Yun-Suk Kang wearing her favourite hat
This month’s member spotlight features Yun-Suk Kang, a long-standing 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’ve been a member of the TKG for over 15 years. I participated in TTC Knitalongs and wanted to continue to spend time with other knitters. I met Kim and Holly at my first TTC Knitalong and decided to join the TKG with them.
The Guild has helped me develop my knitting skills through skill exchange meetings, lessons at Knitter’s Frolic and through help from my knitting friends. I have been inspired by seeing what other knitters have created or designed.
Beyond knitting itself, I value the friendships that I’ve developed with members of the Guild.
Tell us about when and how you came to be a knitter. Do you have ancestors or relatives who introduced you to knitting?
My mother was a talented knitter, crocheter and embroiderer. She used to make sweaters, mittens and hats for me and my sisters.
I learned to knit while attending university. Knitting was something I did during lectures to prevent me from fidgeting.
Do you accept the proposition that knitting is about “mindfulness”?
There are times when I am engrossed in a project that I feel like I am in a Zen state. I enjoy the feel of the yarn, the rhythm of the needles as each stitch is formed, and the look and feel of the fabric that is produced.
Knitting also helps me tolerate long waits at airports, travelling, etc.
What is the biggest improvement you have seen in your knitting over the last 5 years? How did that improvement come about?
I used to find mistakes in my knitting and carry on thinking that I would try to live with the mistake. I’d ultimately frog the whole project after it was off the needles and start again. I’ve learned to fix the mistake and/or redo the project sooner. I’ve started to accept that since I enjoy knitting, reknitting is just spending more time doing a hobby that I enjoy.
Tell us how you go about establishing gauge when you knit? Or is gauge something you even care about?
I knit swatches, wash and dry them to ensure that I like the knitted fabric and that I am getting gauge.
In addition to gauge swatches, I measure during the project by trying the garment on when possible (i.e. partially knit hats, top-down sweaters, mittens, socks). I’ll adjust where needed.
When I first started knitting, I limited my projects to shawls and scarves so that the gauge would not be crucial to the outcome of the project and because I didn’t want to make a swatch. But when I started knitting sweaters, getting the right gauge became essential.
Which weights and fibres do you most like to knit with? What kinds of things do you knit, i.e. hats, scarves, garments, toys…?
I knit with various weights of yarn. I enjoy working with natural fibres, mostly wool, cashmere, alpaca, mohair, silk or a combination. I like making hats, scarves, sweaters, socks because I like to wear the resulting garments.
I’ve collected some special yarn over the years that I saved for when my knitting abilities improved and would be worthy of the yarn. Since my stash has grown into a SABLE (stash acquisition beyond life expectancy), I’ve decided that there is no time like the present to work with the special yarn collection. I’m currently knitting a pure cashmere Musselburgh hat. I’m enjoying working with cashmere and this project is great for social knitting.
What knitted item are you most proud of? What did you learn while working on it?
I knit a hat years ago that I use almost daily during the winter. I’ve learned that sometimes a simple knit hat is all you need to keep you warm and comfortable.
My favourite hat
Do you have a favourite stitch pattern? If so, what do you like about it?
I like the long-tail tubular cast on for 1×1 rib. I use this cast on for sweaters, hats, mittens and particularly for top-down socks. I love how elastic the resulting ribbing is, making it easy to get socks on and off. This cast on method elevates my finished pieces.
