Over the summer, Jen shared an awesome Ama Sweater on Instagram that friend and customer Marian Alsbury aka Maz had knitted for her daughter. I think it’s fair to say, was a very big hit! Maz was kind enough to answer some questions for me about her incredible knitting journey, and has shared some of the stunning projects she’s made. So pull up a chair, grab a cuppa, and join us for a little chat!
The project links in this post go to Ravelry.
Hot pink perfection. Maz’s Ama Sweater, knitted for her daughter, Beth.
KR: How long have you been knitting?
MA: I did a bit of knitting as a child, but only made basic scarves. I have been doing proper knitting for about 13 years. It was Jen who reintroduced me to it.
KR: Can you tell me a bit more about how you came back to knitting?
MA: In 2006 I had an accident. I fainted and fell 7 feet onto a concrete floor, head first. And I have spent the last 14 years rebuilding my brain.
In 2007, Jen arrived at my house with some wool and 5 double-pointed needles. She told me I was going to knit a sock. It was the hardest thing to do, I was still recovering and my brain and my hands did not co-ordinate. That sock ended up in the bin many times!
I have such a lot to thank Jen for, as she stuck with me through the frustration and anger I was going through. And then she invited me to a knitting group, and my knitting just grew from there. It really helped to realise that everyone wants to throw their knitting in the bin sometimes.
Maz’s Mind the Gap socks — this yarn is so happy!
KR: Are you a monogamous knitter or a multiple work in progress (WIP) knitter?
MA: I have to have more than one project on the go. I always have a sock on my needles. I like to have something that is challenging, and something else for TV knitting.
KR: What’s on your needles at the moment?
MA: I have three projects on the go at the moment….
A pair of socks for my husband.
I am working through Something to Knit Together from Jen, and I am totally out of my comfort zone with the two projects I am doing!
I am knitting the Conviviality Cardigan by Sarah Hatton in Something to Knit With 4ply yarn. It is challenging as it has so many things going on at the same time. I have to sit alone to knit it! Since my brain injury I get tired very quickly if I have to concentrate really hard, so I knit two rows and then I am knackered and have to put it down.
I am also knitting the Bonhomie Wrap from that collection, also in Jen’s 4ply yarn.
Maz wears her own Ama Sweater and shows her Bonhomie Wrap in progress!
This is not as challenging, and I am enjoying this much more.
I do not have any TV knitting on the go at the moment, but Christmas is approaching and the grandchildren will want their customary cardigans/jumpers. My children and my husband usually get socks and maybe other knitted items.
KR: Which of your knitting projects are you most proud of?
Maz’s stunning Sterlyn Shawl.
MA: I think that has to be the Sterlyn Shawl by Joji Locatelli. The pattern was in Jen’s Boost Your Knitting book. The pattern was clear and concise, and it looked so beautiful when I had finished it. I put it on Ravelry and in my comments I put: “This project is the best I have ever made, I am so pleased with it I want to show it to the world”.
KR: Do you have a favourite knitting technique? Or any techniques you want to try and haven’t?
Maz’s Time Out cardigan, from the Knitter, Issue 23.
MA: I love cables and Fair Isle. I love to see the pattern forming as you knit.
I would like to try the technique some of my friends have done at knitting group. But I can’t remember what it is called, it is when you cut your knitting up [steeking] — why would you do that, it is insane?!
KR: I like to ask people about their “Sleeve Island” picks: What’s the one knitting book, yarn and piece of music you’d take if you were stuck on a desert island?
MA: I think my book would be by Martina Behm. I find her designs amazing; she is so clever. I have knitted quite a few of her scarves.
My yarn would have to be one with alpaca in it. I don’t really have a favourite yarn for knitting big projects, I don’t like pure wool. If it was a sock yarn, it would have to be West Yorkshire Spinners — I love their sock yarn.
My music would be Queen, Somebody to Love.
KR: Has Covid changed your crafting at all – tackled a particularly big project? Tried a new craft?
MA: I haven’t done any big knitting, but I did blow the dust off my sewing machine. My daughter and I have made lots of face masks for friends and family. I have now bought a pattern to sew a basic top. I have only ever made quilts, so this is going to be a challenge!
I absolutely love and adore knitting, it is the best thing. It has helped to heal my brain – all that multi-tasking is good for the brain cells. With knitting you can sit and take yourself away from all the things that are on your mind that don’t need to be there and won’t go away. I suppose you could say it is my comfort blanket.
Maz and her knitting.
I think that sentiment of knitting as comfort blanket is one that resonates with many of us. A big, huge thank you to Maz for taking the time to tell us about the role knitting’s played in her life and her recovery — it’s a real testament, I think, to the power of craft and community. I hope you’ve enjoyed our chat as much as I have! You can browse more of Maz’s projects over on her Ravelry project page. Thank you again, Maz!