Hello, and welcome to the Why I Knit podcast. My name is Dr. Mia Hobbs, and I'm a clinical psychologist who's passionate about knitting and its benefits for our mental health. Each episode I interview a knitter and ask them why they knit and how it has benefited their mental well being. This week on the podcast I'm talking to Atia Azmi, Atia is a knitter and sewer and Instagrammer, and she shares her colourful makes and beautiful interiors on Instagram, @thebrightblooms.
She's also one of the hosts of the uncut podcast, a podcast for makers, there are links to Atia's Instagram account, and the uncut podcast and one of the patterns that she talks about in the show notes. Hi Atia welcome to the podcast.
Hi, thanks for having me today.
Thanks so much for talking to me. And I wonder if we could start just by you telling me where your story of knitting began.
So I was always quite interested in learning, but there wasn't anybody who was willing or able to teach me and my mum did knit at some point in the 80s. I guess there used to be some half finished sort of mohair fluffy jumpers around. But she was always quite busy. And she wasn't doing it at the time. So I didn't get a chance to learn. And then when I was at university, just before my final exams, at university, I decided that would be a great time to learn to knit and procrastinate.
So that was like when YouTube was first becoming available. So those were tutorials available on them. There's a couple of other websites that I used to learn as well. So it was essentially self taught using videos and things online. And there wasn't that much of an online social media community at that time, but there were blogs available. So I think I just used to find people through that and learn a bit, people like
Ysolda. Were some of the like, some of the knitting companies that were around or earlier on. And then obviously ravelry came along after that, as well. And that became quite a big sort of knitting community.
Okay, so you, I'm really interested in the procrastination element. Because I also learned in the well, I really learned I learned as a kid and then relearnt when I was started my doctorate in clinical psychology, and I found it quite helpful. Having something with the end, like you could do a row of knitting, have a 10 minute break for revision, I don't know how you found it. Whether it was helped
I think was in wasn't necessarily helpful in that it spent a lot more time on the knitting than I probably should. But, I mean, at that stage, it was kind of, I think, I was always really interested in sort of the colour colours and textures. I don't if you know, you know, Noro yarn, because like all the different sort of variegated colours, so I just really wanted to try new things like that. So. So I think I just got really absorbed in doing that. And I just remember that
my tension was really tight. So it was really, you know, like when the tension really tightening hands just got really painful. So that's just my main memory that I have at that time. But I don't really remember a lot about, you know, how it affected my revision, essentially. So I think it was just, it was just a case of it's, you know, something to take your mind off other things. And, you know, just a bit of an escape really, yeah.
Yeah. I felt like that was really important for me when I was training to have that something completely different, not related to psychology.
Yeah, I also say that I find it really useful when I was doing the hospital shift work as well, because at that stage, I don't know if it's the same now for junior doctors, but there used to be a bit of downtime, where nothing much was happening on a long shift. So it was always really helpful to just have the knitting there. And, you know, might not get to do very much of it. But it was available, particularly on a long night shift, it sometimes be quite good to know you've
made some progress on some things. Yeah. I think I also remember, some, someone once said, when you're like a new mother as well. And you've got something to show for your, for your day, which is, you know, material that can be kind of quite helpful psychologically as well. Because otherwise you're just doing chores or doing chores or feeding, you're doing other things, but not really, at the end of the day. It feels like you're not really achieved anything. Whereas gonna do them
all again tomorrow. Yeah, exactly. And there's nothing material that's come out of your day. So that also was a stage when I found it really helpful as well.
That's a good point. And I just wondered about what you were making at the beginning.
So at the beginning, I remember making things like scarves What else did I make I remember I used to use knitty which was the sort of free online magazine quite a lot. So I made a few patterns from that and Rowan magazine as well. So I made some like chunky mittens what else did I make at that stage? Those are the I think initially, I just start with those sort of small projects. And then the first big thing I
made was on a trip to South Africa. And my husband always complains that I spent the whole time on that trip when it was like a road trip, just like looking at my knitting is like, Oh, look, there's something like really interesting compounds, like where the wildlife, I missed it. And it was a really long flight. So it was, you know, is good to have that time. And at that time, I think now, people are a bit more worried about taking knitting on flights, because they take your
needles off you, but at that time, it was fine. And the other thing about that was that at that time, all my purls were crossed. So when I actually came back with my knitting, all of the bit that was not circular, where I was knitting and then purling a row, all the stitches were crossed on the purl rows. So it wasn't actually particularly good knitting at the end of the day so it was a bit of a waste. But I remember that I just really enjoyed also discovering the South African
knitting shops and things. So because I have quite an interesting, they use a lot of bamboo and different things as well. So that was quite
yarn, or needles?
