nicolarobinsonova's Profile

Bio

I love the way that knitting fills up gaps. If you knit, you don't have to wait (apart from at airports ). You have something you can carry with you that's absorbing, practical and often beautiful.

I knit when I travel. I can't imagine not knitting while I'm looking at the world go by from a train window or stuck in traffic on a commuter bus. I feel sorry for people who don't knit, who have nothing to do and are forced to waste so much time.

I love knitting when I'm chatting with friends over a glass or two of wine in our local bar... and my knitting is a great barometer to measure when I need to switch to mineral water. It absolutely stops me smoking, I was a social smoker once, but now my hands are occupied, as well as the 'auto pilot' part of my brain which would reach for a cigarette. So, knitting can help you stop smoking, too!

I love the 3D quality of knitting. I've developed my own style which minimises the amount of finishing necessary (the fiddly bits of sewing things up at the end). Instead, when I'm knitting, say, a pair of gloves, a wooly hand will appear before me as if by magic, line by line.

In theory you could knit anything... an elephant the size of a house... DNA... but I prefer objects with a function which can be completed in a short time frame... because knitting the same item for months on end... well, just doesn't happen for me. I guess I don't have the patience... large items end up half finished at the back of the wardrobe for half a century.

But... this does mean that my patterns are accesible to beginners. I'd advise anyone learning to knit to start with small projects and experience success a few times before you tackle that long wrap cardigan or queen size bedspread you've been thinking about... of course you'll get round to doing those one day soon, but start small... hats, gloves, cosies, strings (if that's your thing!).

My Gran taught me to knit when I was 4, it's the thing she shared with me, the thing that she was good at, and always felt good about, and it's the thing of hers that will always stay with me. It was the first craft I got serious about. I love to design things that are purposeful, using as many raw & reclaimed materials as possible.

I use the materials I find around me. For example I make giant, double ended knitting needles from fallen branches in the forest on my doorstep. I love using them because they are all unique and look like wood is supposed to... not artificially symetrical.

Once I've figured out how to do something, I write instructions to pass on to other people. I love the idea that people living in so many places I dream of visiting are making designs I've worked out, it's almost as good as seeing a friend wearing something you've made for them. Maybe one day people will send me a photo of them with their finished project in their home town. I could make a map of where my knitting has travelled.

When not knitting & thinking about knitting you'll find me working on our very ramshackle house. I wish I could knit it a new roof.

I hope you enjoy looking at these designs. I'm always happy to hear any questions, comments or suggestions, so feel free to convo' me (using the conversations tab at the top right hand side of the screen).

Thanks for reading!
Nicola

ps If you happened to be a publisher looking for a new knitting book with basic instructions, original patterns & photography featuring the beautiful countryside of South Bohemia I'd really love to hear from you.

Female, Born on March 15

Favorite Materials

yarn, wool, silver, mosaic, wood