Tuesday 5 February 2013

Mimi Hill//Knit Nerds

Sometimes you follow a blog that you absolutely love; the FO's are gorgeous and the knitting tips are fantastic..... so who am I talking about? Mimi of Eskimimi Makes; author of The Knitting Pocket Bible (I own this - it's a must buy) and to top it all of she is a designer and amazing knitter!!! So here she is:
 
1. How long have you been knitting/crocheting and who taught you?
 
I’ve been knitting for four years now, and I learned to crochet a little at around the same time. I’d like to get more proficient at crochet in time, when I find the perfect project.
Nobody taught me to knit. I started with a book called ‘I Love Knitting’ which wasn’t a very good book on the subject but gave me enough information to form the basic knit and purl stitches, but then I treated myself to a copy of Stitch & Bitch and worked upwards from there.
2. What is your favourite yarny thing to make?
I don’t really have a favourite, though I do tend to knit a lot of hats and socks, though I think this is perhaps at least partly due to my yarn stash being mostly made up of one or two balls of any random yarn, so I will sometimes just grab some yarn and knit a hat.
 3. Who is your biggest yarny inspiration?

Mostly my online friends. Those that I keep in contact with on Ravelry, twitter and my blog provide me with the biggest and widest ranging sources of inspiration. I have never really followed anyone that might be considered a ‘big name’ knitter, partly because the popularity of some designers and their patterns means that I tend to see a lot of the same projects knit many times, and I prefer the variety that my friends and the wider knitting community are constantly amazing me with.
4. What is your favourite completed object?
Probably my Simple City Shawlette. It’s the most wearable thing in my wardrobe and keeps me warm as well as jazzing up any simple outfit, so it’s the piece that I turn to most often.
 5. What inspired you to start your blog?

I just wanted a place to call my own – my own little spot of the internet where I could share my thoughts, record my successes and mark my progress. Plus it gave me the beginnings of ideas to improve my craft and also my photography skills, and to expand my horizons in case I ever found an audience.

6. You wrote your own book, The Knitting Pocket Bible, what inspired you to do so?

I was contacted by the publisher. It wasn’t something I had considered, simply because I didn’t ever think I would be given the chance. But I loved writing the book. It was an absolutely wonderful experience and one that I would love to enjoy again, whether in book or magazine form. I love being able to put my thoughts into words and finding the best, most expressive and clearest way of communicating ideas with fun.

7. If you could give 3 pieces of yarny advice, what would they be?

Never decide against a possible project because you don’t know a technique. It is the best possible time to learn that new skill.
Don’t be scared to rip back. If you notice a mistake and think that you will keep on noticing it and think it might bother you, it’s worth fixing – you’ve already put the hours in, so spend that bit of extra time to make it as good as you can.
Use a lifeline. The ‘zen-like you’ in the future that is not tearing their hair out over ripping back acres of lace will love you for it.
Mimi has kindly offered 2 prizes for my lovely readers..... you could win a copy of either Eskimimi Makes Hats or Eskimimi Makes More Hats. All you have to do is leave a comment with some love for Mimi; let me know which prize you would prefer and why AND lastly please leave a ravelry name so I can contact you.
A huge thank you to the lovely Mimi for this wonderful interview, I have really enjoyed it and I hope all of you do too.
V xo

12 comments:

  1. Isn't she so inspirational!? I am in awe of her awesome photography and clear colour choices. Lovely :) I'd love to win the first book, Eskimimi Makes Hats. X

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  2. Mimi really helped me find a group of blogging friends through all the work she has done with Knitting and Crochet Blog Week over the last few years. I would love Eskimimi Makes More Hats as I want to knit ALL of the hats in it! I'm Stitched-Together on Ravelry.

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  3. Mimi is one of my favourite bloggers, I have never seen her churn out a project less than stunning, she writes very well, and I love taking part in her blogging week every year :) I always look forward to seeing what she makes next :D

    If I did win, I would love to have 'Eskimimi Makes More Hats', they are such fun patterns, especially 'Twisted Flax'. You can find me on ravelry as Charlott3, although you already know that ;) x

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  4. I really like that purse, need to pin this onto my knitting pinboard. I'd love to win Eskimimi makes more hats, since i really like twisted flax. My rav name is Pooma.

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  5. She is such an inspiration! I don't know how she manages to have such an amazing online presence, knit, publish, have amazing photography, run the Knitting and Crochet blog week, and still get sleep!

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  6. What a great interview, I always love reading these as it helps to get to know the designer behind the wonderful creations and Mimi is no exception. I'd love to win Eskimimi Makes Hats and my Ravelry name is Fairywool

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  7. Dear Mimi, you are so organized! I envy you deeply. Please send me a Eskimimi makes hat book!
    Sure I need it!

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  8. I like to read about designers and how they started knitting or crocheting. seeing this entry about Mimi was such fun because this is a blog I read. And I even have participated in her knit and crochet week ; )
    I love both of these books but since I have to choose only one if I get picked I will pick Eskimimi Makes Hats. My rav name is mjm.

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  9. I love her Simple City Shawlette, so pretty! And we clearly stash similarly, I have lots of random single skeins. Would love to try her first book, Eskimimi Makes Hats, particularly for the Pamplemousse Hat. On Rav, I'm unionjgirl.

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  10. Oh my goodness. I must have that trilobite.

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  11. I'd love the first book, so I can make Snowflake and Arcadia. In this interview she comes across as independent, not just following what everyone else is making - my favourite kind of person. I'm Redhedhels on Ravelry.

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  12. I would love to win the first book :) What a fabulous collection and fascinating interview :) I'm K8erpillar on Ravelry.

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