I feel that using these beautifully-crafted and designed needles has upped my knitting game to new levels. The speed and clarity of my stitches has benefitted by the crystal-clear points and the smoothness of the needle and cable construction. I love both the circular needles and the double-points but today I am focusing on the double-pointed needles. As I say in the video I've provided, I use my Signature Double-Pointed needles for all sorts of projects (hats, sleeves, mittens, socks), but as a knit toy designer I most often use them to make toys. Most of the time for my toy patterns the knitter needs to cast-on a small number of stitches onto double-pointed needles to begin working in the round. When I am teaching toy-knitting workshops I have noticed that the cast-on and the first few rounds of working in the round can be challenging for some knitters. Of course, as with everything, practice over time always makes things easier but using these lightweight and smooth Signature needles also helps the process. I have made a short video showing how I cast-on 9 stitches onto 3 Signature double-pointed needles to begin working in the round. I am showing you how I cast-on and set up a small number of stitches for working in the round on dpns. For more technique-based instructional videos please check out my YouTube Channel at SusanBAnderson: Here is the video. Enjoy! 

If you are interested in toy-knitting, please check out my newest toy book, Topsy-Turvy Inside-Out Knit Toys. It is chock-full of fun and whimsical reversible toys that you will love knitting on Signature dpns! You can always preview the patterns on Ravelry for all of my books. Here are the links to my other books and my knitting blog (where I use Signature double-points and circular needles a lot!): Topsy-Turvy Inside-Out Knit Toys  Itty-Bitty Hats Itty-Bitty Nursery  Itty-Bitty Toys Spud & Chloe at the Farm   Susan B. Anderson (blog) Happy Knitting and thanks for having me! Best, Susan

Although double-pointed needles were the traditional solution for knitting in the round, circular knitting needles, invented in the late 19th/early 20th century, provided an excellent and convenient way to work larger pieces in the round. Before their invention, knitters would have used longer DPNs: it wasn’t uncommon to see 14 inch DPNs, and a knitter working a garment in the round might have the stitches distributed across multiple sets of DPNs.

UK Knitting needle manufacturer Aero coined the name “Twin-Pin” to describe these circular needles, and they were adopted with enthusiasm by knitters on both sides of the Atlantic.

Although originally design for working in the round, circular needles can also be used for working back and forth in rows – essentially becoming a pair of straight needles joined by a piece of string. This is particularly useful if you’re working on a larger piece, as the weight is better distributed, and you don’t have to jam together many stitches on a straight needle. Many knitters – myself included – use circular needles almost exclusively for knitting, whether flat or in the round.

There is, however, a limit on the use of circular needles – you can fit a larger round on a circular needle, but not a smaller round. And the smallest common length of circular needle is 16 inches. (There are smaller circulars – 12, 9 and even 8 inches – but the small circumference demands shorter needle tips, and some knitters find them hard to hold and work with. In addition, the tightness of the angle can make it challenging to work anything other than plain fabrics: it can be difficult to tilt the needle tip to work decreases or increases.)

So for a long time knitters continued to use the traditional double-pointed needles for smaller circumference items like the tops of hats, socks, mittens and sleeve cuffs.

But DPNs have drawbacks. They’re not necessarily great for portable knitting, as it’s too easy to lose a needle. And some knitters find the “porcupine wrestling” aspect daunting. Four DPNs means 8 points; five DPNs means 10 points! Stitches can fall off the ends of the needles, and laddering – loose stitches at the breaks between the needles – is an issue for some knitters.

Almost exactly 100 years after the invention of circular needles, some clever knitters landed on ways to use them to totally eliminate the need for any other kind of needles – notably, DPNs.

The Magic Loop method – invented by Sarah Hauschka and popularized by Bev Galeskas in 2002 – uses a long circular needle (usually 32-40 inches) to work a smaller round. The round of stitches is divided in half, and loops of cord pulled out at the breaks between the halves. The half of the round actively being worked sits on the actual needles; the other half of the round rests on the cord.

The Two Circulars method – invented by Joyce Williams and first described in print in the Summer 2000 issue of Knitter’s Magazine – uses two shorter circular needles (usually 16-24 inches) in a manner similar to Magic Loop.  Each half of the round lives on its own needle, and those stitches are worked only with the needle they live on.  

If you’re not a fan of DPNs, these two methods provide excellent alternatives. There are pros and cons to all three methods; which you prefer is usually a matter of how you hold your needles, and how you like to work. Don’t let anyone tell you that what you’re doing is wrong! I still work my socks and mittens most often on DPNs, but I will change off to Magic Loop if I’m travelling – losing a needle mid-vacation would be a total disaster! I also like using Magic Loop if I’m working a sock with cables that twist all the way round, as it reduces the number of times I have to rearrange my stitches. I also use Magic Loop if I’m working a patterned sock with a large pattern repeat that’s worked twice around; I can organize the stitches so that there’s one repeat per needle.

For these two methods, you should choose your circular needles carefully: you need cords that are flexible enough to bend, but not so flexible that they kink. Older circular needles had much stiffer cords that would not bend sufficiently. When the Signature product development team was working on their circular needles, the cords were an area of great focus – making sure that they were just right for all uses of circular needles.

For more info, see the below

 Knitting Socks with eliZZZa #02 * How to knit socks with 2 circular needles

 Cat Bordhi - Part 1: Knitting on 2 circular needles

 VeryPink Knits - Knitting 2 Socks at-a-Time, Magic Loop, Parts 1-5

We are near Lake Michigan so I drove down to see what the lake did to temperatures

The heat is nice but it will condense a wonderful sign of spring at one of our town’s community centers which was an old Anglican Girl’s School—a sea of beautiful blue Scylla  I hoped to be able to see it for as many days as possible before we leave for the ever amazing Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.  

Preparation has been going on for weeks and today is the day for packing

You may notice a new face. We are so happy to have Donna here doing all the project management as well as the zillions of things that need to get done besides the manufacturing of the needles. She has jumped in with a wonderful enthusiasm. She also helps with Customer Service calls afternoons so some of you may have already “met” her on the phone.

We will be in the Main Building Booth C5 . This year you will see Laura and me as well as Vicki who is our financial manager. This is her first show and we have been trying to explain the fantastic MSW but I am quite sure that we have not really conveyed the size, the yarn, the sheep and the wonderful people. Please come by if you can.

I am just finishing a few baby sweaters and once the buttons are on will share. Right now I have 2 wonderful wedding projects waiting as our son Paul will be bringing the wonderful Marian into the family later this summer. As it will be an outdoor wedding she asked for a shrug to wear over her wedding dress for the evening festivities.

She and her mom Nancy and I had a wonderful morning going over many, many patterns and found one she liked. A special treat was getting to see “the dress” once more in person. Right now I have enough different yarn to make 3 of the pattern for her to review. What will happen to the other shrugs is yet to be decided. Maybe a Shrugathon give away?

Early summer will mean a bridal shower and who doesn’t like those?? I am stealing an idea from a shower I went to recently which will require knit hot pads (32 of them). I have never really done any of these and am looking for any direction as to a good yarn. I think cotton but would a blend work? If you can give any help or direction it would be most appreciated.

