Jane Stewart
Madison, Ohio
Ravelry: stash46
Started cranking: January 2019
How did you learn about CSMs? Several years ago my friend Sharon got two CSMs and they absolutely fascinated me!
How did you learn to use a CSM? Initially by watching SockTV and every YouTube video I could find. Then in the summer of 2019 I attended Sock School with Jamie Mayfield and Jenny Deters. That was a game changer!! Those ladies are brilliant! Not only was it fun but I learned so much! Especially to not be afraid of my machine. And bonus! I was awarded the only F-Bomb award in my class!!! It is displayed proudly on my table. The more my skills improve fewer F-bombs are dropped.
Ribber preference: Equal
What do you like most about this pastime? Using the CSM is (usually) very relaxing. The sound is soothing and I love watching the colors come to life. I love gifting the things I make – gifting socks is like getting a hug every time they are worn. These wonderful machines are not limited to socks!! It is so much fun to make a purse or ornament or some other clever item. Plus you can really work through the stash – provided of course you stop buying more sock yarn.
Favorite item to make? Definitely socks! The heel tabs are my current favorite to make and wear.
What is your favorite sock yarn? Anything beautiful!
Advice? First be patient!!! It takes time to learn a new skill. Step away before you want to cry! It’s only yarn! Yarn is easy to come by and can be reused multiple times!! Stitches will drop, yarn will tangle. Accept it and move on. You can’t expect to know it all immediately. But one day, all of a sudden IT will happen. A sock will magically appear and you’ll be delighted and jump up and down!
Do you know how to knit with sticks? Yes
Have you attended a local or regional crank-in? Yes
Pet peeves/Turn ons? I wish everything wasn’t so heavy and easier to travel with all the equipment! My biggest frustration is the lack of reasonably priced cone winders. I have made so many new friends with my CSM!!
Tell us more…
My goal this year is to improve my ribber skills. I can make a ribbed sock but am not consistently successful. I also hand knit, spin and weave. Making gifts for my two grandsons and my two sons is the best! They all love my cranked socks!! Two of my sons are in the Navy and the third is a Merchant Mariner – those ships get cold!!! There is a small group of crankers I used to meet with monthly but like everything else it’s been on hold for a year. I do hope I can make it to COWS this year.