Sydney Whitwell identifies herself as a strong intermediate knitter. She learned to knit “a few times” and joined the Toronto Knitters Guild in 2023, looking for like-minded makers. Read on to be impressed by Sydney’s command of fibre arts, her rapid knitting progress, and her commitment to an inclusive knitting community.
Tell us about when and how you came to knitting.
I am originally from British Columbia where I learned to knit a few times—first at weaving and knitting class as a young child (Thanks, Mom, for taking me!), when I was in elementary school from a neighbour, and in middle school knitting class. I could knit only a flat square and knit for fun or to keep my hands busy.
In the spring of 2023, a friend recommended crochet, and I loved it! I am still close friends with the person who taught me to knit in middle school, and she encouraged me to re-try knitting when she saw how I took to crocheting. I haven’t looked back since! Something about being confident in crochet, a similar skill, helped knitting click.
As I still feel new-ish to knitting, I don’t make many changes to patterns other than easy modifications like lengthening the sleeves or body. I am not yet confident enough to adjust a lot of the pattern. I do sew, but have never tried to sew through a knitted garment, an idea that makes me nervous!
What is your day job? How, if at all, does knitting fit with that?
I’m a graphic designer and design student (I am taking my degree online, which is convenient to be able to knit and listen to lectures!) Knitting and my other fiber arts go well with that; it helps in pairing colours or making other visual decisions for my projects.
Do you have an aptitude for knitting or is it something you have to “work” at?
I’d say it’s a combination of aptitude, working at it, and being someone who can get really obsessed with a project and not want to put it down (ha).
Initially, knitting presented a learning curve. But crochet and my prior experience helped a lot. Once I was able to read a pattern and could knit, purl, cast on, and bind off confidently, I felt I could take on most things. I’ve since enjoyed complicated-looking patterns that are achievable when the steps are broken down. I feel really comfortable with knitting now and can finish a big project in less than a month if I really work at it! Brioche and 3-colour colourwork have yet to be tried.
What prompted you to join the Toronto Knitters Guild?
I joined the Toronto Knitters Guild in November 2023 on my return to knitting. I had heard about the guild at a local yarn store or one of my other guilds (maybe spinning?), and it felt like a good time to join. I wanted to be part of a local community, having moved to Toronto from British Columbia in 2021.
I love the guild’s welcoming environment, especially at in-person meetings, and the opportunity to talk to people who “get it.” By contrast, people in my daily life can’t identify my sweater as handknit and don’t ask for the pattern. So, it’s special to be at a TKG meeting!
Are there other fibre arts that you practise?
I sew, quilt, spin, process my own fleece sometimes, and crochet! I joke that once I learn to weave and dye, I’ll have completed the set. I have also needle felted a bit—I did a wool model of a cross-sectioned kidney for a high school science class.
Spinning is one of my absolute favourite things to do and I find it really relaxing and meditative. It is done largely from feel rather than counting and watching stitches, so it can be a great break from technical knitting (and then I get to knit with the yarn I make!) A few months ago I spun the first fiber I hand blended (two colours of alpaca with Corriedale, silk, and iridescent angelina for sparkle) and then knit it into a sweater vest in a week because I was just so excited about it. Hand spinning doubles the sense of pride from telling someone I knit what I’m wearing; I can also say I made the yarn!
What is the biggest improvement you have seen in your knitting over the last 5 years?
As I get more settled into knitting, my stitches are nice and even. I find myself frogging less and generally being less worried as I start a pattern and move through its parts. This improvement came with practice and support of knitting friends—my friends in British Columbia who knit, friends at stitch nights and craft groups, and of course TKG!
I am excited to see where knitting takes me in future, as I’ve only been “seriously knitting” for less than two years.
What knitted item(s) are you most proud of?
If I think of technical skills, I am most proud of a “Ranunculus” I knit for my mom. It was the first lace project I tried, and I learned the importance of keeping track of stitch counts in lace. Halfway through the lace part of the yoke in the middle round of eyelets, I found I was one stitch off. I decided to restart the garment, which was tough, but I love the finished project.
I also just completed a “Macaron Cardigan” that quickly became my most worn handknit; it’s a goes-with-everything kind of sweater. The cardigan was my first button band, which didn’t take as long as I thought it would and was actually very fun!
I mostly knit fingering, sport, and DK, and I love to knit sweaters and tops (though lately I’ve knit two “Musselburgh” hats just because it’s such a nice pattern to put in my bag and knit everywhere). I have not yet knit toys. I find stockinette in the round very meditative, but I have also really come to enjoy lace, which is less intimidating than it seems! With lace, I love seeing the pattern appear with each round.
Do you consider yourself to be a process knitter or a product knitter? Give us an example.
Product knitter! As I said, I completely restarted my “Ranunculus” because of a row being one stitch off. That made me worry about other mistakes, so I opted to begin again. I love the process of knitting, but if I had to pick process or product I am probably a product knitter. I knit to ultimately wear what I make and I want to love it, or when I gift knit I want it to be as perfect as possible for my recipient.
Who are your knitting “heroes”?
My knitting heroes would be my favourite pattern designers (Andrea Mowry, Jessie Maed, Tin Can Knits, to name a few), my friends at Yarns Untangled whom I see often for stitch night and were also very kind and helpful to me when I started re-learning to knit (thank you Amelia, Annabel, and Alison!). There’s also Nicole of The Spinnacle who taught me to knit in middle school and has been an amazing cheerleader, friend, and knitting hero for years. All of these people brought something helpful and inspiring to my knitting journey. I would not be the knitter I am today without them.
How do you access reference materials?
I access reference materials mostly online (Ravelry, YouTube, Instagram), and I have recently started reading classic knitting books by Amy Herzog and Patty Lyons through the Toronto Public Library’s ebook side, which is really convenient! I have checked out books on spinning and sheep & wool through them as well.
What didn’t we ask you that you wish we’d asked?
The only thing that comes to mind is maybe what I feel is important in the knitting world or would like to see more of, and that’s inclusivity! Both size inclusivity and accessibility for disabled knitters. I’m a wheelchair user and some yarn stores seemingly forget that disabled people knit too, and I don’t see very many pattern designers releasing screen reader compatible versions of their patterns or large print options (though Ysolda Teague does, which is amazing!) Overall, I have seen great advocacy for size inclusivity in the community, and would like that to continue—plus more accessibility. Knitting itself is a very welcoming art that many people can enjoy, and the community should reflect that.