This project is especially meaningful to Marian and me since she knit me a pot holder for a gift. If it had been me in her shoes I would have had a lot of anxiety in giving such a gift: new mother-in-law to be, who is a long time experienced knitter, and head of a knitting needle company. Turns out I had never made anything like this for myself or anyone else and its unique shape helps me every single morning when I have my one cup of coffee. I can’t think of any gift that I use so often and every single time I use it I mentally thank her and am glad she is coming into the family. Just in: weather in 70’s today but by tomorrow and Friday back down to the 50’s—maybe Maryland will have a real Spring to show off.

When Signature was quite new we had a customer who took the chance and returned for more and more needles. She is from a part of Michigan that was going through some hard times and we became acquainted by email over the years.  Last year when we auctioned off the beautiful sample of the cashmere Shirley Paden design she won and I couldn’t have been happier. 

We wanted to feature her in the Signature Circle series and so began to find out a few more things about Jean.  We gave a little preview of Jean in an earlier blog post about the donation of the proceeds from the sale of the sample garment to Hurricane Sandy relief.   Wow, what a story—a family business in breeding crickets. Who would have ever thought of that as a thriving business? She shares her time in a yarn shop, driving a fork truck, and knitting. If only crickets had tiny little fleeces….

Talk about an interesting life! We hope you will think so too.  By the way the Shirley Paden kit and pattern are available on the site if you want to take a stab at making your own Lacey Arches Cardigan. 

1. Tell us about yourself:

My name is Jean Eldred, I am 57 years young. My husband and I have three grown sons. A couple of unique things about me: I have seven siblings, including a set of triplets. They are my younger sisters and they are turning 50 this year! After I graduated from college in 1977, I pursued a career in wastewater treatment at that time I was the first woman to work in my community as a wastewater treatment operator. I left that career to become a business owner.

2. When did you start knitting, who taught you?

I love this question! It brings back some good memories. I don't remember whose idea it was, but my Mom and I took knitting lessons together at a yarn shop, I think it was called Monroe Woolen Mills? I was probably ten years old. I can remember knitting some swatches in different stitches. Also, I think I made some mittens as one of my first projects. I have been knitting on and off since then.

3. What are your favorite things to knit?

I like it all! I have several projects going at once (and a few in time out!!) Right now I am working on a beautiful Chicknits cardigan, Elisbeth using some yarn from the Plucky Knitter. I recently finished Christmas stockings for my family. My oldest son just recently got engaged to a wonderful young woman so that was my inspiration to update the family stockings. I used the Churchmouse Family Christmas Stocking pattern for all of the stockings. I made everyone's stocking different. It was great fun designing the stockings for each person. I used Shepherd's wool from Stonehedge for this project; also, I used 40" Signature needles so I could knit the magic loop method. Also, I just made a hat for one of my doctors. I have been suffering from vertigo. He diagnosed my problem as BPPV and performed a simple procedure (called the Epley Maneuver) and I was cured! It was just amazing. So, I decided to knit him a hat. I gave it to him at my follow-up appointment. He was really touched, he told me that his wife is learning to knit and is making a washcloth! Of course, I used that opportunity to tell him that I work part time at Stitching Memories, my local yarn shop. He says she will be coming in to visit us.

4.Can you tell us a little about your unique company?

I work at my family's business, Top Hat Cricket Farm. We raise and sell crickets all over the U.S. Crickets are sold to zoos, pet stores, bait shops and to individuals who require large quantities of crickets. We have a website, www.tophatcrickets.com. There is a lot of information on our company's history on our site. In a nutshell, the cricket farm was started by my father-in-law, Grant Eldred, in the 1960's. Back then it was a summer only business dedicated to growing crickets for sale as fish bait. Over the years, people have started feeding crickets to their pet lizards, frogs, turtles and even birds. As the number of people keeping those types of pets has grown, so has the cricket industry. We sell crickets in quantities from one thousand up to one hundred thousand. They are shipped in packages designed to keep them from getting too cold in the winter or too hot in the summer. Our sons have all worked at the business; making them third generation cricket farmers.

Cricket Shelves	Smaller crickets we raise	Larger crickets we raise

5. Do you have a favorite local yarn shop?

I am lucky enough to work part time at Stitching Memories, which is located in Portage, MI I have worked there for several years. It is a great way to keep my yarn stash fed! I enjoy seeing customers bring in their finished projects, either from classes they have taken with us or with yarn they have purchased from us. That feeling of satisfaction from a finished object just has to be shared! Working at the yarn shop, I get to see the appeal that knitting holds for people of all ages. We also carry crochet tools and patterns and hold classes in crochet. I think the granny square is making a comeback.

6. How did you become a part of the Signture family?

I have been a huge fan of Signature needles for a long time, even before you sold circs.  I think the first time Cathy emailed me was when I ordered a kit which included Lorna's laces yarn, DPNs and a pattern.  I can't remember all the details, but I had ordered the kit to take along with me on a family vacation to Mackinac Island. 

Even though we have a huge number of customers I really do “know” some of them. One of the things I do is to email customers from time to time and Jean and I have been in touch for several years so having her get the sweater was wonderful. I wanted to find out a bit more about her—things I had not thought to ask and here is what she replied: I live in Kalamazoo, Michigan. My three sons are grown but still live in the area. I work at my family's business, Top Hat Cricket Farm, but I am also lucky enough to have time to work part time at Stitching Memories, my local yarn shop. I love my signature needles. Currently, I am knitting Christmas stockings for my family. Since it is only January, I will surely have time to finish them in time for next Christmas! The cord on the circular needles is perfect for the magic loop method. Of course the part about the Cricket Farm grabbed my attention—was it just a cute name or was it really Crickets. Turns out it is really crickets and that they sell in the US, Canada and even Europe to pet stores and zoos. You can go to www.tophatcrickets.com to learn more. And people don’t understand how very interesting knitters are! Here in Kenosha we have another winner. Laura absolutely shocked her father and me last October. I mean slack jawed, stunned, amazed when she announced that since Jan. of 2012 she had been in secret training so that she could run a ½ marathon at Disney World this January. In our family and at work we all love and respect Laura for her multitude of talents, her character, intelligence, and kindness but she has never, ever really done anything athletic. She is a fantastic parent, community member, citizen but has never been on a single team or had any sport as a hobby. So you can see why we were actually speechless when she told us the reason she and her husband and kids were going to Disney World. Also, those kids can try for jobs in the CIA—in all those months with all the Sunday dinners and vacations together and even a long car trip they never even hinted at what she was doing. She was training on a treadmill and running around our town and not a word. I know that Vicki in our office was a real inspiration—another mom who did the training and the two ½ marathons at Disney after not ever doing any running before. This is an excellent time of year to when we are making resolutions to consider that what we do (for good or ill) can turn into a resolution for others around us. Saturday Jan. 13 was the day at Disney World and we have another winner:

We are so proud of her and what she did so “out of the box” for her. Maybe that is the best prize—to be an example for others that you CAN do something you never did before and, of course, that you can keep a secret from your parents.

