Q&A with Knit Aid author Vickie Howell




Vickie Howell, author of Sterling’s newly released Knit Aid: A How-to Guide for the Knitter on the Go with two more titles with Lark Books in the works, has been a maverick in the knitting and crochet world for years, doing her darndest to keep crafts on the cutting edge of style. Her experience in the crafting world runs the gamut—founding chapters of the funky Stitch n’ Bitch group in Los Angeles and Austin, hosting two hip and successful series for the DIY Do-it-Yourself Network “Knitty Gritt” and “Stylelicious,” and, just last year, teaming up with Southwest Trading Company to put out her own line of eco-friendly yarn, the Vickie Howell Collection. And as a mother of two boys, that’s no easy feat. Vickie takes a few moments from her busy schedule and sits down to teach us a few tricks of the trade.

So how did you get your start into the world of knitting? And why knitting?
I’ve been crafting since I was old enough to hold a glue stick. My mom put needles in my hands when I was seven, but I didn’t actually get interested in knitting until I was in my twenties. My friend Tracy convinced me to go to a yarn store with her one day, and I was totally blown away by all of the amazing fibers, choices, and the gamut of different people who were hanging out together, talking and working on projects. I started a project that day (I think it was a hat) and haven’t been without one since!

I love the portability of knitting, the juxtaposition of traditional technique applied to modern sensibility, and the community that the knitting and crochet world has afforded me. When you’re knitting, not only are you nurturing your creative side, and being productive during moments when your hands might otherwise be fidgety, but you’re also putting something positive into the world: heirlooms and a piece of personal history.

Mother’s Day is coming up soon. What would be the best (knitted) gift for any mother?
Honestly, I think anything handmade makes a great Mother’s Day gift because of the time, effort, and love it represents. If I had to choose though, I’d say something soft and luxurious like the Lana and Clark scarf made from my “Love” line of yarn. Silk and bamboo and a one-hank project that’s quick to knit? Mom will love it.



How have you introduced knitting and crafts to your kids? Any tips for crafty ways to keep them occupied?
Neither one of my boys are very interested in knitting—I think they’d much prefer using the needles as swords than stitching with them. My youngest is really interested in both art and craft in general. We recently collaborated on a project for my Eco-Craft column for Kiwi magazine where I turned one of his drawings into an embroidered picture on a journal cover. He really enjoyed working on that! I have hopes that he’ll also soon cross over to the knitting dark side. ;)

With the recent boom in crafts and handmade goods, where do you see knitting fitting into the scheme of things? Adapting to the eco-friendly green trend?
Yeah, definitely. For me personally, environmentally conscious knitting and crochet are a major area of focus; in fact, my friend Adrienne Armstrong and I have just began writing a book on that very subject! Hopefully though, the “green” thing isn’t a trend (in both craft and life) as much as it is an evolution of lifestyle. As far as knitting’s place in the current resurgence of handmade goods goes, I think we’ll start seeing it pop up more and more in mixed media projects and other non-traditional formats.

Any tips or suggestions for first-time knitters?
Absolutely! In fact, here are 5 Tips for New Knitters from my book Knit Aid:
1. Find a yarn and project you’re excited about. The more you love the tools you’re working with, the more likely you are to stick with your knitting.
2. Get a book. Whether it’s this one that you can easily throw in your knitting bag, or a larger reference book to keep at home, find a written how-to helper that works for you!
3. Go online. There are a lot of great photo and video tutorials you can watch for free on the Web. These are especially awesome when you’re stuck on a project late at night; help is at your fingertips without having to change out of your jammies. That, my friends, is good stuff!
4. Ask for help. If you’re lucky enough to have someone close to you who knits, then by all means, enlist their knitting expertise. If you don’t, head over to your local yarn shop and ask one of the employees. Trust me; they want to answer your questions. The better a knitter you become, the more likely you are to buy tons of stuff from their store!
5. Join a group. So much of knitting is about community—what you’re putting out as well as what you can get back—and knitting groups are not only great social outlets, but an invaluable meeting of minds. Whether you’ve never knit a stitch before or you’re a full-blown knitster, there’s always something to learn from a group of fellow stitchers!

What are your absolute must-haves at all times? Any specific yarn, tools, songs, or treats to help keep the creative juices flowing?
In no particular order, I’d be lost without my Addis Turbos needles, a rotary cutter and self-healing mat, Janome sewing machine, old-school Boye crochet hooks, tons of craft and pop-culture magazines, internet radio, NPR, Soysilk yarns, my MacBook, and tons of great movies and documentaries (to keep me company during marathon knitting sessions!).

You’ve got a few hours to yourself, no phone, kids, or business to deal with (yeah, yeah, like that would ever happen)—what do you do?
What is this free time, you speak of? ;) Wait, are you taking away the computer, too? Hmmm, in that case, I’d either curl up with a good book and read until I felt nappish or pop in an old movie and craft frivolously, on a non-work related project.

What is your inspiration for the work that you do, knitting and otherwise?
Music, movies, parenthood, and pop-culture (not necessarily in that order) are infused into pretty much everything I do. For me, all things community and creative are connected. I try to show that, in a sort of tongue-and-cheek way, usually involving copious amounts of puns.