Yeah, bamboo yarn. Well, I don't remember the needles, but I picked up some bamboo yarn out there as well.
Cool. And I know that you're obviously known for sewing as well, I wondered where knitting and sewing like which started first, whether they're related to each other or completely separate?
Yeah, I would say I'd kind of thought of it quite separately, there's, with the knitting, I feel like it's more of a kind of relaxing hobby that you can do. You could take it with you places you can sit on the sofa and do it. So I tend to do that when I'm like, in the evenings or when I'm need to wind down a bit. Whereas the sewing feels a lot more active, like, you've got to cut things out, you've got to get down on
the floor, and pin things and all of that. So. And also, you can only really while you're sewing, you can only really sew I mean, you might be able to listen to a podcast or something, but you can't really do much else. Or you have to be in a specific place. So I kind of see them as slightly separate. But, you know, I kind of try and use them in complementary ways. So that if I'm making something, I think,
what can I What have I knit that will go with this thing? Or, you know, when I'm knitting again, just looking at the colours in my wardrobe and seeing what will match with with things? So they complement each other in that way,
Sure. Thank you. And why do you So you mentioned kind of knitting is more, calming? Why do you think you've kind of carried on with it? Now you don't need it for presumably for procrastination purposes? What do you think makes you pick it up and keep doing?
Well, I just really enjoy using different textures, and working with colours. So I feel like sometimes when knitting, if you're knitting something very small, you can use colours in quite a bold way, in a way that you wouldn't necessarily with a really big project, like a dress or something like for example, something like socks, no one's really going to necessarily see them. But you can wear something like really bright or just clash colours or that sort of thing.
One of the projects that I made last year during the lockdown was the Penguono jacked. Stephen West. Yeah. And it's something that I'd actually cast it on quite a long time before and just done like about, you know, a few inches of the of the sort of the back, but that was just such a great and great way to play with lots of colours from my stash. Just use it lots of bits and bobs and just really enjoy the putting different stripes together or do it having different coloured welts next to
each other and that sort of thing. So now, I enjoy it more as a creative thing. Just like I said, with with different textures and colours, and just, you know, enjoying the process more.
Would you say you're more of a process person than for the end than a project knitter, like for the end result? Or is it a balance of both,
I would say is that it's more a product thing. It's always been more of a product thing for me in terms of I really want to make and wear the finished product. But I was finding that I would get a bit frustrated because I'm quite slow, just because I don't have loads of time to knit so. So then I've tried to choose things where I enjoy the process a bit more as well. I do enjoy the process to some extent, but I'm not a fast knitter So just you know, it takes me quite a long
time to get anywhere with things. So I've just got to enjoy the process a bit more. Otherwise, I don't really get anywhere and then you get a bit frustrated. I used to kind of make lots of I still do sometimes, but make the list of the next one I want to make and make lists of projects and things. But because it takes so long as there's almost no point in just making a long list and then never managing to get
through it. It's better to just enjoy the thing that you're making while you're doing it. And I find that knitting in that way is much more of a slow craft then sewing because with sewing at the most, it might take me a week or two to finish something. Whereas knitting, it may be, you know, several months, or I'll
leave something while come back to it. So it might be over a year, but before something's actually finished, so it's just a, you know, I do have to slow myself down at it to be able to enjoy it more.
And would you ever look at something and see how it's made? Or what it looks like? And think, no, I wouldn't make that because of the process.
Yeah, I mean, there's a lot of things nowadays, where I mean things with I suppose garments with smaller than four millimetre needles, I will most likely not, not decide to make because I know that I'll just end up just, it'll just be so slow that I'll just feel like I'll never get there. The last couple of things I made were on 10 millimetre needles, which was a Holiday Slipover by Petite Knit, which is, which is a
really quick project. And I've really enjoyed making that. So I'd say my comfort zone is probably five to eight millimetres. So you get somewhere fairly quickly. But like other projects, like obviously mittens and things like that, which you you don't really want really thick, then those I'll use smaller needles for.
Okay, that makes sense. So you are much more about the project, the end result and getting that kind of fix.