 I have to say I was happy to finally finish just a few days before his arrival. We are just coming out of the busy holiday season here. Actually just yesterday the winner of the $500 “win your wish list” sent her order so she will be having a great start to a new knitting year. The topper of the season (and there is always a clear winner) was the customer who called to tell us that her boyfriend had kindly and lovingly bought her 3 pairs of circs that were on her wish list. The arrived and somehow in his wrapping attempt he cut through all the cables. Not one, not two, but all 3! He knew how much she wanted them so he attempted a repair with black duct tape. We were all pretty sure that it was a mixed response—happy that he was trying to fix things and horrified at the destruction. I have a few more babies on the horizon and a stash that just won’t quit so I want to find a basic raglan sleeve baby sweater (cardigan) done in the round. If you know of a good one I would be happy if you would share it. One wonderful addition here at work is that we now have Peggy helping with Customer Support. She has a fascinating past life as a newspaper columnist and she is a knitter! We know that some of you may have been in contact with her and that she will do everything she can to help. One last thing for your consideration: We have a fabulous new kit and pattern from the famous designer Shirley Paden and we have the original sample. We wanted to try and help the victims of Super Storm Sandy in whatever way we can so we are auctioning off the sample which is stunning done in 100% Jade Sapphire cashmere.

 You can find all the information One day left to bid - Join your fellow knitters in bidding for a great cause! The Shirley Paden Lacy Arches Cardigan Sample Garment is up for auction. Made with 100% Cashmere from Jade Sapphire Auction: All proceeds will be donated to @RedCross Hurricane Sandy relief http://ow.ly/gDLPt

 But FINALLY, finally, finally we have the size 1circs done. You will notice one difference - they don't rotate, but you will get the fabulous points that you love on the straights and dpns and all the choices of stalk length. And, as a wonderful addition - you can get them in a 16" overall length. I did up a small hat for our rescue dog Cooperwho was pretty good about modeling.

]]> Tue, 11 Sep 2012 17:30:00 +0000 http://www.signatureneedlearts.com/blog/Summer/ Summer: Lovers and Haters I know that those of you are sad that the heat of summer is coming to the end. But for I say HOORAY! We have had the most horrible, hot, drought ridden summer that I can remember. One night we even put on Ice Road Truckers just to see some snow and ice. And for those of us that are crazy for knitting there must be something in our deep subconscious that enjoys it more when it not 98 and humid outside. We are back from Stitches Midwest and getting ready to go to Stitches East with, it seems, very little breathing time in between because so much effort has been put on some other initiatives here. 

 If you could all only know the day to day of starting a business you would share the memories we have of setting up the first site and shopping cart. Honestly, as a buyer online I never had any idea what had to happen behind the scenes of any site with a shopping cart. We have always struggled to have a site that looked like the exceptional products we are selling, while trying to get it organized to handle all the thousands of combinations we offer. For the past several months, after finding a firm that seemed to be a good fit in the design phase, the back end of getting all the elements to work is in place. Of course it never goes smoothly and I know that Daniella was emailing at 11:57 one night saying they were just going to stop until another day. We hope there won’t be even a single glitch once you see it. But if you do find something that doesn’t seem logical or work right please email us at info@signatureneedlearts.com so we can look into the issue.

The other big project around here is getting the size 1 circulars finally finished. A very good sign is that the cards on which they are packaged are here. Please watch your email for that great news. It should only be a matter of a very short time. While I didn’t have that much hands-on (but plenty of “advising”) on the site or the manufacture of the size 1s there is one issue that I have had to wrestle with. As you know we have a 100% commitment to having all our products made here in America and we have to live with what that commitment means. We have had increases in utility, health insurance, and transportation costs which had made us look at our pricing. This means that you will see a small price increase on the new site. No one hates doing this more than me.

The one fun thing that Kent and I did was to take our 2 grandchildren on a driving trip to Niagara Falls. If you don’t look at the touristy junk and just the magnificence of the natural wonder of the Falls you would agree with 12 year old Jack who hugged me and said, “Oh! This is so awesome!” We feel like the time when he and his sister would want to take a trip with us may be short as their own lives develop so we really treasure this opportunity. And the weather was only in the low 70’s. Now that is a summer I can live with! I have lots of projects planned for fall and winter knitting including some exclusive patterns we will be having. So think SNOW!

We are getting ready for our “home town” show: Stitches Midwest in Schaumberg (near Chicago) August 8 – 12, 2012. This show has a special place in our hearts because it was the first one attended. I couldn’t help but think of that first show when Signature was really in its infancy.

We had no idea what to expect. We were such novices that we skipped the Thursday “student preview” because we thought it was for Chicago school children! Of course we now know this is the special time for all the knitters who are taking the wonderful classes to get their time in the marketplace. We had no history of what to take and how much. Luckily we could call back home and tell them to quick make more of certain things and do a predawn trip down.

Recently a new bakery has opened in our town called Linnea’s Swedish Bakery.  It was started by a very enthusiastic young couple using their family recipes and we wish them all luck. When I went in it was a quiet moment and we talked a bit about starting a new business with all the pains and exhaustion in a new world where there are no guarantees any customers will show up.

I thought back to that first Stitches where my estimate was that we might sell 25-50 pairs of straights. Of course we had a wonderful response that far exceeded my pessimistic goals.

You all know we have come a long way through straight single points, double points and circs but you also know there has been a “hole” where the small circs should be. We have had more difficulties than even I (the most pessimistic one here) could have dreamed. Crazy things, unforeseen things, just horrible things but finally we are really, really close. So close that I would like to show you one of the projects I am working on: just a plain log cabin baby blanket, no pattern just using a bunch of stash baby yarn.

For those of you with CSI ability please note the needles in the yarn.  For all the thousands of people who have asked, “when will you have small circs?” an answer is closer than cool Fall temperatures.

I know many of you have enjoyed the “Signature Circle” where you can meet some of our special customers. We hope that this will help you and us open up to how wide the world of knitting really is.  In thinking about how far we have come we wanted to introduce you to a special knitter and designer who is from a special place, St. Petersburg Russia which is it turns out is a mere 4546 miles from the home of Signature. But as we have come to know Maria she seems like a friend from close by. 

Her life story and life in a fabulous city is one we will share with you with our best wishes on our 5th birthday:

1. When did you learn to knit? Did someone teach you or are you self-taught?

My mother taught me when I was 6. Sure, you cannot expect a 6 year old to produce tailored cardigans, but my education started there. My mother is a wonderful knitter herself, so along with her experience and advice, I had the advantage of wearing the hand-knitted garments from infancy. And I learned to appreciate it and the wonder of making things with one’s own hands.

2. How much time do you knit in a week?

One hard question  Sometimes I wish I had more knitting time, because I was too busy, and sometimes I wish I had less, because I was slack on my duties. In average, I knit every day for about an hour, except when I have no time for myself at all. It makes 7 hours a week – come to think of it, may be a little bit more.

3. Are you a stay at home person or do you have other work outside your home?

My speciality is software programming, and my work is in an office. I find it very productive, that my hobby and job differ so widely – it produces a nice drive when I turn from one to another. It’s like some part of my brain is at rest, while the other is powered on. The well-rested mind can come up with all sorts of new ideas and is most willing to bring them to life. The best kind of quiet relaxation is a book and knitting. Preferably with a cup of tea and a piece of chocolate. I cannot pretend to drink tea at the same time as I read and knit, but somehow the relaxation process envelops all of it in alternating bits. Most enjoyable! However, my interests on vacations are in exploring other places. I like to spend a week with my husband in a city or a country we haven’t been to before, going to all sorts of museums, walking the streets and trying to get a whiff of the place. It’s a nice change also to spend a fortnight in a seaside resort, using it as our headquarters and venturing out on short expeditions. It always feels awesome to return home, though. Wherever we trip, we like our home best.

