AKA Just Knit It!

Started knitting: In 1982 when she was living in Austria. She was taught by no-nonsense women who handed her a pattern and told her to get on with it. And she did!

Likes to knit: Everywhere. Even sitting in her car at red lights.

Projects she is working on at the moment: Too many to count but…..knitted slippers which look kind of like loafers, the Emily Elf Slippers with a recycled sweater, a felted messenger bag, and refinishing a découpage chair with Latin script.

The first thing she does when she walks into a yarn store: Says “Ooooh.” Sniffs, feels and fondles the yarn – ”it’s all about the full sensory effect.”

Her other occupations: Launching her new pattern company cocoknits, designing sweaters, searching for unusual materials with which to knit, being a special education volunteer and consultant to the Oakland Unified School District and knitting, knitting, knitting.

When not working or knitting: She is working in her garden, planting and pruning her flowers and fruit trees. She shares her figs, apples and plums with Klaus, Hanna and Emma (if they are lucky!)

Reading right now: Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, My Year of Meats by Ruth L Ozeki, and rereading for the umpteenth time Mrs. Whaley and her Charleston Garden.

Food always in the refrigerator: Trader Joe’s Mediterannean Yogurt and Half and Half for her cappuccino. And there is always Ben and Jerry’s in the freezer – she even has a pint cosy (so that her hands don’t get cold when she is eating right out of the container!) Oh and chocolate. Not in the refrigerator but she eats chocolate every single day.

check out her website at www.cocoknits.com!

Started knitting: Her freshman year of college – She was surrounded by good, industrious, Norwegian stock at St. Olaf College in Minnesota. And what else was there to do wtih 6 months of winter?

Likes to knit: Everywhere. Anytime. Ideal place to knit is propped up on the couch watching some great TV.

Project she is working on at the moment: Usually has about six projects going at a time…. Although it’s her goal to get it down to three. Currently working on Kira K’s Diamond Cowl, a felted table runner of her own design, a pair of socks from yarn in her stash, a lace tank, and…….wait…she already has it down to 4!

The first thing she does when she walks into a yarn store: Touch things. She really really likes touching yarn – that may be how that’s how she got into this knitting, crochet, yarn mess.

Her other occupation: A yarn sales rep. Travel all over Northern Califonira, Oregon and Washington showing shops the yarn lines she represents. (Lucky her, visiting all those stores!)

When not working or knitting: Bakes cakes. Lots of cakes.

Reading right now: Knitting Without Tears by Elizabeth Zimmerman.

Food always in the refrigerator: Eggs, butter, milk, yogurt, cheese – she wants to pilot the “all dairy” diet.

On her iPod: A mixture of Top 40, country and knitting-related podcasts.

AKA The Queen of Crochet

Started knitting: “Síle forced it upon me while we were watching the 2006 Winter Olympics. So I knit ‘Irish’ like her.” (Editor’s note – and a fine way to knit it is!)

Her relationship with yarn: Taught herself to crochet in 1994 from a book and loved it. She made gloves, hats, scarves and even some halter tops for her sister Karen. She then taught Karen and her mother Laurie how to crochet. Laurie still crochets but Karen has decided that knitting is more her style!

Crocheting versus knitting: She straddles the yarn crafting fence with one foot planted firmly on each side of crochet-land and knit-land. Loves them both.

Likes to knit and crochet: In her big comfy chair with her cats Jack and Gracie. (Jack and Gracie amazingly enough don’t chase her yarn!)

Project she is working on at the moment: Make that projects. Just finished some fingerless mittens (loves them!); working on a Brigitta sweater for class, for herself; has a Lucy bag going; mid-scarf for her sis; half a sock to finish to make a pair, and yarn that’s yearning to become something for her Grandma, but she has yet to figure out what it will become: plus snowflakes, various projects for the holidays. Very busy in Susan’s yarn land!

The first thing she does when he walks into a yarn store: Looks at the colors and then starts feeling everything.

Her other occupation: Corporate trainer – she manages a team of curriculum developers and instructional designers.

When not working or knitting: Reads novels, sings, walks outdoors, watches (too much – her words) tv and movies, eats out.

Reading right now: A new (to her) magazine called Weekly; a book called Quicksilver; another book called First to Fight: An Inside View of the US Marine Corp (that’s for work).

Food always in the refrigerator: Cheese and corn tortillas and diet coke (does that count as food?).

On her iPod: Too many things to name….currently very into KT Tunstall, Amy Winehouse, Pink Martini.

AKA The Felting Queen

Started knitting: Remembers it to the day – September 27, 2005, after a 20 year break.

Likes to knit: Anywhere and everywhere – even in bed.

Projects she is working on at the moment: a felted bag, a couple of scarves, a long wrap, 2 sweaters…she has a lot of WIPS (”works in progress”).

The first thing she does when she walks into a yarn store: Takes a deep breath.

Her other occupation: Firefighter-paramedic in San Francisco.

