Let’s see…
I guess I’ll provide you with a list of things about me since I’m not that good at writing autobiographical paragraphs–
-I am a quaker, vegetarian girl living in a comparatively small town in Oregon.
-Going with that is that I have some pretty strong beliefs about a lot of things, like peace and equality, and I like to stand up for them.
-I learned to knit on a whim a couple of years ago from a Klutz kit. I had no idea how in love with this wonderful craft I would become, and it really has changed my life. Not only is it a source for beautiful (well, most of the time) handmade things, it also has sort of a calming influence on my mind and is pretty much my own kind of meditation.
-I’m a born fidgeter…see above for why knitting is so good for someone like me.
-I’m inspired by a lot of random things–Jane Austen novels, 60’s icons like Audrey Hepburn and the Beatles, the music I listen to, vintage fashion, the color of the sky on a beautiful day, you name it.
-I love being outdoors, no matter what the weather.
-I am very fond of walking as a means of transportation.
-I guess you could say that I’m addicted to music for lack of a better description…it’s been a part of my life since before I was born since my dad’s a composer. To give you an accurate picture, I can’t really think of what my life would be life without listening to it every day, but it would probably involve some type of insanity.
-The said music that I listen to every day is mostly stuff that a lot of my peers haven’t heard of, like the Decemberists, Death Cab for Cutie, Alexi Murdoch, The Shins, &c. Part of the reason I like indie (independent, NOT Indian, though they have some pretty cool music too, it’s just not my kind of everyday stuff) and 60’s and 70’s rock and folk is probably because pretty much everyone at my school listens to hip-hop/rap and country that I find very annoying to hear. So, I’m very glad that I found music that I myself like, and not just what miss Jane Popular Doe is rocking that week.
-Going with that is the fact that I’m pretty individualistic…I have an offbeat personality (to say the least) and stubbornly refuse to set foot in or buy anything from stores like American Eagle or Abercrombie & Fitch. My style is more what you find in thrift stores and Urban Outfitters.
-I’ve been crafting ever since I was little. I used to think I was good at drawing, but most of the drawing I do now is just schematics of knitting design ideas.
-I just realized that I’ve probably lost a lot of you by now since I wrote this long, so I hope this will suffice. Good-bye!
April 3, 2007 at 5:10 pm
Dearest Mary,
I am so very proud of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The reason there is no yardage on the labels of the Spinnerin yarn is because that is a relatively new addition to yarn labels. That’s how old the yarn is - you have made an exciting and beautiful project with that yarn.
I have some special soap for washing knits that I got at a yarn shop in SF. It has lanolin in it and does an amazing job of softening “scratchy”
yarns. Aunt Virginia used it at the cabin on some of their Lithuainia knits and it worked wonders. I’ll order some for you.
I’ll talk with you soon - you’re the most exciting and wonderful knitter I have ever known!
LOVE YOU MUCH!
Grandma Grace
April 3, 2007 at 11:51 pm
I’m the blogger’s Dad, and I just wanted everyone to know how proud I am of her and her creative work. She’s a yarn knitter, I’m a sound knitter. :-)
April 27, 2007 at 5:46 am
Awww… that’s soo sweet! My family doesn’t even know I have a blog. I wish my grandma knits! :) I love your cardi. Keep up the great work!
June 30, 2007 at 12:08 pm
I know what you mean about listening to music that your peers have no idea about! none of my firends have the same taste in music as me!I don’t think they’ve even heard of Death Cab for Cutie (who are my fave band at the mo!)
Jane Austen is an inspiration! she’s absoultely amazing, I love the Mrs Darcy cardi you’ve made! Lizzy Bennet is one of my fave heroines! her and Elianor in Sense and Senibility (weirdly enough they have the same names as me).
Audrey Hepburn is amazing, a style and moral icon! Don’t you just love her in Funny Face?!?
Any way I’m rambling!
x
September 1, 2007 at 12:41 pm
You sound like a pretty cool person on the blog!
September 9, 2007 at 7:50 am
I learnt to knit from a Klutz Kit! I still have the little purse I made, somewhere!
I’m about half way through Mrs Darcy (so sorry to here about the loss!) for my friedn’s 18th. Nightmare though ‘cos I just want to keep it for myself!!!
Audrey Hepburn is amazing! I love to knit whilst watching her films!
Thanks for a great blog!!!
xxx
October 13, 2007 at 10:43 pm
Dude! I’m from Oregon too! Hillsboro to be exact, and I lurv your Mrs Darcy pattern. I finished mine a while ago out of Felted Tweed. Keep up the awesome knitting.
ps. I totally agree with the anti AE and Abercrombie and Filth. I’d rather look like me then like a magizine cut out.
October 15, 2007 at 11:29 pm
Hi Mary,
I happened by your blogsite? while looking up your free pattern on The Daily Knitter and I’m so impressed by your gift, knitting that is. You truley are a fantastic knitter and if you are ever down on the Monterey Peninsula, I hope you will come join our knitting guild for a little friendly Friday night knitting fun. Being a mom of 4, I can’t help but feel proud of you too.