4. Tell us a bit about your beautiful home city of St. Petersburg?

Well… when there is so much to say, it’s always hard to choose a small part and be brief. My city was a capital of Russian Empire for more than 200 years, and the capital was transferred to Moscow only after the Revolution in 1917. When so much of money, talent, craft, and driving urgency are in one place for such a long time, it cannot but produce a great heritage. The historic city center spreads wide, and it is prohibited to build modern buildings there, to preserve its original beauty and harmony. You can walk along the granite-clad waterfronts and look on panoramas of palaces and monuments, all united to create a perfectly balanced views, one after another, unexpected after every corner. Most of what you see is stone and water expanses, but here and there noble trees peek out from behind carved stone walls or wrought fences. And if you just step there – you will see an absolutely different picture, gardens and small laid groves of oaks, maples and chestnuts, marching along the grand stone views, but not so evident on first sight. I cannot say that nothing in the world will interest me after my city – quite the reverse, I love to travel and see new places, it’s always a source of wonder and excitement to me. But with years I understand that nowhere I could be quite as much at ease as under these frowning skies. Not only the views I love – but the great potential too. If I would wish to pursuit more thoroughly some art or science, I know I can find here all grades of education, and people distinguished in that art. As Saint-Petersburg always was a center attracting all sorts of artists, so it is now. I know there is a lot of people much more distinguished and subtle than myself – and it inspires me to aim higher.

5. Where do you get yarns?

Here we have lots of small yarn stores. May be several hundreds in the city, in all. But generally the yarn there is of poor to middling quality – mostly from Turkey, China or our homeland. I don’t use synthetics, so it cuts the choice for me by half. However, there is a number of stores of high grade yarn and supplies, which I used to frequent. Mostly I prefer Italian and German yarn – their quality/price rate is the best. Also I like to order yarns and notions by mail in Internet stores. There is a wide wealth of color and sensation, and I feel like a pioneer – an explorer to some unknown land. When you order something you have never seen before, there is always a chance you won’t like it. Or that you will like it above all the rest you ever seen. Who can say? It is a thrilling challenge for me. And of course, the choice of hand-dyed yarns on the Internet is a real treat, as they are rear in the local stores.

6. Are there locally made yarns?

Alas, Russian spun wool is not above average quality – you cannot achieve classy look for your knitted garment however hard you try. I’m sure there are plenty of sheep in Russia, some of them with fine fleeces, but I don’t know where the fleece goes. Probably to some mills in China and Turkey, and then back here as a yarn. There is some very good quality cotton produced here in St-Petersburg, on a factory not far from my work. It is one of the best choices of thin yarn for crochet. I remember having summer dresses in my childhood crocheted by my grandmother from this cotton, and even the white ones have seen a lot of wear without being the worse for it.

7. How is life different now from before the breakup of the old government?

Summing up, it is better now. But it all broke up back in 1985, when I was 7 – so mostly I remember just that there were hard times, especially after the breaking, up to ’95 at least. What was before the breaking? I’m pretty sure there were no Internet in every house, and you couldn’t find yarn ever so easy, no matter the quality. But I cannot say there was a shortage of candies, and I had my favorites. To be serious… I believe the life is much better now and more open. People have more job opportunities and more choice, and some can create the opportunities themselves – it’s great. It looks like the small business is still not at an advantage, despite all the effort of our government. But the people are willing to start on their own, so I believe something will be worked out in time.

8. Do many people knit? And what ages?

What I can say… people knit, sure. Some of the younger ones – not many. Some grandmothers, and mostly young mothers. Skill level seldom reaches high – you have to take pains, you know, to give your garment professional finish. And a lot of knitters prefer cheaper yarns, and acrylic before wool – that explains the choice in stores. So the public opinion about knitting is sometimes not very high – some people think about it as a matter of saving expenses, and look down their noses at it, saying “Ha! We have money enough to buy clothes, not knit them!”. Most people look at a knitter as at a strange beast with 5 legs, who eats iron screws and never sleeps. They are fascinated, but cannot comprehend why I would do it. And then there is a number of people who knit, who buy cute yarns from all around the world (thanks internet shops and international mail), who place their standards of perfection very high, and aim high – so that our produce are really great garments, without regard that we made them. There is not a lot of such knitters, but I suppose that is the case anywhere. Their age is from 20 to 50, as far as I can say.

9. How did you learn such perfect English?

Please let me say great “thank you” for such an appreciation! My English is mostly due to tons of reading – I dearly love science fiction, fantasy, adventure and so forth – and quite a lot of it is written in English, so I don’t bother with translations. Thus the vocabulary and the general literary style.

10. What do you like to knit most? What kind of yarn is your favorite?

It’s hard to single something out. I knit all kind of sweaters – cardigans, pullovers, tanks and so on. I love to make out accessories for my family and friends – hats, scarves, shawls. Sometimes I fall for the sock passion and knit some pairs before the obsession burn out. I suppose this all is what I like most  The same is true to my favorites. I adore all kinds of natural wool yarns, if they are super soft and well-made. And pretty, of course! High-grade merino, cashmeres, baby alpacas and their blends. Natural silk is also one of my favorites – whose not? Sometimes I like to work with some good cotton, mercerized one for crocheting and soft one for knitting. About the coloring and texture… all of it has its uses, every one is perfect for something. If the mail delivers me an order with a yarn whose beauty I cannot see right away, I usually let it rest for some time. And eventually I come up with an idea for it, to make it bloom and embellish the design. Classic solids, tweeds, hand-dyed yarns, some fluff or no fluff – my choice depends on a kind of project I plan at the moment.

11. How did you find Signature?

First I fell for an ad a couple of yours ago, but right then there were no circulars and no shipping to Russia available. And now it’s hard not to notice that most knitting teaching videos use the Signature needle – such an implicit advertising. No chance to forget about them!

12. Do you design too? How do you sell your designs? What made you start to design?

There was no start to my designing things. I did it as long as I knit, from my childhood – but the results were not always satisfactory, and neither they are now at times. Eventually I came to make out something I like, and not ashamed to share with other people. I must say that shaping the design in my head and then in a completed project is much easier than writing it down – it’s an absolutely different kind of work, hard, but wonderful. My designs are available on Ravelry here: (link: https://www.ravelry.com/account/login) Mostly they are free downloads, but for the ones I put a bulk of work into, I charge the usual design price.

13. How does the internet affect your knitting? Shopping, social network, etc.

I learned a lot after I first discovered knitting on the Internet. To it I own my acquaintance with such world leading knitting magazines and designers, and opened wells of information on techniques and style. Also the Internet and a digital camera is a wonderful means to communicate with knitters all around the world, and discuss details of our work. Sure, I order a lot of yarn from e-stores, too. That way I’m independent on what our local stores decide to be in popular demand and can make my own yarn collection.