Yeah, I mean, yeah, do you know the Poet's sweater? You seen that one it's by Sari, I've forgotten the surname but it's just really beautiful lace sweater and in fingering weight yarn or 4ply yarn. And I really want to make that one, even though I know it will take me absolutely forever. Yeah, there's a couple of things where I'll have to get through it to
get the result that I want. And you know if it's worth doing that, but yeah, there's a few projects that have a choose which are about fine and wait just
with the lace also make you think twice about it. Because obviously lace would be slower than stockinette for example.
Yeah, I actually quite enjoy knitting lace. So I've made quite a few lace projects, I made the dragonflies sweater, which is by Joji Locatelli. And that one, it was it was quite slow. But the result is just so nice. And the back is just plain stocking stitch as well. So it was it went faster than I expected. And that was DK weight yarn. So it wasn't too, too thin, either. And that's when I actually really enjoyed wearing as well.
Okay, that's interesting, because I find I like doing complicated patterns, because I feel like it keeps my brain. I need that level of brain engagement. I think in the process to feel relaxation. I think if I'm knitting just stockinette, it's too easy, almost. And my brain still can still think about what I'm cooking for dinner or about work.
Yeah, yeah, it varies. So like, if I'm watching something, then or like, say, I don't know, I'm sitting with family or something, then I quite liked something, which is just really straightforward. They don't need to think think about at all and your fingers are just kind of working almost on memory. Muscle memory. But there Yeah, I do enjoy those projects, sometimes where it's, you know, you're forming a
pattern. And you're like having to think about that. But yeah, so I kind of go with like a couple of of those quicker projects, and then a slower project that I can pick up now. And then. So at the moment, I'm also doing a brioche knit scarf as well, like a shawl. Yeah. And I do find that it's actually quite, I don't know, do you know, brioche do you do brioche?
It's probably one of my very few untouched untouched knitting techniques. So it's on my list, you know, my radar, but I haven't ventured there yet,
yes, I didn't start I didn't try brioche at all until again, in lockdown. Where I was like, this is one of something that I don't know, then let's give it a try. So I made the Plumpy shawl by Andrea Mowry, which was a two colour brioche because I saw the kit on Instagram and I just really liked the colours in it. It was a Hedgehog fibres kit. So I just went for that one. And I really, really enjoyed the process is not as difficult as it seems. When you when you first learn it
at first, it's a bit of a learning curve. But then once you've picked up the skill, then it does get much more easy. So it's just one of those projects. I find it with crochet as well where it takes me a little bit of time to get back into it because I've slightly forgotten the technique. But then once you once you start again, then it's really quite straightforward.
Yeah, okay. Thank you. And I wondered, I suppose part of this podcast is about hearing from knitters about the impact of knitting on their kind of mental well being and whether there's anything kind of in that sense that you get from knitting.
Yeah, I think the main thing I get from it is that there's never a time when you just feel bored or like you have nothing to do and you don't have, I don't know, I suppose like that kind of loneliness. People get I mean, I always think back to when our children were young, because that's kind of, I suppose the time in your life when you're really on your own quite a lot. Or you don't have time for sort of yourself as much. And I think because I always had the knitting at that
stage, I always felt like I had something to do. And I had that kind of community, as well. So you're still having that kind of interaction with people? And also, you know, just something that you can pick up and put down easily. It's kind of in a way, yeah, kind of like an occupational therapy, I guess, in a way that you've always just got something that you're on hand that you can do. Yeah, I mean, I've done that. I haven't, I wouldn't say that has been the time in my life where it's been
really, really difficult wherever needed. That kind of as a coping strategy. But on a sort of lower level, it's, it's always been really helpful to have in the background.
Sounds like you used it a little bit in lockdown. I don't know whether you did that deliberately. But like learning a new technique or something like whether that was a deliberate thing to think, yeah, this is what I'm doing in lockdown. I'm getting brioche out of it.
