution.  The color was wrong, the fit was a poor choice, and we will not discuss what happened when it found its way into the dryer by mistake.  Let’s just call it a mercy killing.

Straight or circular needles?
I own dozens of needles, but I keep coming back to my KnitPicks harmony circulars.  They tuck nicely in the mesh bags I stash in my handbag so I’m never without knitting.

Metal or wood needles?
I seem to prefer wood, although I do love my Signature needles, which are almost like jewelry they are so beautifully made.

White chocolate, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate?
Dark.  The darker, the better.

Coffee or tea?
Coffee!  Now that my doctor has asked me to cut back, it’s cold-brewed, low-acid, half-decaf, but it’s still coffee.  I treasure every drop now.

Have you written a knitting character? 
Several!  I manage to include a knitting character in about half my books--more in the Gordon Falls series since prayer shawls feature in the plots.  The shawls show up in all the books, but play a sweet role in the newest release, THE FIREFIGHTER’S MATCH.

What’s the last thing anyone would suspect about your most recent book?
That I discover new things about the characters with every book, and don’t plan it out in advance.  Violet Sharpton started out as a minor character, but she’s become rather beloved.  I never know quite how this sort of thing happens, but it’s one of the great pleasures of writing for me.  Authors are never really in charge.

My Raverly name:
Alliewriter

My favorite local yarn store:
As you can imagine, I have great relationships with several Chicago area stores, but my “home turf” is:
Knitche

5221 Main St  

Downers Grove, IL 60515

630-852-5648

www.Knitche.com

Hey, that was fun!  Next up, I cast on the Mapes shawl I mentioned earlier.  

September Authors Who Knit: Amy Alessio

It's time to meet this month's author who knits, Amy Alessio!

Amy, what’s on your needles right now?
I have three going projects at the moment: my portable baby hat project, a large ripple afghan for my niece at college, and another checkerboard blanket for a church ministry.

What feels like your favorite/greatest knitting accomplishment?
For years at the library where I work I helped coordinate a teen charity knitting group. With that group one year we made dozens of baby hats. I tried to match them and made about 42. Inspiring 30 girls to knit over time really felt good.

What feels like the worst knitting mistake/foible/wrong choice you’ve ever made?
When I’m working on squares for a community blanket, mine never turn out the size needed, no matter how many times I’ve used those needles and that yarn. Recently I was doing a big square with a pink ribbon for a breast cancer awareness fundraiser and had to rip it out and go two needle sizes smaller. It turned out better the second time, though!

Straight or circular needles?
Circular – otherwise my couch seems to eat the straight ones.

Metal or wood needles?
I do like the Teflon ones with the big projects for sliding stitches forward. I like the shorter straight wooden ones for scarves and quick projects.

White chocolate, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate?
Yes, please.

Coffee or tea?
Tea (getting up to get more). 

Have you written a knitting character? 
I am working on a new series of short stories with a character who enjoys doing vintage patterns and crafts. She likes to knit. 

What’s the last thing anyone would suspect about your most recent book?
My fall 2013 publication will be a teen mystery called Taking the High Ground (from 4RV Press). Joelle is a sixteen year old girl who is embarrassed by her family’s Civil War reenacting hobby and there are descriptive scenes of the elaborate hoop skirt dresses. No one would suspect that my husband and I did reenacting for years and really enjoyed it!

Give a shout out to your favorite local yarn store:

Never Enough Knitting

119/121 N. Main Street
Wheaton, IL 60187

DestiKNITters, if you'd like to learn more about Amy, her books, and her Vintage Cookbooks and Crafts blog visit her website at  www.amyalessio.com

September Authors Who Knit: Geralyn Beauchamp

It's time for this month's knitting author!  DestiKNITters, meet Geralyn Beauchamp.

What’s on your needles right now?

A scarf made of several different yarns. It's a gift for my pastor's wife and will be accented with multi colored buttons.  It's a lot of fun to play with different textures and yarn weights all in one project.

What feels like your favorite/greatest knitting accomplishment?  

Again a scarf I made with two different yarns and worked beads into the last five rows.  Tedious, but turned out beautiful!  Again, it was a gift for someone.  She almost didn't get it!  I loved it!  But haven't made another one yet.  When I do, I can say "It's MINE!"

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

Early on in my knitting adventures, I tried my hand at making a wrap from some Mohair/Wool super fine lace yarn.  I used huge wooden needles to get that "lacy look".  Unfortunately, the lacy look and mistakes in the piece blended rather well.  Ahem.  I was way into the project when a friend of mine discovered them. "is this project supposed to look like this?"  She asked.   A ripping I did go!  Oh the pain!

Straight or circular needles?

Straight.  Though I'm just now starting to work with circular.

Metal or wood needles?

I use both actually, but do prefer the wood.  No one can find what room I'm in when using wood!  Much less pronounced click, click, click, you know.

White chocolate, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate?

Milk and dark, depending on my mood.

Coffee or tea?

TEA!  Market Spice's Signature Cinnamon Orange Tea.  Oh bliss!

Have you written a knitting character? 

Yes.  He is in my upcoming book Time Masters Book Two; The Prophecy which releases this Holiday season.  Melvale is an interesting character.  For one thing, he's not human. 

What’s the last thing anyone would suspect about your most recent book?

That thanks to my character Dallan MacDonald, I am an official member of the Glencoe MacDonald clan.  They sent me papers and every thing!  The Glencoe MacDonalds were targeted for genocide by the English.  Many readers think I made it up.  But my prologue opens with the massacre in full swing.  It was an actual historic event and I did quite a bit of research on it.  It's a huge part of the story line.  Some readers have actually cried when I told them the massacre really happened.

Give a shout out to your favorite local yarn store:

Knitique

8741 Elk Grove Boulevard

Elk Grove, California

(916) 714-7719

www.knitique.net

Thanks for visiting, Geralyn.  Readers, go check out Geralyn's book here and visit her blog here.