14. Are there shops in your town or other places where knitters meet for social reasons or classes?

Some yarn shops are trying to introduce the tradition for several years, but it hasn’t spread very far. Though one thing speaks for them – the shops that do so are the ones with best yarns. Of course, there are always knitting classes for beginners – sometimes in yarn stores, but usually in places where all other hobby classes are being held.

15. What is the name and URL of your blog?

My blog http://linda-en-casa.blogspot.com/ (link), by name – roughly translated to English – “A chance to talk about knitting”. I write for my blog in Russian, as my audience is Russian-speaking.

16. Can people find you on Ravelry?

I’m registered as a designer on Rav. by my maiden name – Maria Petikhina (link: http://www.ravelry.com/designers/maria-petikhina):  My nick there is Morena Linda (link: https://www.ravelry.com/account/login), and that is how is file my projects.

Have any of you had the same sort of thing happen? So…on to round 3 with some wonderful Mission Falls cotton, a better pattern and finally:

One of the reasons I couldn’t get any version done as soon as I wanted was our trip to beautifulMaryland. Everything is so lush and green and blooming just as the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival is happening.  We had a terrific time seeing old and meeting new friends of Signature. We all wish we had more time to look around at the other vendors. Our booth was mobbed which is always a very humbling experience.

If you were there you probably met Laura and her husband Brian who drove the van out. Of course that meant kids Jack and Katie stayed home with Grandpa Kent who certainly deserves a gold star for managing the unbelievable schedules and their dog Mel.

Grandson Jack was so happy to bring his carefully organized pile of MAD magazines because he knewKentwould love them. The laughed and bonded over them. Even though sister Katie is the knitter Jack is very interested in Signature and so he did this drawing for me:

I especially loved the sweater that Alfred has knit—please note the 3 arms. If that baby sweater had had one more problem it probably would have been me knitting 3 arms for it.

Spring has come here too and I am starting my backyard planting. I read about a tool that I wish I had in all the years when I had huge vegetable and flower gardens. At one time I had over 3000 sq feet of vegetables with other beds for strawberries, grape vines, fruit trees and hundreds of feet of flower beds. For Christmas I got several things on my gardening list. The first is a Japanese Hori Hori garden knife. It is a tool that has just blown me away. It is fabulous for getting things from between cracks, cutting through clumps of perennials and even making holes for tucking some plant in. What a tool! The second thing in the picture is some Atlas Nitrile Gloves which actually don’t wear out but fit my small hand so there is no extra material at the fingers.

Apparently using great tools that actually fit makes a difference. I may have heard that somewhere else...

All of us here at Signature feel like we have been blessed with coming to know the gracious Mother Seraphima who is the head of the Holy Nativity Convent (link: http://holynativityconvent.com/) inBrooklineMA. She and the other sisters have become so close to all of us regardless of our own personal faith or even if we are not so religious. Having them in our corner is something that makes us all feel loved.

Time after time they have offered their prayers and their kindnesses never cease to astonish all the folks here. They have sent us items they sell and make which we all enjoy—especially knowing it is from them. We all know that they are always ready to offer support when we have sad times and joyful celebration when things go well.

She has a very different life than anyone I have ever known. As a life long Lutheran we don’t have nuns. Even my Catholic friends have not had much contact with women who choose the cloistered life.  Mother Seraphima  is always willing to answer questions about the life she and the others live.

It is amazing that she also is an unbelievable “executive” who has linked the Convent to the outside world in order for them to be self-supporting. The charitable knitting they do is always a great example for what we all might want to do to help others. 

I am not sure what I would have expected in the life of women who have made this sort of life long commitment to the religious life but now knowing Mother Seraphima and others, like the funny and clever Mother Pelagia, I know that you will enjoy taking a peak into their world.

1. Tell us about Holy Nativity Convent and how long you have lived there? 

I entered the convent in 1971 just a few months before I turned 21, as a new convert to the Greek Orthodox Church. The convent was in its first years of formation. We are now a small community of 18 sisters, and for the most part, our convent is self-supporting. We support ourselves with our handicrafts, which consist of: making 100% pure beeswax candles, sewing vestments for Orthodox churches, painting Byzantine icons and making icons, crosses, cards and quotation plaques on the laser-engraver machine. And of late, due to an extension we put on we’ve been able to re-establish our craft room on a permanent basis – this room is set up with our knitting needles (of course our favorites being our “Sigs”), yarn, several spinning wheels and looms and carders. And of late, Mother Macrina (one of our iconographers) has gotten very involved in making batts for spinning, and has established an Etsy shop (InglenookFibers) (link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/inglenookfibers) which has also been contributing to our support. Basically the knitting and woven things we make are given to charitable causes, or are gifts to friends and benefactors.

Caption: The Convent last winter

We have a small house-chapel where we gather together for our services several times a day, and a good part of our day and evening are devoted to these communal services. Plus, the sisters also say their private prayers in their rooms. We also gather together in our dining room for communal meals, at which time the lives of the Saints of the day are read, or homilies on a current feast. We also have some lovely flower gardens to provide flowers for our chapel, and a moderate sized vegetable garden … We also have 6 cats, who love to spend their time in the craft room – but are really well-behaved when it comes to not unwinding balls of yarn (smiley emoticon).

People often can’t imagine what we do with our time, and say “What do you DO all day long in the convent? Doesn’t it get boring?” – but truth be told, we are constantly busy and have very little free time or personal time. On a basic level, there is daily cooking and cleaning for 18 – 25 persons, a large house to care for, orders to be kept up with, and above all – our church services.

2. What is the proper method of dress for your order?

The proper dress for our order is a full length, long-sleeved black dress (in a style that’s been worn for hundreds of years), a leather belt, and a sleeveless vest worn over these… a triangle-shaped large scarf worn over our heads covering our hair (a “wimple”) and during church services we also wear an outer, over-robe and either a veil or a cowl on our heads (depending on if it’s a larger or smaller service). The sisters who have taken their final vows also wear an embroidered scapular-type garment with a large cross embroidered on it ( called a schema), and a sort-of macrame, woven yoke-type piece which has many crosses formed in it to signify the carrying of many crosses (called a polystavrion). Those who have taken their final vows also have a smaller or larger red cross embroidered on the forehead part of their veil or cowl.

3. How do people react to seeing you since there are not as many Sisters as there once were?

This is a question with an evolving answer. May I begin answering it with a backtrack? When I first came to the convent 40 years ago and we would be out on errands, people would frequently greet us and say “Good morning, Sister – could you say a prayer for me …” and often happening would be for someone to pull out a photo and say “Hello Sister, I have a sister who’s been a Sister of St. Francis for 50 years ….” or “I have two cousins who are teaching sisters of St Joseph in the schools in south Boston …” … as the 70′s progressed, people would often look at us, but not react with such warmth … and the children would often look at us and say “What are you guys, ninja’s? Or are you witches? What are you?”

Another time, a lady approached us in the grocery store and was laughing her head off – she said “My son said, look mama – there are emergency sisters over there! And she asked him why he thought we were emergency sisters, and he answered, ‘they’re wearing red crosses!’” (smiley emoticon) After 9-11, people really look at us with some concern and caution. When they realize we’re wearing crosses and we’re nuns, they relax … when we notice they seem nervous to see us, we try to smile and make a comment about the weather or something light to help diffuse their nervousness. We also, since 9-11, wear a large neck cross when we go out.

