Thursday's Podcast Guest: Clara Parkes!
Clara came on the show to promote her new super fun book “The Yarn Whisperer“! (Also, she came on to try to get Marly to laugh so hard she'd snort.)
From Clara's website:
The book was born from a simple notion: We are what we knit. I'm not suggesting you're a pullover or a pair of socks. But over the years I've realized just how deeply knitting itself—our stitches, materials, techniques—is a metaphor for who we are and the lives we live.
It began while I was sitting at a table for two, waiting for a friend to show up and suspecting that I'd been stood up yet again. I wondered: Is this how a dropped stitch feels? Or consider the traveling stitch, that blundering Winnebago swerving from lane to lane without so much as a how-do-you-do. Or garter stitch, the robust and wholesome friend who's always overlooked in favor of the slender homecoming queen, stockinette?
The stories became more personal as my mind turned to my grandma, terribly self-conscious of the skintags that peppered her neck yet obsessed with adding bobbles to everything she knit. Or my parents' divorce, a poorly worked steek that caused my young self to unravel.
The Yarn Whisperer is about my own life in knitting, both literally and figuratively. But it also explores our collectivelives in knitting. I've left many blanks for you to fill in. My hope is that it may help you see your own story, and your knitting, in a new, more meaningful light.
If you've listened you heard Clara's wonderful chapter on bobbles, and is it just me, or who else wants to see her book turned into an audiobook??
Clara's other books can be found here! Other places you can find Clara: her blog, Knitter's Review, Facebook, Twitter, Ravelry, and of course, on her BOOK TOUR! Make sure you check to see if she's coming to a town near you, and go check it out! 🙂
*Giveaway* – leave a comment here with Clara's keyword, and be entered to win a copy of her super awesome fun book!!
Let’s give some love to our sponsors!
XRX Books, Knitter’s Magazine, STITCHES Expos
Craftsy.com/yarnthing
Fiesta Yarns
Drew Emborsky
Love of Knitting and Love of Crochet
Bijou Basin Ranch
Frequently Asked Questions
What's Clara Parkes' new book about?
So here's the thing… Clara Parkes has a new book called “The Yarn Whisperer”! It's all about how our knitting stitches and the fibers we use can be metaphors for who we are and the lives we live. She shares personal stories and leaves spaces for you to fill in your own knitting journey.
How does knitting relate to our lives according to Clara?
Honestly… Clara believes that we are what we knit! She uses examples like a dropped stitch feeling like a missed opportunity or stockinette stitch being the “homecoming queen” compared to the overlooked garter stitch. It's a really neat way to think about how our craft reflects our experiences.
Can you tell me about Clara's other books?
Yes! She has written other books that you can find if you look for Clara Parkes on Amazon. The post also mentions her blog, Knitter's Review, and her social media, so there are tons of places to connect with her and her work.
Is there a giveaway happening?
Oh yes! To enter to win a copy of “The Yarn Whisperer,” you just need to leave a comment on the blog post with Clara's special keyword. It's a super fun way to potentially snag her awesome new book!
What makes yarn “crimp”?
Well… the page talks a lot about “crimp” in yarn, especially when discussing wool fibers! It's a property of the fiber itself, and it's really important for making nice, spun yarn. Many commenters love wool with a good crimp for texture and warmth in their projects.
