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Author: TKG editors

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Easier Knitting for All

by Sarah Dawn Adams.

Hello!  For those who are just “meeting” me, I am the new Sponsorship Coordinator for the Toronto Knitters Guild. I connect with the yarn stores and vendors that support our guild.  I also bring a background in Accessibility and Universal Design, and I know how to apply their principles to a range of activities, including knitting. So, I have put together a short blurb about how to make your own knitting easier for you.

Pattern Charts:  Despite their popularity and the fact that many knitting tutors promote the use of charts, they aren’t for everyone. If you can’t read charts, please, don’t despair. And don’t think it’s a deficiency on your part. More and more pattern designers are recognizing folks that need full written instructions, and that’s something you can absolutely look for and search for on sites like Ravelry and Etsy.  If you’re buying online, check the pattern description. If you’re buying in-person, there’s no harm in skimming through a book or magazine to see if there are written instructions before you buy it.

Measurements: You may have come across patterns that give vague measurements like “Woman’s Small.”  Those sorts of pattern measurements aren’t very helpful!  Instead, look for patterns that give multiple and exact measurements without resorting to assumptions about body type or gender stereotypes; not all women have small hands, for example. Patterns with precise measurements—both as to the body and to the finished garment—will be far more accurate in fit, which in turn will make you a happier, more satisfied knitter!

Tutorials: Many patterns are now offering tutorials, which make things super easy for us knitters! That said, if you’re looking for tutorials on your own in the wilds of the internet, it’s a good idea to know what you need.  Do you learn better with video?  YouTube is 100% the best place to be.  Do you need captions?   Many YouTube tutorials have captions nowadays (though YouTube’s auto-captions can still struggle with knitting terms). Do you need Described Video?  That one’s a little trickier, but you can try looking on YouDescribe.  Are you someone who learns best by photos, instead?  Then you’re better off looking at photo tutorials from one of the many wonderful knitting experts out there, and many of the big knitting sites have their own tutorial centres, too.

Alt-Text: Lastly, are you sharing your own makes on social media?  If so, don’t forget (or learn about) alt-text which is a very easy way to make sure that all your fellow knitters can find and see your gorgeous projects!  Alt-text is the text that loads in place of images when the images don’t load. It’s also used by screen-reading technology for the visually impaired. (If you’ve ever had an e-mail that didn’t load images, and it just said ‘Image’ or ‘Header’, you’ve run into badly-done alt-text!)
Each social media platform is a little bit different about how to put in alt-text, but most of them offer it.  On Instagram, it’s under accessibility.  On Ravelry, in a forum thread, it’s in the image link. On Facebook, there’s an option under the Image menu. Not only will your pictures be accessible to more of your fellow makers, but the various algorithms like it when you put in alt-text, because it gives them more data to understand what your post is about!

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To Yarn or Not: Give Every Child a Chance

A small child's hands, crocheting a circle in green yarn.

by Elizabeth Okeyele-Olatunji. www.facebook.com/TunnizzeCreation.  

Recently, I had an encounter with a young learner who wanted to crochet a plushy with a poop emoji. I asked him to make the poop face, which he happily did, and he taught me how to make one too! Where does that kind of thinking come from?

Children are very creative thinkers; hence they need yarns to bring their ideas to life. That’s the beauty of yarn.

I define yarn as material that children can use to turn dreams into reality. Should every child be given the opportunity to work with yarn?  The answer is a resounding yes because there are so many benefits, including:

  • The simple joy that comes from hands-on activities. I recently spent time in a Montessori classroom where young children drew original designs and brought them to life with knitting. The children enjoyed working with yarn and needles, and what they produced. In a world of digital distractions, simple yarn work such as knitting, crocheting, and weaving offer much more than just a pastime; they provide a creative outlet, an opportunity to develop fine motor skills, and a chance to build self-esteem.
  • The opportunity to blend creativity and skill-building. When children learn to knit or crochet, they are not just making scarves or toys—they are developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Following patterns, counting stitches, and correcting mistakes enhances cognitive abilities. Repetitive motions improve hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
  • The sense of accomplishment that comes with completing a project. Having taught numerous children how to make things from yarn, I always cherish their smiles on completion of their projects. They often experience a boost in confidence and self-esteem, which can have ripple effects in other areas such as academics and social interactions.

A flat, partially knit knit doll made with red and white yarn

Inclusivity in Creative Opportunities
Regrettably, not every child has the opportunity to learn yarn crafts for reasons that include:

  • Socioeconomic factors
  • Lack of access to materials
  • Lack of qualified teachers
  • Limited exposure to creative activities in schools
  • Persistence of gender stereotypes, i.e. the belief that yarn crafts are “women’s work,” whereas boys and girls alike can benefit from the skills and creativity that yarn crafts cultivate

Communities, schools, organizations, and yarn companies must work together to ensure that yarn crafts and other creative activities are available to all children, regardless of their backgrounds. This could involve providing free or low-cost materials, offering workshops in schools or community centres, or even integrating these crafts into the standard curriculum as is done at Waldorf schools, Montessori schools, and those few schools that prioritize handwork.
A brown and pink knit piece of fabric with a glass sitting on it
We must not forget the home front as well. In the past, grandparents were fantastic at instilling the love of working yarn in their grandkids. So, on the home front, children can be taught to make things out of yarn.

In conclusion, children are the most creative humans and are always looking out for methods and materials to showcase their creative potentials. Best to give them a rich selection of materials like various colours and weights, types and ply. By making yarn crafts accessible to all, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to develop these valuable skills and experiences.