All in all, once people understand that we’re nuns, they’re kindly and from time to time people will also say that it’s so nice to see nuns in full habits again…

4. What does a Mother Superior do as her job description?

My duties as a Mother Superior consist in overseeing, in a general way, the workings of the convent – the finances, supplies, correspondance, tending to the various needs of the sisters, tending to the upkeep of the convent building and grounds… Each department of the convent has a direct overseer, and then I meet with them to see what supplies are needed, how things are going, etc. I help sisters on a more practicle and personal level as well.

5. How do you interact with the world outside the Convent?

We are semi-cloistered, but do go out for our shopping needs, to visit sick people in the hospitals, go to our local yarn store (smiley emoticon), pick up visitors from the airport… We have a good relationship with our neighbors and local businesses, who we try to support as we can. A local group of ladies that we met at our local yarn store started an organization called “Brookline Keeps Smiling”, which performs different charitable acts during the course of the year, and we annually contribute to their drive for knitted goods for the veterans at Christmas-time – and we join in various other activities that they do, plus our own church community activities.

6. When did you learn to knit and how often do you get to knit?

When I was 7 or 8 years old my beloved Grandmother taught me how to knit simple things – but my mother re-married and we moved away, and after a while, the knitting fell by the wayside. I get jealous when I hear stories of girls who were taught knitting and crochet from an early age and were able to carry it through under the tutorage of their mother or grandmother … I kept having the urge to take it up again, over the years, and about six years ago I got some needles and some yarn and just started to take up knitting again. My knitting time is kind-of sporadic – just depending how the days go … unexpected things are always happening here… So I try to be a good thief and steal time whenever I can. Sometimes when we’re having meetings about the work areas, or making the menu for the week I knit while I’m listening and giving my input. It’s been my great joy that other sisters have taken it up, and we are able to enjoy it collectively.

7. How much knitting goes on at the Convent? What do the sisters make?

The sisters love to do some knitting as time permits -sometimes in doctors’ offices, and as a “wind-down” before bed, and what’s so nice is that it’s so quiet and repetitive, we can say our prayers while knitting. The sisters make everything from scarves, mittens, hats, fingerless mitts, baby sweaters, triangle shawls, baby blankets, and small knitted animals (for Christmas stocking and Easter basket stuffers).

8. Tell us about the trip you lead every year.

We are co-workers with the local men’s monastery here, in leading an annual pilgrimage to the Holy Land every fall. This pilgrimage includes visits to: The Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and many churches and ancient monasteries in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Bethany, Nazareth, Lazarus’ Tomb, Galilee, Mt Tabor, Jacob’s Well – we are immersed in the Jordan River, and we also take a 2 day trip to the 6th century monastery of Saint Catherine in the South Sinai Penninsula of Egypt. We basically visit the major shrines in the Holy Land. The sisters chant the church hymns for saints or feasts at all the shrines.

9. What is something that most people would be surprised learning about life in your Convent?

I think the fact that we are so busy. People frequently ask us if we watch TV or read the newspapers … we don’t have a TV and we don’t have a subscription to the newspaper…. but we wouldn’t have time to watch the TV or read the newspapers anyway – we’re just simply too busy. Our time is taken up with our services and our work … and no, we don’t take vacations or get days off (smiley emoticon)! Even the annual pilgrimage to the Holy Land is tightly scheduled in order to see everything – and it’s not a leisurely tour …

10. How did you meet the Signature folks?

When I was in the orthopedic doctor’s office one day, I was looking at a magazine on arthritis, and there was an advertizement for Signature needles beeing good for people with arthritis, due to the sharp points … and I also like the fact that one could set up one’s own design of caps, style of point, etc. and so we put in an order… and of course we fell in love with these wonderful needles from the start – and then later we received such a nice, warm letter from you, Cathy … and it’s been such a nice bond ever since. 

Nominate a Signature knitter for the Signature Circle

If you are a Signature lover and have an amazing story of your own, we want to hear from you! Send us your story that proves there is no other Signature knitter like you. You can also nominate someone you know! Any entry that is featured will win a $50 Signature gift card. If you are nominated by someone and we feature you, you will both win $50 gift cards.

To enter, simply email sna@signatureneedlearts.com with your name, address, telephone number and email address along with the name, address, telephone number and email address of the person you are nominating for the Signature Circle. Then, describe in 100-200 words and/or pictures why you or the person you are nominating should be featured in the Signature Circle. If you area selected we will follow up with you via email for additional information.

I know that the baby who is getting this (the lovely Miss Tea) would not mind a bit if the lace had a bit of error in the pattern or if each stitch was not perfectly even. I know that her parents or grandparents wouldn’t mind a bit. I even know that the other folks at our office wouldn’t do anything but ooh and ahh when/if it ever gets done. And that when the sweet girl is wearing it no one who sees it will scream at her parents to get that shoddy thing into the garbage. I know all that but I am still knitting and ripping, knitting and ripping. This is just me and at my age I am well aware of my weird compulsions.

This failing is especially startling as I consider my FAVORITE knitted gift. Some of you might see it and have some critical comments. Of course I will have to kick you right in the shins. It is a special scarf made for me by my favorite granddaughter, Katie.

Not only did she work hard on it but she was careful to tell me she picked the color because it was NOT orange—a color both of us can’t stand. On the day after she gave it to me she finished a bible class at our church and I was proud to wear it.

How much more perfect could it be? I need to remind myself of this as I finish the sweater.

I didn’t bring the scarf with me as we are inFlorida. One of the highlights is a visit to one of our wonderful retailers, A Good Yarn in Sarasota. I was there Thursday

Since I am in Florida I was able to visit one of our premier retailers, A Good Yarn, in Sarasota. (link: http://www.agoodyarnsarasota.com/) Of course I was worried that no one would be there to meet me and learn more about the Signature story but I figured I could wander the shop for the 2 hours I was scheduled for. Being “Bothe early” I showed up at 2 for the 3pm appointment. When I came in I was amazed at the wonderful shop—large, beautiful and filled with fabulous yarns AND 2 areas for sitting both of which were filled with people.

I assumed they were there to knit but many of them were there to hear my story. Of course I learned a lot from them – such as that this store is true gathering place for knitters who live nearby or just winter here. There was the woman who was back for the first time from her appendix surgery (who was taken from the knitting table to the hospital), the sisters from Iowa, the handsome Bill and so many more. What they told me made it clear why the shop is so successful—Sue the owner and the wonderful staff help people with patterns or techniques even if the pattern/yarn was purchased somewhere else! This makes for such a welcoming place which Bill and I decided to describe as “Cheers without the beer”.

One of the shop folks came over and handed me the softest and prettiest washcloth and I was beyond touched when she said, “One of our customers made this for you but she wants to be anonymous.” I asked her if she would pass on a thank you note and she said yes. A short time later she came back and said the kind gift giver has decided to reveal herself and here she is: Kerri Williamson from Michigan and Bradenton. This kind gesture is something that made me think about how much an unexpected gift can have a huge impact so thank you Kerri!

