Lynn Dukes
Summerville, SC
Ravelry: AngelCraft
Started cranking: 2017
How did you learn about CSMs? I saw my first CSM at a Fiber Show and was fascinated. A friend purchased a CSM to make tubes and it pushed me to learn more. After lots of reading, snooping, looking over shoulders, I took the plunge and bought a Erlbacher Speedster!!
How did you learn to use a CSM? Mostly trial and error – more error than trial. I took a class with Jamie Mayfield and between Jamie and the others in attendance, I made my first sock. Unfortunately, I seemed to forget everything on my way home and could not replicate what I had done. More trail and error, lots more error, tubes of heels, lots of tinking.
Fast forward to the 2019 Crank-In and something clicked! What I had learned from Jamie made sense to me and I learned so much I from so many people. Being with other crankers, learning from them I felt much more confident and understood what I was doing to a certain extent. It gave me the confidence to keep at it.
Mz. Gussie and I are pretty good friends now and for the most part she plays nicely. When she doesn’t, I know to walk away and come back when we are both in a better frame of mind! Next up is learning the ribber and getting out the Bumblebee.
Ribber preference: I don’t rib.
What do you like most about this pastime? Relaxing, love I can make socks much faster than with my needles. I thought my stash would be smaller, but I have found I love cone yarn and now have a brand new stash enhancer.
Favorite item to make? I love to make socks, but I think Christmas ornaments are my favorite project! I love that I can change the design on each and every one and they all are lovely!
What is your favorite sock yarn? This is too hard to answer! Prior to CSM, I loved just about any indi-dyed yarn. Now I have discovered Regia, Opal and AKTIV. The yarn does the work – beautiful designs and colors. Each has it’s own beauty and I tend to buy based on color or design. Indi-Dyers I use include Lolodidit, Rock and String, Desert Vista Dyeworks, Fybernymph Dyeworks to name just a few.
Advice? I didn’t understand the learning curve with a CSM. The learning curve is not so much a curve, but a winding trail, but with patience and lots of practice it’s well worth it.
Do you know how to knit with sticks? Yes
Have you attended a local or regional crank-in? Yes
Pet Peeve: None I can think of.
Turn-ons: A new rabbit hole with lots of new tools!! “Instant” gratification when a sock is finished!
Tell us more…
I just recently completed the CSKMS Level 1 Skills Certification Course and loved the critiques I received. They showed me my strengths and weaknesses.
This past year and a half has been difficult for everyone, and working my way through the course was difficult due to personal issues. I finally finished and I am so glad I stuck with it and completed the course. It was a huge accomplishment for me and a positive accomplishment I needed. I appreciated the critiques, both good and bad. The course helped me pay more attention to the details and getting them right. I highly recommend taking on this challenge!
I also knit, spin and weave and occasionally dye. This year effected my fiber mojo and pretty much put a halt to everything. But I realized working on the Basic Course gave me an incentive to get back into the world I love. I am spinning and knitting again and realize that I need this in my life for balance. Too much work, too much stress is hard on anyone and effects my mood. But playing with fiber, in any form, gives me peace and takes me to a happy place!
This past June I participated in the Longest Day for Alzheimer’s by cranking all day. I was able to finish 5 pairs of socks and one sock with 3 heels! I didn’t raise as much as I wanted to raise, but will do more next year!
I look forward to being able to attend another crank-in. I miss seeing what others are doing and learning from them. Being around others who share the same obsession fuels my obsession! I want to learn and feel more confident using the ribber. Again, this has a learning trail, more than cranking, but with patience, time, and stick-to-it-ness the ribber will be learned!