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I didn't necessarily think of it
Yeah, I do the same. I was knitting a Strange Brew by in that way. I mean, it was I had more time. And you cannot you need that headspace to learn something new. So it was really useful to have it at that time. And it's nice to look back and see that, you know, particularly that Penguono project that I mentioned, just have a like a concrete like a souvenir of lockdown. Like because it was just a whole winter when I just
spent with that project. And sometimes it's good to have I kind of deliberately choose a project to take away with me somewhere sometimes because you kind of like we were just away for a few days. And I spent all the time on one project. And then it kind of reminds you of that afterwards. So that's a nice way of of using knitting as well. Tin Can knits. Do you know that? Yeah, actually, no, I think it's called a Cartography. One Yeah, no, my husband to a large
sweater. And then I finished it in lockdown, and then realised that some of the motifs looked a little bit like the Coronavirus. This really is a covid sweater. In a way, I hadn't quite meant for it to be. Yeah, but it is quite I like having something that feels like oh, yeah, that was the jumper I made on a certain holiday or something. Yeah. And how about sewing, I'm interested in whether that is different in terms of how it
fits in your life or what the craft gives you. Because I think like you said, it's not quite as real, maybe a relaxing take everywhere type. Craft,
yes. So I tend to sew when, when I've got some time, like if I've got a weekend, like a day free in the weekend or something. And that's the time when I really enjoy it, when I've got a whole day, I would just do a bit of the cooking and a bit of the washing and those bits and bobs that you need to do. And then you know, going back to the sewing in between. So I don't know I have I don't know how to describe that,
really. But it's it's just in a way, you've got to have time to do it a different way to knitting where you can just pick it up and put it down. And then and then it's just I think because you make something much more quickly with the sewing, then you can have a sort of very quick end point in sight. So you can be like, today I'm going to finish the skirt or something like that. Whereas with knitting, it's would be rare for me to be able to have a very set goal point.
Yeah. Okay, that's interesting. So it's a bit more about like, I don't know, giving yourself like that time to immerse yourself in the sewing.
Yeah, I mean, I tend to say a bit on weekdays as well. Like, for example, yesterday evening, I just cut out my pattern ready to sew, so probably this evening, I'll be able to sew that. But I enjoy it much more. And I've got that sort of good amount of time to spend on it. And there's no kind of, like, if I'm sewing on a weekday, I kind of have to make myself go and do the cutting, even though I you know, I'll enjoy it. And once I'm doing it, but a bit more like you've got
to take that time out of your day to do something. Yeah. Yeah. And whereas like if you've, you know, you kind of fitting it in, in between lots of things on a longer period of time, then it's just more relaxing.
I have to say that I think that's why I knit much more than I sew because it's just like, because of the portability. And you can do it in five minutes, whereas sewing is just to get everything out. Takes longer. Yeah,
yeah, I'm lucky that I actually have everything out already on a sort of set, sort of dedicated table, so it's a bit easier in that way. I think I'd find it much more difficult if I had to, you know, organise myself every time to get everything out. So yeah, so having that space set aside is it makes it much easier
For me the cutting, I feel the slight kind of. I don't love that bit.
No, I don't enjoy cutting as a necessary evil. So, yeah, I don't have a dedicated space for cutting. So that has to that just goes on the floor at the moment. Yeah, maybe one day I'll get enough space for a cutting table
I'm interested also in like the end product, because it sounds like you are very interested in getting to the project. And whether there's an impact on your kind of, I don't know, mood or happiness about wearing or giving or the finished articles, whether it's knitted or sewn.
Yeah, I always feel really, you know, it's always the kind of the high point of the project when you finally get to wear a project that you made. With knitting, I tend I haven't really given people a lot of knitting recently. I mean, I, I think I wasn't knitting that much for a while. And then I was just doing these kind of like longer term projects. For myself, I think I haven't really made a bigger project for like a jumper for anyone else for a long time since my children were
quite small. But like, when I've given people small gifts, like a bonnet for a baby or those sorts of things, then they always get a lot of pleasure out of that as well. So it's really nice to be able to do that occasionally. So I do have that in mind for over the next few months as well just to make a few gifts as well just I think that a small amount of knitting is appreciated in my, my view is appreciated as much as a big project. So I don't
know if you find that. So if you make someone a hat or like booties or something small, you even if you spent the same amount of time making really big fancy blanket or something. probably appreciate a small gift as much as the big one.
I think I never quite know with knitted gifts. Like I made a Scout Shawl. I don't know if you know that by Florence Spurling. So it's, it's looks like a patchwork,
the new isn't it a new one.
