Knit, Chat & Learn ~ Clara Parkes
Every knitter knows Clara.
You own one of her books (The Knitter’s Book of Yarn, The Knitter’s Book of Wool, The Knitters Book of Socks and The Yarn Whisperer), you followed The Great White Bale or you have read one of her articles in her online magazine The Knitters Review.
Her magazine is full of resources for knitters with in-depth reviews of yarns, books, and tools. You will also find a really useful how-to section.
She is a reference when it comes to fibers, yarns, and knitting. I myself have learned a lot through her books and reviews. Aside from being a great knitter and writer, she is also very generous taking the time to answer my questions so we can get a little insight into her world.
Being an avid baker like myself I have also asked Clara to share with us one of her favorite recipes…more on that right after the interview!
Black or Brown?
If it’s clothing, black. If it’s yarn, brown.
Cats or Dogs?
Cats.
Knitting gadget you can’t live without:
I’m pretty partial to my needle sizer.
Knitting style:
Laissez-faire. Continental.
Only one color for the rest of your life, which will it be?
Probably blue. But I hope this never comes to pass.
Cables or Lace?
Depends on the yarn. Don’t make me work lace in a yarn that wants cables. I can’t do it.
Being a baker, favorite flavour for a treat?
You can’t beat the uplifting powers of lemon zest.
First completed project:
I like how you use the word “completed” here. It was a poofy chaotic cardigan from the Classic Elite La Gran pattern collection. I didn’t yet understand the importance of binding off button bands loosely, so it became a bolero.
Number of WIPS on your needle right now?
I’ve concealed them so cleverly that I can’t easily count. But it would be more than 20.
Some things I start to figure out a puzzle in my head. Once the puzzle has been figured out — usually relating to how yarn works — I don’t always feel compelled to finish the actual project.
A favorite book not knitting related:
Paul Theroux, The Great Railway Bazaar. OR any essays by E.B. White.
Something that changed your knitting:
You’ll have to take my Craftsy class to find out!
Where did you learn to knit?
Kennebunkport, Maine, Christmas 1983.
Hidden talent:
I can tap dance and tie a knot in a cherry stem. Just not at the same time.
Wood or Metal?
Wood.
Favorite coffee?
Stumptown Ethiopia.
Go to favorite accessory when getting a gift?
Maine Morning Mitts, because I tend to accumulate worsted-weight yarn and I have the pattern memorized.
Not working in the fiber industry, what would be your second dream job?
If this knitting thing doesn’t work out, I’ll start a candy company.
Morning person or night owl?
Night owl
A place/country you wish to visit and why:
Australia. Because I long to see where Cormo come from.
Stitch pattern favorites:
I usually start doodling with stockinette, which becomes garter stitch, which, depending on the yarn, walks right into feather-and-fan.
You have started your own yarn adventure, tell us more about how it came to life and how you envision it:
My new yarn venture is called Clara Yarn, and it’s really just a new retail outcropping of my ongoing quest to figure out what makes yarn tick.
I’ve wanted to work with farms and mills in a way I can’t through Knitter’s Review, and Clara Yarn is where that will happen. It features limited-edition, small-batch artisan yarns sourced and spun with great care under my direction. When they’re gone, they’re gone.
Clara Yarn can be found here. The first one is called Cormo 1.0.
The four-ply construction of this yarn gives great roundedness, structure, and strength to the finished fabric.
Perfect for that sweater you will want to wear over and over again!
Thank you, Clara, for being so passionate and I (we!) look forward to all you will bring to us in the future!
And now time for that recipe we promised earlier!
Buttermilk Drop Biscuits
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons butter
- ⅔ cups buttermilk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees and grease a baking sheet.
- Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Cut in butter.
- Very swiftly add buttermilk and mix JUST until incorporated, no more.
- Drop in voluptuous dollops onto the baking sheet, and bake for 13 minutes.