October 31, 2007 at 9:43 am
Dear Mary,
I really appreciate the work you’ve put into this blog - it really reflects your passion for knitting and also the truly important things in life!
I have a specific knitting question - I’ve been an amateur knitter for about 8 years and am finally graduating to things that aren’t rectangular. When working on stockinette stitch, most directions that I’ve found indicate that you need to switch needles from hand to other hand as you complete the row (turn your work around). Thus, the Knit 1, Purl 2 instructions create a smooth, unbumpy side and a bumpy side. Can an ambidextrous person like myself simply use a mirror version of the knit stitch for Row 2 and NOT turn the work around? From experimentation, it appears that this works just fine, but I’ve never read of it anywhere and I accidentally stumbled on the concept by mis-understanding the Stockinette stitch instructions I had. Let me know if you have any thoughts. Thanks again for your blog - it is a delight, as is the Mrs. Darcy pattern I’m dying to start work on.
Best regards,
Jennifer K.S.
October 31, 2007 at 4:19 pm
Jennifer-
Whilst I’m certainly no expert, the way I usually go about things is that if it looks right (and there are no obvious holes) it must be right. You don’t need a book or someone else to tell you the right way to knit! Just do it the way that feels right for you.
December 9, 2007 at 5:13 pm
i just found your design (and blog) on knitty.com and wow, I am SO impressed!! i’ve been knitting since i was 10, and i’m now 22. i’m from albany NY, but my father and his family are all from Oregon, so I’ve always felt connected to that part of the country. hey, this might sound rather forward, but reading your blog makes me wish we’d gone to high school together, because i would have loved having a friend like you to craft/bake with. i love your style and i share much of your musical taste. great work and please keep posting, you are so talented!
December 9, 2007 at 8:07 pm
Wow. I came across your blog completly by accident and am just amazed by All that I have read about you and your many accomplishments! I’ve shared your link with a friend. You are one amazing girl!
I love to knit too- but am only brave enough to do straight lines. I have quite the scarf collection! ha!
Look forward to reading more.
Sharon in NC
(and by the way - I too am Quaker from birth, and have been vegetarian since college in the late 80’s : ))
December 11, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Greetings,
You seem most excellent.
I’m a vegan anarchist knitter.
I’m quite into indie music also, have you heard of the band Neutral Milk Hotel? They’re my favourite; some people think they’re like the Decemberists.
I concur on the avid pedestrianism.
In solidarity,
Tara
December 12, 2007 at 5:52 pm
So, I was reading the new issue of knitty and I saw your pattern.I instantly thought, how cool,I would actually wear that to school (being a high school freshman), then I looked down and, what-do-you-know it was actually WRITTEN by a high school freshman!Well anyway, i’m very excited about making the shirt and i just thought it was interesting to find out that you are a Quaker too. =)
December 13, 2007 at 6:57 am
wow i thought i was individual!
I mean i play the bagpipes, knit and grow veg!
December 16, 2007 at 2:52 pm
I just saw your pattern on Knitty…it’s amazing. And you’re only a freshman in high school? I, too, am a vegetarian, knitting-obsessed, folk-rock fan. I’m a senior in high school, and one of my friends taught me how to knit in Algebra II in the tenth grade. I am nowhere near as advanced a knitter as you, and I think you may be my ultimate hero. :)
January 4, 2008 at 9:24 am
Hi Mary,
I am knitting your pattern from Knitty as well! It’s so cute! I am admittedly having trouble with the RLI/LLI raglan increases … if you have a moment would you mind explaining this technique? I’ve got the RLI down but the LLI is causing me problems as I’m having trouble finding the stitch “2 rows below the last stitch on the right needle.” By “last stitch” do you mean the stitch I just made with the RLI, or the stitch before that? Sorry if this is confusing and thanks in advance! I’m a fairly experienced knitter but have never tried raglan before.
Beth
February 13, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Hi Mary,
i stumbled upon your blog on knitty, and wow. you’re in high school!! i am really impressed! i am 34 and am beginning to lose hope in all the little af/ae x-box clones walking around these days in middle and high school! you give me hope!
and you are a fantastic knitter!
stay true to yourself and your heart.
oh, and some cool music to check out, meiko, sigur ros, jaymay, emily wells, anya marina.
take care super star,
heather.
March 31, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Hi!
I found your blog through your Dahlia sweater on knitty.com. I love knitting it, you have some really clever little things in that pattern that I’ve never seen before. I had pneumonia last week, and some new yarn, so I started it, finished the bodice last night and tried it on **because you say to in the pattern**! It makes me really happy that you specify that, no one does. I always try to fit pieces of a sweater to the one it’s for as I go, but not so much in the round. Unfortunately, I’m healthy again, so I’m sitting here at school wishing it were late enough that I could go home and knit- I’m kind of half-working on a presentation I have tomorrow.
I’m a combination of jealous and happy that you knit in school- in college, when I started knitting, I always had too many notes to take (I think because of the specific classes I took- mostly science and music). I heard that a lot of literature majors knitted all through lectures and discussions.
Keep up the great knitting and all your lovely photography!
Catherine in NH