I got to meet the charming Mr. Susan, Maury, who was also kind and gracious and their lovely daughter. But the real cherry on the cake was Susan’s mother who leaned over when I was telling some stories of what happens at Signature and said, “You sure are interesting.” What more can a visitor ask—an unexpected treasure to take home and a real taste of Southern hospitality.

You, too, will be astonished at the interesting stories that we will be
sharing from time to time. Our first Signature Circle member is a
person whose life has touched others in times of devastating grief but
who remains enthusiastic, kind and just plain wonderful.

We first met Lynne when we were part of a project to help her
daughter (an unbelievable person in her own right) get caps knit for
the whole ship she commands. Right, her daughter commands a whole
ship! I thought this was very impressive but when I found out more
about Lynne and the life she leads I was just blown away. I knew she
would be a great candidate for the Circle when at my first contact with
her she was away in Hawaii searching for ancient bones.

No one will ever forget where they were on Sept. 11. As parents of a
college student who lived in Manhattan it was horrific for us, and for all
of us once we realized how many people had died. Most of us followed
the aftermath in a general way but Lynne did far more.

I know you will enjoy hearing about one of our co-knitters:

Tell us a bit about your life.

I have lived a very blessed life. I was raised on a ranch in Oregon that I didn’t completely appreciate until much later in my life. My dad had three girls so we were his “boys”. I did everything on the ranch that a boy would have done, from milking cows, to driving a Caterpiller tractor, to hauling hay. You name it. I did it. However, I think I’ve been a city girl at heart all my life and moved to Los Angeles after graduating high school.

I have lived all over the country at some time in my life and it’s been great to learn about the different cultures we share in the U.S.

It’s not been a boring life and, while some times were a challenge, I believe that everything I’ve experienced has lead me to where I am right now.

Back in 1982 I moved to the Santa Clara Valley and while at a semiconductor company, I became involved in emergency response. From there, my daughter recruited me into Civil Air Patrol. When I went to work for NASA in 1986, it was as an electrical designer. Within a year I had joined the Disaster Assistance and Response Team (now the Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team) and become a Rescue Specialist, eventually rising to the position of Training Officer. Over the next few years I learned how to go into collapsed structures and rescue people who might be trapped after a disaster. I also became a member of California Task Force 3, one of California and FEMA’s urban search and rescue task forces. These are highly trained teams of people who are the elite of the search and rescue world. They respond to major disasters around the country.

Around 1992 I decided that I was getting too old to be dragging a 90 lb. jackhammer through a confined space, and using it at the other end. I watched a lady do a demonstration with her disaster search dog and I decided that is what I wanted to do. I got my first dog in September of that year. That lady was Shirley Hammond who has literally written the book on Training The Disaster Search Dog, (link: http://www.amazon.com/Training-Disaster-Search-Shirley-Hammond/dp/1929242190/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330982154&sr=8-1) and she is one of my best friends. I decided that I wanted to be just like her “when I grow up”. My first disaster response occurred before I had a certified dog so I went to the Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995 as a logistics specialist with CA-TF3. That response confirmed that this is exactly what I wanted to do. I was hooked.

Tell us about your work with the dogs? When did you get started and how? What sort of projects have you been involved in? Why do you think this is important?

Working a disaster search dog literally puts me on the front lines during a major disaster. Our dogs search to find the victims so the rescue specialists can begin the rescue process. I have certified two dogs, Lucy, a border collie, in 1996 and Sweep in 2006. Lucy and I worked the World Trade Center after 9-11, and the Shuttle Columbia Recovery Mission in 2003. Lucy was cross-trained to locate human remains and was responsible for bringing closure to the families of two murder victims and one drowning victim at home … in addition to locating the remains of some of the victims of 9-11. She helped put one bad guy away forever in CA. He was a two-time loser and that lady’s murder was his third strike.

Sweep and I deployed in response to Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2009. We travelled along the Gulf Coast of the U.S., ready to respond should either hurricane make landfall. Fortunately for thepeople in those states, Ike didn’t hit land until it reached Texas where seven other FEMA task forces were waiting to respond.

Training a search dog is an incredible challenge, to reach certification is very rewarding, but nothing can top helping others. I am a complete adrenaline junkie … I love it when I don’t know if the overriding emotion is fear or excitement. Working in a disaster environment feeds that addiction, but the best part is being able to help people when they need it most. The ultimate tragedy is to loose a loved one in some type of a disaster. To bring closure to a family is the most gratifying thing a human being can do.

What other sorts of projects besides work are you involved with?

I retired from emergency management a couple of years ago and have dedicated myself to training my own dogs, and to helping others train theirs. I travel all over the U.S. helping trouble shoot problems, advising regional task forces and bring other dogs into my home for intensive disaster training. I was recently asked to become an adviser to the newly formed Japan Search and Rescue Association. I will be traveling there to start their training of disaster search dogs. I’ve also travelled to Vietnam and worked with detection dogs there. I am currently on the Board of Directors of the Canine Specialized Search Team, (link: http://www.csst.org/) a resource of the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office.

I am currently training a Historical Human Remains Detection dog and hope to become certified within a couple of months. We will be working projects that involve ancient burials in various locations. Some of the recent projects our organization, the Institute for Canine Forensics, (link: http://www.K9Forensic.org/) has worked involved locating lost cemeteries, locating ancient burials at construction sites, working with Native American monitors to locate burials so they can be protected. We also work cold cases for law enforcement.

I am increasingly being asked to run canine operations to large responses where teams are brought in from several search and rescue organizations to search for possible victims of major fires and explosions.

Tell us about your family? What do you think they would say was your biggest way of influencing their lives?

I have a wonderful family. I have four children, two biological children and two step-daughters, who are amazing. They are all very successful in life. Shanti is a Commander in the U.S. Navy, in command of a guided missile destroyer. Samir is in pharmaceutical research, as is his wife. They have two little boys, Caiden (4) and Ian (2). Lisa is a project manager for a major software company, as is her husband, Denis. Jennifer is a Marriage and Family counselor who has two wonderful children, Allie (9) and Nick (7). I have been truly blessed.

I raised Shanti and Samir as a single mother. I was a pretty tough, but I’d like to think, fair mother. I tried to set an example for them through my actions. They were raised to understand that they could do (or be) anything they wanted to be if they were willing to work hard for it. They have done just that. My son is on my urban search and rescue task force. And my daughter has dedicated her life to her country. Who could ask for more than that?

Lisa and Jennifer were pretty much grown when their father and I married. I’m not sure how I’ve influenced their lives, but I hope I have in some positive way.

Do you have much time for knitting? What appeals to you about knitting?

I actually do quite a bit of knitting. Because I travel so much, I knit a lot on airplanes and in cars when I’m not driving. In the evening, while I am watching my silly reality shows (I love Survivor and the Amazing Race), I find knitting very relaxing. It really does settle me.