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Member Spotlight: Mary Pat McDonald

For the 2024/2025 Season, we’ll be interviewing some of our members so that you can get to know some of your fellow members. To kick things off, we’ve asked Mary Pat McDonald, one of our greeters for hybrid meetings to answer some questions for us. Read on to get to know Mary Pat better!

TKG: What do you say to people who think knitting is just for “old ladies?”
MPM: Ha! No one ever says that to me, likely because I am (ahem…) an OL. What they say is, “Oh, I always wanted to knit, but could just never get it.” The response is usually about regret. (Their subconscious knows it’s too bad.)

TKG: Are you a project or a process knitter?
MPM: I’m absolutely a process knitter. I want those needles in my hands and that yarn gliding through my fingers. Much of what I choose to make is so off-the-wall, it won’t get a lot of wear – items that are asymmetric, weird colours, totally impractical but somehow alluring. I could certainly use a plain grey cardigan, but I’ll probably never make one! So the outcome inspires me to start, but it’s the doing that counts.

TKG: How many of your friends knit?
MPM: I love to hang out with fellow yarn-obsessives so I’m lucky to have many knitting friends. (Many, many!) In Toronto, I’m part of three small knit-focused groups, as well as the TKG. In Newfoundland, where we spend the summer, I’m in another three circles. (Aside: Never imagine you can visit Newfoundland for just a week. It shackles you to its rocky beauty.)

TKG: What do you find to be the most challenging or tedious aspect of knitting?
MPM: Finishing brings out my procrastinator, because I don’t enjoy ends and because there’s the suspense of whether I’ll love the final version. Knitting is gambling – hard gambling if you’re a project knitter, less so for me since the process was soothing and, if it’s a disaster, there’s more yarn in my stash.

TKG: Where do you go for reference material?
MPM: Where we all go these days – online. But I still consult some well-used cast-on and cast-off collections and stitch dictionaries, and scraps of paper with hints from classes. What I never look at again are notes from the many classes I’ve taken! And yet, I persist in producing copious notes for the classes I teach – is that wishful thinking (people never want to forget these gems of wisdom)?

TKG: Have you ever gone to a knitting retreat or taken a knitting tour?
MPM: My first knitting retreat, in 1993, was a week in PEI with Shirl the Purl and about a dozen instructors – it was exhausting and marvellous. It’s been non-stop since then. The giddy euphoria we all experienced was overwhelming – no one could sleep contemplating 1000 ways to cast on. A few years later in Halifax, again with Shirl, I met Lucy Neatby as a fellow student, and later couldn’t sleep because I found out I could secure steeks with a crochet hook instead of machine stitching. I tend to go overboard with emotion over matters that others would merely nod at.

Knitting weekends and retreats are like a glimpse of heaven to me – such focused energy and generous sharing. We pretty much all love one another at those events.

TKG: Do you knit with acrylic?
MPM: I’ve come to prioritize the sensation of the fibre on my hands – ‘yarn caress’ after decades of sometimes experiencing ‘yarn bite’. Life is short so now I don’t use anything that doesn’t feel sensuous, meaning acrylic is out for me. For babies I look for cotton, or especially a blend of wool and cotton.

TKG: Did knitting come naturally to you?
MPM: I inherited the knitting gene from my mother’s family, but it took a while in the early years to eliminate unintended yarnovers. My mom and aunt taught me mainly the basics (English style), even though they themselves could turn out fancy suit jackets with lapels and peplums. It was joining a guild in 1993 (after the PEI knitting week) that truly accelerated my learning curve. There is nothing like a guild, big or small, for passing on knitting skills -– knitters are generous with their knowledge.

TKG: Have you ever injured yourself knitting?
MPM: Oh yes – right now I’m purling Portuguese style because of tendonitis caused by using short metal needles, ropey silk yarn and a mostly-rib pattern: there was no give in the needles or yarn, not enough support along my thumb, and too much switching from knit to purl. Of course, this is hindsight, and I’m grateful I know another technique so I don’t have to stop!

A less likely injury occurred to my friend, Jean, when we visited another knitting buddy at her farm. We were working away, Jean on her ubiquitous socks on double-points, when our friend’s husband came in from the barn shouting, “Northern Lights!” We dropped everything to run out and look. Coming back in, Jean was limping. She had a needle lodged in her heel!
(It came out easily with no lasting effect.)

TKG: Do you accept the proposition that knitting is about “mindfulness?”
MPM: I find knitting meditative mostly. It soothes my impatience in a waiting room, maintains my sanity in long meetings, and comforts me at a sick bedside. A bit of interesting pattern makes a big difference so straight garter or stocking stitch can be sleep-inducing!

TKG: Tell us how you go about establishing gauge?
MPM: Swatches are an exercise in clairvoyance – they show you the future (of your project). After some spectacularly botched sweaters, I finally embraced swatching. Now I enjoy it – it’s like a first date at a coffee shop; checking out the yarn, needles and stitch pattern but without any commitment.

TKG: Do you follow patterns?
MPM: There are so many ingenious patterns, I’m happy to follow them – but, of course, I make lots of changes. And I’ll make up a pattern for simple items like shrugs and shoulderettes (my absolute favourite garments).

TKG: Do you think that knitting should be a mandatory subject in grade school?
MPM: Creative Skills should be on the curriculum: fibre arts, painting, pottery, woodworking, … We all need a creative outlet, making something satisfying out of raw materials. An artist friend told me that a little bit of her soul is in every piece she paints, even when it’s sold.

TKG: What question didn’t I ask that I should have asked?
MPM: Would you say ‘you knit’, or are you a Knitter?
I’ve arrived at being a Knitter. Knitting defines much of my life; I think about it, use it as solace, I’m never bored, and there’s constant creative potential in my wool room.
(I’m so glad it’s knitting and not chocolate.)