Hero//Knitting and Crochet Blog Week (3KCBWDAY3)

So it's day 3 of knitting and crochet blog week, and you've to talk about your knitting hero.

 I've been following this lovely lady on Twitter for a while now but discovered her podcast, a playful day, just last month - it took me just weeks to get through the whole back catalogue and I fell head over heels - yup I have a girl crush. I love people who knit; but people who talk about it as well are my passion - if I had recording equipment I would probably do my own podcast. Anyway here is a lovely interview with miss greentrianglegirl herself:

1. How long have you been knitting and who taught you?

I have a typical knitting story in that I learned from my Grandmother when I was young, got as far as a garter stitch 4x4 square and ran off to find fairies and unicorns. I came back to knitting much later in life after a horrible dance injury meant I had to give up most of my studio time and I had no idea how to occupy myself. I didn't remember much so the wonders of Youtube taught me most things! I'm a sponge for knowledge so I read books and blogs, joined knit groups and was knitting lace and socks within a few short months.

2. What is your favourite thing to knit?

That's just MEAN......... just one thing? I like to fall back to vanilla socks, kind of a default position if ever I'm in doubt. I find hats intensely satisfying and I love a shawl but get horribly dramatic about long rows. Seriously, it's embarrassing.

3. Who is your biggest knitting inspiration?

I take inspiration from a variety of sources: friends, my knitting crushes, the wonderful knitting types I now work with and other podcasters. I have favourite knit books that I turn to time and time again, just for the pleasure of re-reading and if there's anyone who gets me thinking about the joy of knitting it's Elizabeth Zimmerman.
4. What is your favourite finished object of your own?

I am a litle fickle in regard to my FOs. If I adored working a particular yarn or was thrilled with the wonderful pattern a designer has produced, I will wax lyrical about it until it's finished and then almost mourn that it's off the needles. Despite this, I am NOT a process knitter- I need to see results. I think my current favourite is the Whippoorwill by Carina Spencer because I adored the NorthBound Knitting Superwash Merino that I used for the body of the shawl. The colour just spoke to me and I spent ages turning it to the light to see it's subtle shifts as I knit. Wonderful stuff.

5. What inspired you to start your podcast, a playful day?

I think I wanted a playful space: somewhere reliable for fun and adventure with lots of interesting content and an extension of the playful blog. I'd been thinking about it for a while and then blog week challenged us to try something different. So I did. A year on, I'm having so much fun.

6. If you could give 3 pieces of knitting advice, what would they be?

1. It's your knitting and you are in control. Make yourself happy and that's all that matters.
2. Invest in the time to learn good technique, it will liberate you and keep your love for the craft going strong for many years to come- the opportunities to learn and experiment are endless.
3. Ergonomics- pay attention to how you work and take care of yourself. Pain is not fun.

Thanks so much to the lovely greentrianglegirl for this interview - you are definitely my knitting crush!!! Check out her blog, twitter and the a playful day ravelry group for more information and leave her some love. Also over on the ravelry group there is a giveaway happening until the end of April - so you've got 5 more days to enter - all you have to do is post a wee comment saying what you love about the A Playful Day podcast; if you've never listened now is a good time to start.

Check back tomorrow for Day 4 of the knitting and crochet blog week; and remember to tag your posts with the unique tag, today's is (KCBWDAY3)
 V xx