When not working or knitting: She likes to take her dog, Domino, to Point Isabel, watch baseball, eat, sleep, and exercise.

Reading right now: Nothing. She wishes she could master knitting and reading at the same time! She’s working on it.

Food always in the refrigerator: Milk.

On her iPod: Musically she says she is “all over the map”. Most recent purchases include Nelly Furtado and Jurassic 5.

AKA woolly wumpus

Started knitting: First time, her grandma taught her when she was little using a funny plastic knitting kit with no instructions and yarn from an unravelled sweater. She picked it up again at university, and one more time in 2006 when she started working with our own Queen Bee Síle Convery on this very website!

Likes to knit: In eyebrow-raising public places like bars and parks, in bed while watching movies, and on the plane. (”What, you wanna confiscate my needles, Homeland Security? Just try. I dare you.”)

Projects she is working on at the moment: Two lace scarf samples for Habu Textiles from Victorian Lace Today, a Habu felted sweater #75, and the beginnings of a designing-it-as-she-goes Donegal tweed cardigan.

The first thing she does when she walks into a yarn store: Says hi to Kate or Tammy (because it’s usually Article Pract she’s walking into), then realises that she’s forgotten her list as usual.

Her other occupation: Graphic designer. She co-owns and runs a boutique graphic design firm called Timbuktu Design, and she’s also a second-degree-program student in the Painting/Drawing department at CCA(C). (”The last ‘C’ is silent now.”)

When not working or knitting: She’s traveling, reading, road-tripping, taking photographs with plastic cameras (”Holgas rock!!”), sketching, and riding horses when she’s really lucky.

Reading right now: Case Histories by Kate Atkinson and What is the What by Dave Eggers.

Food always in the refrigerator: Milk for teatime, and maybe a few crumpets. Everything else fluctuates wildly.

On her iPod: About 9 days worth of random and assorted music.

Currently playing: Morphine, Tom Waits, Goldfrapp, U2, Yizo Yizo, and several muzo friends’ albums.

Anything else we should know? She’s a Rarely Spotted True Blue SF Native, and now splits her time between Berkeley and Cape Town, South Africa. In a previous lifetime, she was a set and costume designer for the theatre. The lifetime after that, she almost became a river guide in Moab, Utah.

And the next lifetime? A pirate. Arr!

Check out her blog at woollywumpus.blogspot.com

AKA Yarn A-Go-Go

Started knitting: When she was five and barely able to hold the needles! She nagged her mother until she finally gave in and showed Rachael how to cast on, knit and purl. And then Rachael was off. She read Elizabeth Zimmerman no less and figured the rest out by herself. At eight she made a sweater, but alas she couldn’t get her head through it, because she had forgotten to bind the neck off loosely. ( Editor’s note: Or maybe Rachael just had a big head! )

Likes to knit: At work when it’s slow – she’s a 911 dispatcher – and no she doesn’t say to people “Wait until I finish the row”…and on her couch with a dog on either side. (Editor’s note: I hope she doesn’t poke them with her needles!)

Project she is working on at the moment: A purple merino gansey of her own design and the perennial sock-on-the-needles, currently in Trekking yarn.

The first thing she does when she walks into a yarn store: Touches something. Then touches something else, then another …well you get the idea.

Her other occupation: A writer.

When not working or knitting: She’s a writer, having got her MFA from Mills College. She has three almost-finished books under her belt. When not working on her books, or doing her work as a 911 operator, she writes for knitting magazines and police/fire industry journals.

Other things she likes to do: Hang out with her banjo-playing wife, Lala, and their three stackable dogs (Miss Idaho the Chihuahua, Harriet the Dachschund, and Clara the Border Collie). She also likes to spin yarn and run. (Editor’s note: I am little worried that poor Miss Idaho might get squashed!)

Reading right now: A mystery, set in Venice: Blood from a Stone by Donna Leon, and The Exact Same Moon, by Jeanne Marie Laskas

Food always in the refrigerator: Cheese. Four different kinds of olives because she always forgets she has some and buys more. Pine nuts because she can’t remember if they like to be cold or in the cup-board. (Editor’s note: Store them in the freezer!)

On her iPod: The Whoreshoes (country/honky-tonk) and Devil Makes Three (rockabilly pirate drinking tunes).

Favorite city: “Venice, Italy is the city of my heart.” Sigh. Sigh.

Find out more about Rachael at www.yarnagogo.com

Started knitting: Six years ago. She learned to crochet first at a weekend conference that was driving her insane because it was boring. She espied a very serene looking young woman crocheting in the back of the room and her yarn career was born.

Likes to knit: On BART, at her desk job, and in bed with her husband (who also knits) at the end of the day.

Projects she is working on at the moment: The never-ending project of keeping her cat out of her yarn stash! And in addition. one of her many projects in Malabrigo yarn.

The first thing she does when she walks into a yarn store: Says hi to whoever is working and checks to see if there are any new colors of Malabrigo.

