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Staff Spotlight: Janice

Allow us to introduce to you our wonderful Class Coordinator, Janice! If you’ve taken any class with us, you’ve probably been in touch with her. The positive force on our team, Janice brings smiles and joy to her colleagues and patrons of the store.

Janice wearing her Sandoval by This.Bird.Knits, in Julie Asselin Leizu DK.

 

Journey to Knitting and Baaad Anna’s

With a background in movement and healing with herbal remedies and essential oils, Janice has been a lover of the arts and crafts for a long time. She is inspired by the creative women in her life, who introduced her to almost everything; knitting, lace, crochet, dying and weaving. To Janice, knitting is a part of the journey to love and learn more about yourself and your community. Those who know her best know that Janice has an obsessive need for others to be warm, and she is always giving to those around her. Her relentless giving spirit is what makes her a great Class Coordinator on the Baaad Anna’s team.

A Granny Square blanket Janice will be passing on to her daughter.

 

We sat down virtually to ask Janice a few questions:

 

What do you have cast on right now?

Rose by Andrea Mowry in Earl Grey Fibre Darjeeling Sock and Hedgehog Twist Sock – For me

Sun and Moon by Andrea Rangel in Gauge Dye Works Classic Merino Twist – For me

Budding Brioche Blooms by Jennifer Shiels Toland in Essence of Autumn –  For Baaad Anna’s

Aria Blanket by Lucy of Attic24 in Style Craft Dk – For my daughter

Colourwheel Cushion by Rebecca Glazier in WildWestDye Naturally Soft DK – For my home

Janice’s Colourwheel Cushion designed by Rebecca Glazier.

 

How do you take to learning a new technique?

J: Quietly. I like to watch a few Youtube videos and then just get to it. I learn more from my mistakes than anything else, in knitting as in life.

Janice’s first embroidery project. Hook, Line & Tinker’s ‘Industrious Octopus’.

 

I spend a lot of time reading different comments from people’s projects on Ravelry tips and suggestions. I always appreciate when people share their knowledge and experience, especially now with distanced learning. There is always something new to learn!

 

What has been your comfort show/movie/book?

J: I have been finding it impossible to watch new shows or movies, I seem to need the comfort of knowing exactly what is going to happen. My favorites are Schitt’s Creek and Downtown Abbey, which I’ve seen over and over. While I’ve seen Star Trek Discovery and The Mandalorian only once through, I’m ready to watch them over and over!

The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse, by Charlie Mackesy, released just a few months before the pandemic. It is always in my bag and no matter what page I open up to, it’s almost the right one. The timing of this book was incredible and I highly recommend it to all, it is just so beautiful in it’s message.

Janice’s favorite place to knit, read, and relax is outside.

 

What is your hottest knitting take?

J: Block your items!  That is where the magic happens.

Also don’t overthink a pattern or let it overwhelm you.  Take it one step at a time, literally just do as it says.  Of course it’s a good idea to have a gentle look over it so you have a sense of the direction you will be working in, techniques, terms and any errata, but generally I say just do as the pattern tells you to do.  It is hard to sometimes envision how to get from start to finish but the designer and their testers have done this for us so trust the process and don’t let it stress you out.  Just like life, stay in the moment, one stitch, one step and one breath at a time.

Janice in her favorite place, wearing her Pender Cardigan, in Hinterland Watershed from KnitCity 2019.

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