Member Spotlight: Jill Hoffman

This month’s member spotlight features Jill Hoffman, a new member of the TKG. Read on to get to know her better.

How long have you been a member of the Toronto Knitters Guild? What prompted you to join? What is it that the Guild satisfies for you?

I joined in September 2025. I recently relocated to Toronto, and was introduced to a member, via a friend, who recommended joining. I joined to make new friends and get a sense of community. The Guild is doing both of those.

Tell us about when and how you came to be a knitter.  Do you have ancestors or relatives who introduced you to knitting?

I’ve always been crafty, with cross-stitch being my first craft around age 12, and then needlepoint and latch hook. I recall trying knitting as a teenager, doing a big garter stitch scarf in pink and grey. However, I really took it up when I was pregnant with my first son over 20 years ago. My sister-in-law is a big crafter and she taught me to knit and crochet. My first projects were toys, as I was living in the tropics, and had no need for knit clothing.
I took up sewing during COVID

Do you feel you have an aptitude for knitting? If so, what skills/abilities come naturally to you—mathematical computation, spatial abilities, hand-eye coordination, ambidexterity…? Is there anything you struggle with? If so, how do you deal with that challenge?

I  guess my special aptitude is to be able to sit and do the same thing over and over again and not be bored. I now can’t sit and watch TV without doing a craft.

Do you knit English or Continental or some other way?

I can do both. I’ll use the English style when casting on (I usually use the Cable Knit cast on), but then Continental for actual knitting.

Do you accept the proposition that knitting is about “mindfulness”?

I’m not sure – I’m always multitasking when knitting, watching TV, riding in the car, talking with people. So I rarely focus solely on the knitting, unless I’m having an issue with the knitting. However, I do know I go a bit squirrelly if I go too long without doing any crafting.

Tell us how you go about establishing gauge when you knit? Or is gauge something you even care about?

I do gauge for when knitting clothing only. I don’t bother for toys or blankets. I usually get gauge if knitting the same yarn and needle size, but it’s always good to check. I will also wash and block the gauge square.

Which weights and fibres do you most like to knit with? What kinds of things do you knit, i.e. hats, scarves, garments, toys…?

When the kids were younger, I did a lot of toys. My signature baby gift is a knit baby ball with a bell inside, I’ve probably made close to 50 of those over the years. My eldest son received the first one, and started crawling chasing it. As I did mostly toys, my stash is a lot of acrylic.

I recently knit with boucle, and did not like knitting it at all, but I do have to say, it looks pretty good done. I am going to attempt mohair next

What knitted item are you most proud of? What did you learn while working on it?

I don’t really have a knitting item I’m most proud of (I do for cross-stitch and sewing). I do have some knit favourites, including some of the toys made. As those were the early days of knitting, I learned a lot, such as increases, decreases and intarsia.

What is your day job? How, if all, does knitting fit with that?

I’m an actuary and an auditor. Both require a level of attention to detail and to be able to sit and do tasks, that some would consider boring. However, there can be a similar thrill to getting a spreadsheet fixed and working as you get when you figure out what is happening in a pattern.

Have you ever injured yourself knitting?

No. Sewing and cross-stitch – yes. The needles are much pointier there!

Do you consider yourself to be a process knitter or a product knitter?

Both I would say. I’m able to make gifts and give them away, so that isn’t as “product” focused. However, I do love wearing the stuff that I make and take a lot of pride in it.

Do you have a favourite stitch pattern? If so, what do you like about it?

INo. However, I do like the effects that you get when you slip a stitch. I’ve done a few blanket patterns with that as the motif, and I like the look of that.