Her other occupation: Tutors children ages 8-18 and teaches afterschool enrichment classes. She also helps adults return to college and successfully complete a degree. Check her out at: http://thatsittutoring.com/index.htm

When not working or knitting: Chit-chatting and causing trouble.

Reading right now: Just finished reading Reefer Madness by Eric Scholsser and is casting about for the next book.

Food always in the refrigerator: A block of Parmesan cheese.

Listening to: Zoe says, “This is where I skillfully divert your attention from my lack of musical cool…”

Her first date with Jesse Loesberg, her husband: They went to a yarn store. The owner took one look at them and said, “My, my, what are you two so happy about?” Well, Zoe thought to herself, “For starters, I have just met this handsome guy who knits…”

AKA PuNk rAwK pUrL

Started knitting: April of 2005. Taught herself to knit from a book and a website (Debbie Stoller’s Stitch n’ Bitch and knittinghelp.com)

Likes to knit: In a box. She likes knitting with a fox. She likes knitting in the rain. She likes knitting on a train. She like knitting in a boat. She likes knitting ………well you get the idea. She likes knitting everywhere!

Projects she is working on at the moment: Two pairs of magic loop socks – they are knit toe-up two at once, a baby blanket for a baby that is 9 months old now, (so by the time it is finished, should it be re-named the “Toddler Blanket”?) many hats & several pairs of fingerless mitts.

The first thing she does when she walks into a yarn store: Turns the register on and sells yarn. (Editor’s note: She works part-time in a yarn store. She doesn’t do this in all yarn stores… or then again, maybe she does!)

Her other occupation: Chained to a drafting table and a computer loaded up with autocad, i.e. attending FIDM to study interior design.

When not working or knitting:“Why wouldn’t I be knitting?!” Tammy retorts indignantly.

Reading right now: A pile of architecture and design books. (Editor’s note: I wonder if she reads Martha?)

Food always in the refrigerator: Bacon, eggs, and vanilla almond milk.

On her iPod: There are 6,905 songs on her iPod! Tom Waits, AC/DC, PJ Harvey, the Pixies, and T. Rex are top o’ the list.

Anything else we should know? Mother of two fat cats, Otis, an 11 year old maine coon and Rosco, a 5 year old abyssinian tabby mutt. Otis likes to eat corn off the cob and Rosco loves to groom anything with fur or hair. In another life he is sure to be a glamorous hairstylist.

Check out her blog at punkrawkpurl.blogspot.com

aka Kira K Designs

Started knitting: According to family lore, she learned to knit at age five. And she hasn’t stopped since!

Likes to knit: Wherever and whenever she’s bored or feeling guilty for not doing something useful. Knitting makes her ever so much more patient especially when waiting in a long line, or for other people’s turns at Scrabble.

Projects she is working on at the moment: A black cardigan. She only recently realized that she didn’t own even one – shocking – especially since she owns at least six black skirts and twelve black shirts! Also a cabled sweater – for a friend who quit smoking last year, a pair of fingerless gloves, and a tank top.

The first thing she does when she walks into a yarn store: If it’s Artfibers, she starts working. In other shops, she scans for the vegan/eco-friendly yarns.

Her other occupation: The manager of Artfibers four days a week. The other days she creates knitting and crocheting patterns (see them at kirakdesigns.com) and teaches.

When not working or knitting: Loves to cook and to feed people – the German mother in her trying to get out, except she never makes German food. She also likes to spend time with her wife Rachel and their cat, Cat.

Reading right now: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. In her fourth year of reading Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States (she reads that one in fits and starts…obviously!)

Food always in the refrigerator: Wine, beer, soy cream for her coffee, and tons of vegetables from the farmer’s market.

On her iPod: Feist, and lots of NPR podcasts for the bus.

Check out her website at kirakdesigns.com

AKA Speedy Needle Freeman

Started knitting: In 2003. She was working on an ambulance and was taught to knit by a colleague – a male colleague.

Likes to knit: Anywhere and everywhere.

Project she is working on at the moment: She just adopted a toy poodle from the Oakland Animal Shelter, Sammie. Sammie is the best dressed dog in his neighborhood as in less than one week, Kate knit him - count them - 5 sweaters! (Editor’s note: I wonder if she has mastered the art of dog walking and knitting simultaneously?)

The first thing she does when she walks into a yarn store: Well, because she works part-time at Article Pract, the first thing she does is turn on the lights and always notices the smell of vinegar emanating from the Malabrigo.

Her other occupations: She works as a patient care technician at the ER at UCSF, and works at Article Pract and Ruby’s Garden.

When not working or knitting: Walks her dog, plays with her dog, hangs out with her friends and her dog, watches Grey’s Anatomy with…(yes, her dog!), drinks good strong coffee.

Reading right now: Baby Catcher by Peggy Vincent, Guns Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond.

Food always in the refrigerator: Lime sparkling water.

On her iPod: Prince is always in the air.

Family: Her parents live locally and are the lucky recipients of many of her knitted wonders!