And it looks like kind of patchwork as in sewn patterns on different squares, but it's in kind of a shawl, but it involves doing colour work on both sides. It's knitted flat. And so I'd never done colour work on a purl row before personally. And I saw the pattern, I thought, Wow, it's amazing. I wanted to make that because I quite I am attracted to more and more complicated things. Because I think my brain needs that in order to kind of absorb in the process and switch
off from other stresses. And I knitted it for a friend's 40th And I was she's not a knitter. And I was then kind of think Is it random gift. It was a July birthday. And I'm feel like I'm knitting lots of love in it and thinking about her when I'm knitting it. But I'm not quite sure whether that feels the same as the recipient, or whether it feels like
Yeah, yeah, I think I learned my lesson, giving something very complicated somebody because I made a lace Shawl in a cashmere silk yarn, which has like a lace weight yarn. And I gave it to my sister and I never saw it again, never saw her wear it again. I think it's highly likely that it's just like stuffed in a cupboard somewhere or gone to the charity shop or something. And like, you know, I would have liked to seen
that shawl again. Unless I really think I'm not going to use it or as it like, I don't know, like, if I know someone's really going to appreciate something then then I'll give it to them. Like there's a few friends I know that they would absolutely love knitted hat for their babies or something. I had a friend who used one for I think two years same one for her daughter. I can't remember if I made it a big size or not. But it was like, crammed on her head till she was two or something.
So like, those are the sorts of people that you feel they will really appreciate the gift. Yeah, but yeah, so I guess it's just a learning thing. And a lot of sewists say this as well, that they they don't really make things for other people as well.
I mean, I feel like I got I wanted to make it for the process. If you see, my friend really seemed to appreciate it, but you never quite she thinks what am I going to do with it.
Yeah, there's always that thing of like, Yeah, I mean, whether it's gonna be a long term, you know, something that they're going to appreciate or enjoy as well. But it's difficult to know, isn't it? And I think when people ask you for something and you make it for them, then that's what is the best way that you know that they definitely do want it.
Yeah. I had a friend recently who wanted me to recreate a knitted hat. So her for her son who'd grown because he was a baby and had a hat that he loved. And then now he's two and didn't fit the hat anymore and she had the yarn and it was like a chunky weight yarn. So it literally took an evening, maybe to do the pom pom as well. But yeah, that was very appreciated.
Yeah, I think it's now getting to the point after sort of nearly 15 or 15 years plus that I'm, you know, I don't need another shawl I don't need, you know, whatever it is, and then, and then you think that you can make it and give it to somebody who will appreciate it or, I don't know, I think it's quite difficult to give away or, or, you know, throw away things
that you've made and put a lot of time and effort. And so now, in that in a way that slows me down as well, knowing that I actually don't need this, think about what would I do this thing once I've made it, so, but I don't think I'll stop knitting in a way for the process as well as I think I do find that quite
enjoyable. So even if even if I slow down my sewing in my knitting and make something like set a bit more complicated, or something that's going to take a bit longer than that can be a good way of just not adding to your, you know, knitted products, and enjoying the process.
I made a lace dress once it was actually a pattern was for a top. And I just carried on and felt like if I was on the tube and the tube got stuck for an hour, I was never gonna run out of knitting, it was easy to carry the yarn because it was lace. So you had so much yarn on one tiny ball. Yeah. And it was it did feel quite comforting apart from when
the needle broke off from the cable. Yeah, isn't ideal. And I wondered about your thoughts as a GP about whether you ever feel like I know that there's this idea about social prescribing and the idea of being able to prescribe, I don't know, knitting group to somebody whether that ever you see people and you think I wish that was an option? I don't know if it is an option. But whether you ever feel like people could benefit from some kind of making? Maybe not knitting? Maybe something
Yeah, I definitely think it can be really helpful else? for people's mental health, I can't say that we've ever, I mean, I've not come across a knitting therapeutic group locally. But I would definitely recommend, you know, to some people, if that was something that was available, I know that there used to be this, there are obviously knitting groups running, I used to run one myself, about 10 years ago, I
think now. And it was really just that regular interaction with people is I think the most helpful thing, just tell them that even if you're not necessarily the best knitter, or like, it's just more about that interaction with people and just slowly making progress on something. And that's mostly if I see somebody who's suffering from anxiety or depression, I think the main thing that that you kind of want them to do is
just make really small steps to improve their mental health. And because everything, like a really big thing can be just so overwhelming, that you just want them to just make it do something small for themselves to say that they can feel they make progress. And knitting can be really good in that way. Because you can physically see your progress once you've done something. So yeah, I'd definitely recommend that if it was available.
