My Knitting Heros

I like to have heroes in my life - those to whom I can look for inspiration. My knitting life is no exception and fortunately the knitting world has no shortage of candidates.


As is listed at the side, I currently have a three knitting heroes. Last month, on the occasion of her birthday I went on and on about why Stephanie Pearl-McPhee is one of my knitting heroes. Today I thought I might dedicate the post to the hero at the top of my list... Eunny Jang


I stumbled onto "See Eunny Knit" from a link on the Brooklyn Tweed blog. The post I found had her lamenting she was lacking enthusiasm for knitting from her cue. (I could relate to that!) Her solution was the design of the Endpaper Mitts (I couldn't relate to being able to design anything - especially anything like that!). About them she wrote that they were "...a spontaneous, light bagatelle of a knit" - just what she needed at the time.

"Spontaneous"? How about "impossible (for me)to design never mind knit!) If I tried knitting those my family would no doubt be soon asking why I say I enjoy knitting when it is so frustrating for me. But her language was singularly assured and so relaxed she had my optimistic attention. In a few words she was helping me see the project might be possible!

A glance into the margin revealed her Bayerische socks. These, she said, "really shine on the foot". "Really shine"? Another huge understatement! They're gorgeous! They're flawlessly knit! She was just giving the pattern away as if people wouldn't pay for it!


I bookmarked the blog and went away haunted that I'd found something special. I would have to return to explore further.

Eventually I poured through all the archives of "See Eunny Knit". There were design insights, illustrated observations on fit, technique tutorials and notes on the performance of yarns. There was also beautiful, beautiful knitting. She described knitting with musical references and references to art history. She effused about the effect a carefully placed line of stitches might make in a design. She modelled shots of F.O.'s while clarifying and illustrating pattern modifications for better custom fit.

She demonstrated it all - skill, artistry, passion, and ability to communicate so as to both clarify and inspire. I wondered how long before she would need to turn her energies to something bigger and better than this incredible blog? Soon thereafter the intervals between posts become longer and the posts more brief.

Then she posted of her appointment as the new Editor of Interweave Knits magazine. Her first issue (Fall '07) hit the stands and sold out. (Its currently the favourite magazine on Ravelry)

In her inaugural Letter from the Editor she writes "The thing I've always loved most about knitting is the sense of unlimited possibility... there's always something new to try, something new to write about or read about or share, and new ways to do it...there's so much in store."


Unlimited potential and possibilities - that's how I view knitting and life in general. Eunny Jang demonstrates the notion of spectacular potential in everything we do - knitting being no exception. This why she is my number one knitting hero.


Flip through a current issue of IK and you see the evidence of that point of view emerging since she took the helm. The changes in format, the number of photos of each design the cross references within the book and to past issues. It all comes together to make the projects so much more accessible and inspiring than in the past. While I may have once seen a sweater or two that I thought about knitting, now, to me, any and all of them seem truly possible. Because of Eunny I may even steek!


She titled her post announcing her appointment March 17th of just last year "Oh the places we'll go!" - also the title of Dr. Suess's last book - the one he wrote about moving onwards and upwards. That's where I'm headed with my knitting. And my hero Eunny with her brilliantly revamped magazine and of course the archives that are still on line of her blog, is helping me get there.

Thanks Eunny!

Happy Birthday!

Wishing all my American readers a wonderful 4th of July Holiday!

In our crazy world today our two countries have such a unique relationship.

We are lucky here in Canada to count you as friend and neighbour.

(And I feel privileged to host so many of you here in my little corner of the knitblogosphere)

Have a great holiday!

Blue, White, Cool Cotton and No Sleeves!

I started the Imprint Tank from the Summer 08 Interweave Knits. The yarn is Mission Falls 1824 Cotton. My colours are White, Dark Blue (not as purple as it looks here) and Light Blue. The more muted ones in the magazine capture the retro vibe of the Marimmeko pattern better than mine but these are colours I'll wear more happily.

I started on the weekend (after getting Bonbon back on track). This is my first time using bobbins and I was pleased with how quickly I got the hang of it. The cotton of course slips easily past itself and the other strands which helps keep the bobbins all hanging straight and ready for use. This is handy as there are only a couple of rows in this vest that don't use them all.

Taking the next colour from beneath to avoid holes at the colour changes is also working well. Why am I always amazed when the prescribed technique is one that really works? The intarsia is too fun. The progress is quick and the cotton, while tough on the hands is cool to work with in the summer heat.

This week I haven't been able to knit before fairly late in the evening. Fortunately the Blue Jays were playing in Seattle - the games starting at 10:00 here so that kept me up and working for a couple of hours each night rather than just passing out. It never occurred to me that baseball was great for watching on TV while knitting until I read Margeaux' reports on the "tentenknits" blog last year about doing just that. (Ravelry is an amazing tool but the intangible or peripheral things I learn about knitting on blogs never ceases to surprise me.) Things are looking up for the Jays since Cito returned so it was even pleasant being able to cheer for the winning team! (If you've ever followed hockey, the Toronto Maple Leafs have a terrible record but for some reason we love and watch them nonetheless so watching the losing team is often the norm around here - watching the winner, a pleasant change!

Bottom line on intarsia is the back of the work right?;)

Tonight's knitting goal ...finish this side - 5 more inches on the armholes (another circle and a half or so of the graphic ) then its onto the stitch holder and cast on, set up the bobbins for side two. There's a softball game that as mom I will be "watching" with knitting in hand so this is doable - I just have to find a spot to sit alone without distraction. I can knit and watch the game, OR knit and chat OR chat and watch. Oh did I mention the prospect of no sleeves to knit is nothing short of thrilling?!