Do you remember the gorgeous grey ruffled shawl in this post? Today, I am very proud to profile the wonderful fiber artist who created that beauty, Elena of Tickled Pink Knits. Elena was kind enough to answer a few of my questions about knitting and her process.
How did you learn to knit?
I learned to knit from my mother when I was little, probably at the age of about 9 or 10, sitting side by side with her, and practicing stitch by stitch. My grandmother was wonderful at sewing, and my mother crocheted beautifully and knew how to knit as well. I myself have always been fondest of knitting. I did embroidery and macramé as a teen too but my most elaborate projects at that time were definitely hand-knitted.
I think that even back then I found knitting a very pleasurable and meditative activity. I loved watching the stitches line up next to each other and intertwine, and I found it incredibly satisfying to take a ball of yarn and use nothing but my own hands and two knitting needles to transform it into something altogether different.
I grew up in the former Soviet Union in the 1980s, and the tradition of fiber handicraft in various forms was pretty strong there at that time. In the context of extremely limited shopping opportunities and pretty bleak apparel choices, making one’s own clothing and clothing accessories was also a great way to add special and unique pieces to your wardrobe.
I stopped knitting for a dozen+ years, picked it up again about four years ago, and have not put my knitting needles down since then.
What was the first thing you knit?
To my best recollection, it was a long yellow wool scarf with horizontal ridges and fringes, knitted on needles sized no more than US 3-4 (thin!). If memory serves me right, I improvised it as I went along, which is still my favorite way to knit and invent new designs. I believe that my mom still has this scarf stored away somewhere. Arguably, I was a braver and more adventurous knitter at 13-14 than I am now. I no longer make sweaters and focus primarily on accessories but at that age my projects included a winter cabled sweater & skirt ensemble, a long vest, and more.
Do you have any advice for people like me who knit so tightly that they poke their fingers on the end of their needles trying to pull each stitch off?
First of all, switch to bamboo needles, which happen to be my favorite knitting needles. Metal needles can be much too hard on your hands, and plastic needles are not very reliable. Bamboo is wonderfully smooth, only getting better with more use, and unless you are using very fine needles, the tips are not sharp enough to poke and hurt. I think that single-point 13” US size 8-9 needles are great for learning to knit and for practicing various stitches. It’s a good idea to match the yarn weight to the needle size well, so that it’s not too bulky or too thin for the needles; for example, I find that Worsted weight yarn works well for practicing with size 8-9 needles.
Secondly, get a lot of practice casting on before moving on knitting the first row. The more you practice your cast ons, the more even and uniform the stitches will become, and the better foundation you will have for your knitting. A uniform cast on row should minimize the need to tighten or loosen your stitches later on. If your cast on tends to be too tight, try casting on to 2 needles (held together), and simply pull one out to begin the first row.
Knitting is meant to be enjoyable, so approach it with a positive and sufficiently relaxed attitude! :) This includes a calm mind, a comfortable and relaxed posture, and an arm and hand position that’s ready to work with the yarn, not fight or struggle with it.
Also, whether you are a Continental, British, or Combination style knitter, get comfortable with having a strand of yarn slide across your fingers and try a few different ways of holding the yarn to see what works best. Be generous and give each stitch a proper dose of yarn (i.e. don’t grip the yarn too tightly as though there isn’t enough of it left in the yarn skein!); well fed stitches are happy stitches and will cooperate with you better when you knit or purl them. Eventually, the idea is to develop even tension from row to row throughout your work.
A final tip for now – if you are just starting out or simply practicing new stitches, choose a light-colored yarn because you will be able to see what you are doing better.
The Knitting Help website Knitting Help is a fantastic resource, with helpful explanations and videos on some of the basic and more complex knitting maneuvers.
Do you work on only one project at a time or multiple?
At any given time, I have anywhere from 5 to 10 projects in various stages of completion. Sometimes it’s a matter of necessity, if I have a long queue of knitting commissions. I can take small projects on the road with me, while keeping larger ones in my home studio by the sofa. During a lull in orders from my shop I may start a new design and have to put it off until later if I get a flurry of new orders.
And, let’s face it, there are always a couple of projects that I keep on the backburner for months because my enthusiasm for them isn’t what it was when I started the project. Even these projects can have surprising results, however. I once worked on a piece on and off for weeks, and when it was done it was completely different from what I imagined it would be. It then became one of the most popular designs in my knitwear line, and I have replicated it dozens of time in the past couple of years.
What is your favorite brand of yarn?
There are too many gorgeous, luscious, irresistible, and covetable yarns out there to pick a favorite. I have worked with Peruvian, British, German, and Australian yarns, and I am rarely disappointed in a yarn. Even those that seem to underperform in one project can work well in another. I definitely prefer to knit with natural fibers, and have a favorite among them – merino wool.
Many thanks to Elena for taking the time to answer all of my questions and for all of your helpful information for knitters everywhere. You can find Elena on Flickr and Twitter. Also, please go to her shop's profile page to learn even more about her and her work, including when she was a featured artist on Etsy.
All images © Tickled Pink Knits