I have found that quite helpful just to, you know, for some of the people I work with the idea of being able to see progress on something, even if it was just a few stitches or one row in a day. And also being quite a good for a distraction. Like if you're trying to, I don't know, stop ruminating about something to be able to then do you know, knit for 10 minutes or crochet for 10 minutes? Yeah. Could you tell me about a significant knitting project for you?
Let me think if we go back a long way, a project I don't actually have this anymore, but I made the Knitty Forecast cardigan. I don't know if you you know that one is it was a quite an ambitious project for me at the time. It's like bobbles and I think there's like bobbles, ribbing and lots of kind of joining here and then it's got a collar and all sorts of things going on. So yeah, I think I should have kept that jumper right. I think I gave it to my sister different sister.
Okay, I have 3 sisters. My other sister is also a knitter. And she really appreciated it and I think she wore it quite a lot. So yeah, that was one where I just learned lots of different skills were there and it was. I think I just really enjoyed that satisfaction of just learning lots of new things and having something to show for at the end. Yeah, so that's probably one I would consider to be quite significant one. Yeah,
I think that might be one of the reasons I haven't tackled brioche yet because I feel like I need to feel like there is uncharted territory in the knitting world. I can still learn new. Remember the first time I turned a heel and a pair of socks? So I think I stayed up until one o'clock in the morning. So I was literally following the pattern and didn't know what was gonna happen next, which was quite exciting.
Yeah, yeah, it's quite a magical process. I just recently finished a pair of socks that I started, I think five years before. I like finished one completely. And the second one, it was a really quite complicated cable pattern on 2.5, whatever millimetre needles, and it's just like, I couldn't face going back there again, especially, I didn't know which row of the cable I was on. So but then I just I think someone was someone was running us kind of like a finish it
finish it off October kind of challenge. Okay, I just need to do this. And then I've just picked them up again. And I think it only took me a week and a half or something to finish it. But yeah, that's because I don't know if you find this, but when I'm not finished something, I don't want to start the same type of project again, until I finished that one. So like, for example, like, right, the socks, I just didn't start another pair of socks. Yeah, until I wanted those ones done. And then lace
projects and things like that. tend to just want to finish that one off before I start another one. So and with quilts as well, I've had a quilt that was not finished for about three, four years as well just needed binding, there's nothing else that needed doing. So, so I just like have that bit of a mental block because I know that otherwise I'll end up with like 20 piled up things that are not finished. And I just think that
will just never be it'll just become too overwhelming. So yeah, so it's good to get those socks done and I think now can move on to I plan to make my husband a pair of socks that the company the name of the yarn company, but she does a TfL London Overground stripes. So I had that I had that for years and years and years. And I was like maybe this will be the time. I actually finally get to make those.
Yeah, and are they sock weight. They're not?
Yeah, yeah, they're not. But it's just a stocking stitch. So yeah, we'll be a bit quicker than a cable pattern, hopefully.
Yeah, I quite like having sort of a hat on the go without as long as it's not complicated because that is quite good for in a zoom training or on a bus. Yeah. That kind of in the background project. Okay. I always ask about knitting high and knitting low. I don't know if you could think of any particular highs or lows. Oh,
let me think. Knitting high. Yeah, I mean, I think probably finishing a laceweight project is always a bit of a knitting high. Let me think I haven't made laceweight project in quite a long time. So probably that same shawl that I mentioned earlier. I shared that on my Instagram recently, because I took some photos of at the time it was it was yeah, it was such a beautiful pattern. So I was really
what was that remind me which pattern that was?
It was I forgotten everything now. I think it was it's on ravelry so I can have a track and let you know. But yeah, so that was probably one knitting lows generally when you just have to unravel a whole project that hasn't gone well
does that get any easier, do you think?
No, not really, I mean, the with the 10 millimetre needle project that just in the holiday slipover? I did have to, I think I was on holiday and I hadn't got a I just had my little knitting guage ruler. I hadn't got a proper measuring tape or anything. So I'd knit it a few centimetres shorter than I wanted it. So I had to unravel all of my ribbing, about five, five inches of ribbing about three or something on the front. So that was a bit annoying to unravel it all. But because it
was 10 minutes. It was fine. It wasn't too bad. Yeah. Yeah, so yeah, that's probably I haven't had any terrible disasters I can think of. I've had my children cutting up balls of yarn now. I don't remember them doing it with anything very precious.