A year ago, when Shanti was preparing to deploy to the Persian Gulf on her ship, I decided I would like to provide a Christmas gift for every sailor on her ship. I put a little note on our blog, Adventures in Paradise, asking that any knitter who was interested to knit a hat for a sailor. Several other bloggers picked up the project and within two months I had received about 576 hand knit wool hats … enough to outfit her ship, three Coast Guard cutters and the military personnel (British, Australian and Iraqi) on the oil terminal her ship was guarding. The knitting community was amazing and continues to be as the Hats for Sailors project has continued and we were able to outfit two more ships this past Christmas. What appeals to me about knitting? The ability to take a string and some awesome Signature needles and make a beautiful garment … and the camaraderie it builds with other knitters.

What else do you do for fun?

One would think that all my time is taken up with knitting and training search dogs, but I do love the theatre and hold season tickets to the San Jose Repertory theatre, I hike, read a lot and spend time with friends. And sometimes I sleep.

How did you come to be part of the Signature family?

I had been lusting over Signature needles since they first became available. My daughter, Shanti, knew that and I got my first pair of Signature needles for Mother’s Day a few years ago. I’ve been a fan ever since and own several pair. I love them!

I really became family when Cathryn Bothe offered a generous gift certificate to one lucky knitter who donated a hat to our first Hats for Sailors project in 2010, and again in 2011. Both of the recipients were ecstatic over their prize and I know are loving knitting with their new Signature needles … just like I am.

I was drawn to the book because we have big news at our house: We have a new dog! We said when we had to put our elderly dog Sadie down that we didn’t want another dog but we realized that even after a whole year whenever we came home and opened the door there was that split second when both of us thought, “Where is she? Why isn’t she here jumping with joy to see us?”

We started to look at rescue dogs. We had such a great time with Sadie. Our daughter Laura and her family adopted Mel who was a stray and who has stolen all our hearts. He is small and not classically beautiful but no one who has ever met him has not had a smile. He has doggie charisma like crazy.

And just recently our son Paul saved the sweetest dog from being put down. Data, who was advertised as a Wheaten Terrier is actually partly St. Bernard and has that low key and loyal temperament.

So while we had family dogs we could borrow we plunged ahead to get one of our own. We found a great rescue. Their adoption process was very strict. I even felt at times a bit defensive. Couldn’t they understand that Sadie had a life of luxury with us—great care, food, a job as Head of Security at Signature??? But I now understand they were trying to find the best “fit” of rescued dog to family.

And so…. We are now have adorable 1 year old Cooper in our family. The rescue folks helped us to consider that he might have a long period of getting used to us but he absolutely didn’t. He fit right in and has not had any accidents and within only a few days he was doing fine at work too.

He was hit by a car and so has a crazy letter C tail as a result. His name was Cooper at the shelter and we kept it as one of the founding companies here inKenoshawas the Cooper Underwear company. You may have some of their underwear now as the current name is Jockey.

You will all be happy to know that he is on duty daily guarding your needles! And when one of us comes into the house he is there jumping for joy.

We have known Kate for a few years now and have seen in person her clear explanations when she was in our booth at the first Sock Summit. She is a natural teacher but also something even harder to find— she is a person who can write technical material in a way that makes sense. After about 20 pages , I had to call Laura in to read some of it to her—such as the reason we don’t like to knit from charts.

Everyone here is so thrilled with this book that we are going to have a new kit coming soon. Two variations of the kit will be available featuring Kate‘s book, Signature needles, and 2 designer yarns to be announced shortly—one with the yarn for a scarf pattern and one for a sock pattern. Both will be available soon.

We wanted you to hear from Kate herself:

Somehow we didn’t take a photo of the scarf so a talented artist of my acquaintance (Ms. Katie) has provided an approximation of the scarf and the happy mom wearing it.

The parents are the same year after year—they say “nothing for me. Just get the kids what they want.” This year after much prodding the mom asked for a chance to get a hair cut and color. Most of us do this sort of thing without even thinking, but she wanted her boys to have a good Christmas instead. Everyone here signed up for things for the family, but I took the mom.

I went to a local spot where the grandkids get their hair cut and the told the woman at the desk what I wanted and why. Without batting an eye she said, “All mothers are like that, aren’t they?” And then proceeded to tell me they didn’t do what I wanted but a competitor (of which I was not aware) did and sent me there.

The next day our paper reported that there were still over 100 families that needed adopting and when Laura (who spearheads this every year) mentioned that 2 other people in the office immediately said, “We need to take another family.” And we are. This time one with 2 small boys with wishes for the usual kid stuff, but needs for pretty basic things like winter coats.

The wonderful people here did a fantastic job. Everyone reported the same thing—that the shopping for the families is the most heart-warming of any they do. Our two families had gifts and food that filled 2 very large vehicles but our hearts were filled too with the feelings of the real spirit of the holiday.

My other recently finished project is one made of someMissionFallscotton which I love but which is now discontinued. I confess I have bought up enough for many babies.

This one is going to a lovely girl baby born to the daughter of some dear friends. The mom and her husband are both in the Army and the Dad spent several months in Afghanistanas a physician treating the injured there. He left his wife and 2 small boys home but he is home now and has a new baby girl.

There is a Grinch floating around out there however. We do our very best to get every package out as soon as we can—about 99% the next business day but we have had folks angry at us because the US Post Office has been so slow. You may be seeing this on other packages, cards and letters too. I can’t help but think that UPS and FEDEX will be finding ways to take packages to residences at more reasonable rates. In the meantime please know that we do the best we can to fill orders and get them in the mail.

So whether you are celebrating Christmas or Hanukkah I hope you will be mindful of family and those close to you.  Be grateful, be healthy, and be happy.

Of course there are other things at the festival such as wine and cheese. I was able to get over to that building and saw (but didn’t sample) lots of New York wines. Samples were everywhere and I am pretty sure people could have plenty of chances to try the different wines from New York.

I wanted to buy some cheese to take home and did find one booth with New York cheese, but the biggest booth with the biggest crowds were along the wall. I tried to peer between the folks up front and saw signs that said “Wisconsin….” . When I finally got to the front I asked aboutNew Yorkcheese and was told that they had a few fromVermont, some fromItaly, but the majority was fromWisconsin! I knew I wouldn’t have to buy any and have to deal with airport sniffing dogs.

Being the newbies we were in the far back of the farthest building but many old and new customers found us and we had some wonderful neighbors. The sweet husband of the dyer from the booth next to ours told us an “all American” story: She had lost her job and he was worried about his but her “hobby” as a dyer seems to be doing exceptionally well.

She had done all the dying she could in preparation for the last minute chance to get into Rhinebeck while doing the temp job she had. They are struggling with some of the things that all entrepreneurs face: the fear of leaving a job; the expenses of getting set up to be full time; figuring out how to find the time to have an internet presence and all the unknowns. The great news is that customers loved her yarn and she had lots of SOLD OUT signs up on the racks. Her company name is Bittersweet Woolery.

We also shared Rhinebeck 1st show experiences and received some excellent local suggestions from another first timer neighbor into the whirled.

Now that we are back we are thinking “HOLIDAY” and we have some exciting patterns to share with you from the winners of the design contest. Many people came to the booth showing significant others, friends, and family members he needles and reminding them of special occasions or the upcoming holidays. One of the things I told folks over and over at Rhinebeck who were looking for ways to let their friends and family know what they were looking for was to set up an account and CREATE A WISH LIST!

Honestly those near and dear to you who are non knitters have no clue what you would like. . You can help people at your office, your friends, your family— make that list.