For our first Member Spotlight of the 2025-2026 Guild Year, we’d like to introduce you to Mamie Armaly, a longstanding TKG member so that you can get to know her better.
How long have you been a member of the Toronto Knitters Guild? What is it that the Guild satisfies for you?
I have been a member since 2017. Being a member of the Guild lets me be part of a knitting community, and gives me social connection, learning and inspiration.
Tell us about when and how you came to be a knitter. Do you have ancestors or relatives who introduced you to knitting?
When I was 8 or 9 years old, my maternal grandma taught me long tail cast on, and knit and purl stitches using long 2 mm dpns she brought with her from Hong Kong. I knitted mostly swatches for a couple of years, and knitting was squeaky and difficult.
I did not enjoy knitting until I met my mother-in-law in my early 20s. she was an avid knitter and an inspiration to knitting my first sweater.
Do you feel you have an aptitude for knitting?
Knitting didn’t come naturally for me. I had trouble understanding patterns.
“Back in the day”, the staff at the Yarn Mill (no longer around) where I bought yarn by the weight, were helpful and I enrolled in a ten-week knitting class. I’m a hands-on visual learner. My mother-in-law and I lived in different cities so getting together to knit and learn was not an option. Telephone calls then were very expensive. Much learning came from constantly knitting and frogging.
Today, with the availability of the internet, YouTube, and knitting communities, challenges are dealt with easily.
Do you knit English or Continental or some other way?
English
Do you accept the proposition that knitting is about “mindfulness”?
Yes, and making something with my hands.
Paying attention to my knitting, the hand movement, the stitches, the feel of the yarn, sound of the needles, being in the moment – helps with focus, learning and brings about relaxation and enjoyment. The result of a finished object brings me great satisfaction.
What is the biggest improvement you have seen in your knitting over the last 5 years? How did that improvement come about?
I have gained confidence in tackling new techniques and patterns, and started knitting socks and sweaters.
These improvements were possible through the availability of knitting classes offered on-line and in person, and from inspiration from fellow knitters. I was also inspired by attending knitting retreats and festivals.
Tell us how you go about establishing gauge when you knit? Or is gauge something you even care about?
I knit a gauge swatch for most projects even when I don’t want to. I aim to have my finished objects wearable.
Often, I have to knit several swatches using different sizes of needles. I generally have to go down a needle size. For socks, 2 mm needles and fingering yarn turn out a pair of well-fitting socks.
Which weights and fibres do you most like to knit with? What kinds of things do you knit?
Fingering weight and all natural fibres are my favourite to knit with. I mostly knit sweaters, socks, neckwear and hats.
What knitted item are you most proud of? What did you learn while working on it?
The Winter Beach Cardi by Andrew Mowry. I learned to knit an all cable / texture cardigan, and perseverance.
What is your day job? How, if all, does knitting fit with that?
I’m retired! I have more time to knit but find that I still have to carve out time to sit and knit given daily living activities and other pursuits.
Have you ever injured yourself knitting?
I had repetitive strain injury in my shoulder that prevented me from knitting for years and I just stopped knitting until about 10 years ago.
Do you consider yourself to be a process knitter or a product knitter?
Both! I enjoy the process of casting on a project, making it and knitting to have a finishing project.
Do you have a favourite stitch pattern? If so, what do you like about it?
No favourite, although stocking stitch is the most frequently used. I do enjoy learning new stitch patterns.
