Member Biography: Maryam T. Brotine

When did you first start knitting/why?

I began knitting during the summer of 2000. I had just graduated college and was serving as an AmeriCorps volunteer in the Mojave Desert. Despite the 140-degree heat, the desolation of the desert led me to seek out a new way to combat boredom – knitting! I purchased a kit entitled "I Taught Myself How to Knit" and did just that!

Who taught you to knit?

See above.

Do you knit English/American style, German/Continental style, backwards? Left-handed? Eastern cross method? Peruvian-style? please describe.

I am left-handed and knit English style, as that was the only way illustrated in "I Taught Myself How to Knit."

Do you have a knitting philosophy, and what is it. What helped you form your philosophy?

Knitting is therapy. It helps me relax when I'm stressed, feel productive and avoid unnecessary snacking while sitting on the couch, and is completely opposite to my other hobby – triathlons.

Have you ever taught someone to knit?

Yes! I have taught two friends to knit, and they're hooked now too!

What is your very favorite knitting book and why?

"Stitch'n'Bitch" is my favorite knitting book because it is wry and has some great devices for remembering tricks of the trade.

Do you knit for a living/have your own business? Tell us about it.

[Knitting is] just a hobby…but I'd love to get locked in a knitting shop for a night!

What projects are you working on now?

A sweater for my husband, a shawl for my mother-in-law, and a cardigan for a newborn.

What is your very favorite yarn?

Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted! So yummy and luxurious yet machine washable! The only pain in the butt is deciding upon which color!

What is the best thing you ever knit?

Sheldon the Turtle.

What is the worst thing you ever knit?

My first scarf – made with a hideous, neon rainbow variegated yarn.

Why do you like to knit?

It's fun! And it's so neat to see the fruits of your labor come to life.

When do you knit?

Evenings and weekends, sometimes on the train.

What is your favorite part of the knitting process?

Seeing a new technique in a pattern, being apprehensive yet forging ahead, and – voila – conquering that new technique!

How long have you been knitting?

Nine years.

What do you like about our guild?

Yarn discounts.

Do you engage in other Fiber Arts?

No thank you.

 

Page updated: 03/03/2009