Okay. Wait. So you've got rules about the knitting stash? And children,
so we, we have a cat now. So she does, like, she's not too bad with the yarn. But when I was knitting with Shelter, the Brooklyn Tweed yarn recently, and it's quite Soft it will, just, you can easily just break it with your fingers easily. Okay, so there were a lot of ends to weave in and that jumper because she just kept like finding the end and just, you know, clawing at it or biting it. So, yeah.
My last question was about the greatest gift knitting has given you for the rest of your life. So anything you've kind of feel like you've any way that you feel that you've benefited from knitting that spills over into life in general.
Um, well, the first thing that came to mind was just having my stash which is quite extensive. And that will definitely be a gift that keeps giving for many years Are you still adding to it? I am trying not to I did just get the yarn for the second holiday slipover, because I really like the Camarose Snefnug yarn. And it's just, it's, I mean, I mostly buy hand dyed yarn or used to when I was adding to my stash quite a lot in the past. But this one is just one of my favourites or
more commercially dyed yarns. Yeah, it's just really soft and it doesn't pill or get ruined, you know, even two years later after knitting my first jumper, and that is still looks perfect. So that's probably, you know, one of the best ones I've used. But apart from that, I'm gonna try not to really add to my stash too much anymore. Particularly as I feel the cost of yarn is a lot more than it used to be. It's not cheap. Yeah, yeah. So I think beyond that I already have will stand
me in good stead for quite a long time. Yeah. But in general, just being part of the wider sort of knitting and crafting community has probably been the best thing that has come out of it for me. So I mean, I would say mostly, yeah, I would say knitting has been big a big part of that for me as well, particularly a few years ago, and there was lots of conversations happening about diversity. And I think there's a bit of an awakening in the sewing community as knitting
community initially, is where it started. So that I found really valuable and it's created lots of opportunities and friendships for me, which I wouldn't have had otherwise. So. Yeah, I think that's been the most valuable thing for me and just having a hobby that's for life, really, that you know, that you'll be doing, as long as you can. Somebody was telling me recently that she can't knit anymore for arthritis. And I was like, Oh,
my gosh, that's like, my worst nightmare. prevent that, as far as possible.
Yeah. I just want didn't want to let you go without asking about specifically about colour. And because I associate you in your Instagram with all these beautiful, bright colours, and wondered how much of a part of that is about the appeal. And whether that feels like, I don't know, part of your drive for knitting is to get to play with the colours or to have like, almost like wearable art? I don't know.
Yeah, I tend not to go for complicated patterns. Yeah, as much as something in the colour that I want, or like a colour combination. So like stripes, or whatever it is. So I think colour is a big drive in, in my knitting at the moment. Like, for example, I, like, you know, I might be like, I just really want a yellow jumper or something. So it's not necessarily that it matters what the pattern is, or like, it might be just really basic, but it's the colour and introducing
that and having that in my wardrobe. And with knitting, I feel like when you're when you've got your knitting, you're with it for a long time. So if you've got lots of colour in there, particularly over the winter months, it can be really therapeutic. And that way, you've got a kind of colour therapy just right there in front of you. So that's one of the main things that I enjoy about my knitting at the moment. So is a lot about colour for me, and just, and also sometimes a
bit of a challenge. So like, for example, I've got a yarn and a kind of dark maroon red, and it's not necessarily coloured normally use, but then I can think about how would I pair that with other things and make that work with my wardrobe? So I really enjoy just being creative with the colour combinations for that as well.
Okay. Yeah, that's really interesting. Well, thank you so much for talking to me. And I'm sure there'll be people who want to follow you on Instagram to hear your podcast. Can you just remind me how they can connect with you?
Yeah, of course, it's. So my Instagram is the bright blooms. And I also have a website, which will be more frequently updated which is the bright blooms.com and our podcast, which is kind of more general making and sewing podcast is called uncut. And you can find that at uncut podcast underscore on Instagram.
Okay, Super, thank you so much for talking to me.
Thank you. Thanks for having me.
Thank you for listening to the Why I Knit podcast. If you'd like to find out more about therapeutic knitting you can follow me on Instagram at knitting is therapeutic. Or check out my website therapeutic knitting.org. To be notified when a new podcast is released. Please subscribe on your podcast app. If you or anyone you know would make a great guest for the podcast then please get in touch