Let's give a warm welcome to Kelly owner of knitbrooks
All About Kelly
Where are you located?
Nova Scotia
Do you have a job outside of knitbrooks?
I’ve been working for a publishing company the last four years doing all kinds of things like social media and website management, advertising coordination, and creating marketing material. But I’ve actually given my notice and will officially be full time with knitbrooks in the next week or so!
What’s your dream vacation spot?
I don’t have one specific vacay spot I’ve always wanted to visit, but I’d really like to explore BC. I haven’t spent much time on the West Coast of Canada, so I need to soak in the beauty at some point!
What’s your favorite color(s)?
Mustard yellow is definitely my favourite colour. The grosser the yellow, the better.
What’s your favorite food/meal?
Oh gosh, I have a lot of favourites. Probably pizza, scallops, and ice cream sandwiches (not all together though baha)
What’s your least favorite food/meal?
Definitely cantaloupe. And tomatoes, but I really wish I liked them.
Do you have a favorite movie or TV show?
I feel like I have a lot of favourite movies, but top three are probably Warrior, Interstellar, and Inception. As for TV shows, I am all about Schitt’s Creek!
What’s a quote that you live by?
Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle, or your middle to someone else’s end.
Do you have other hobbies other than knitting and hook bbs?
I really love to go out exploring, always looking for a good forest or oceanside trail! I also love photography – snapping pics of nature makes me happy.
What’s 1 weird/strange fact about you?
When I’m walking beside someone, I like to be on the right hand side! If I somehow end up on the left, I’ll always bump into the other person and slowly gravitate towards the right.
If you had a theme song, WHAT would it be?
OK that’s a hard question, probably something spastic haha.
What’s the most spontaneous thing you’ve done in your life?
I’m really not a very spontaneous person, I like to plan things. But probably deciding to buy a house in Nova Scotia, flying out there for a day to view houses, finding one, flying home that night, and putting an offer on it the next day. We’re living in that house now, phew!
Do you have a favorite holiday?
I know it doesn’t really count as a holiday, but I’m all about Halloween.
Do you have a favorite season?
Autumn is by far my most favourite season. There is just so much to love about it – the changing leaves, the smell & feel of crisp fall air, spookiness, and of course all the fun activities like apple picking and exploring those pumpkin patches.
What inspires or motivates you?
Oh gosh, what DOESN’T Inspire me. Connecting with other creative and talented makers sure inspires me on a daily basis. The colours of autumn inspire me. Different species of woods and their natural colours & grain patterns inspire me.
My partner Scott motivates me to do my best every day. He’s the real MVP, and I couldn’t do knitbrooks without him and his wonderful support (which includes a firm but friendly kick in the behind if I’m being a total sloth haha).
If you could do one thing for the world, what would it be?
If I had to choose only one thing, probably to ensure everyone’s basic needs were met.
Anything else?
My partner Scott and I got engaged last September, and moved from Ontario to beautiful Nova Scotia where we purchased our first home! We are living our best east coast life, making crochet hooks and knitting needles together in our workshop by the ocean. We recently adopted our 10-year-old rescue dog Freya, who is a sassy husky mix. I’m more of a yarn hoarder these days because I don’t have a whole lot of knitting/crocheting time right now, but collecting yarn still totally counts as a hobby…right? I love horror movies, eating frozen mango, and standing in front of our wood stove, sometimes all at once.
All About knitbrooks
How long have you been knitting/hand carving?
My mom taught me to knit when I was nine, but it didn’t stick. I picked it up again in 2010, and then learned to crochet in 2011. I tried my hand at carving my first crochet hook in 2017.
When did you start knitbrooks?
I started knitbrooks in 2013, so it’ll be 8 years this coming March! Though I’ve only been making crochet hooks for the last three years, and knitting needles for the past few months.
Why did you start?
I started knitting in college as a way to relieve stress, and learned to crochet a couple years later because I inherited my great grandmother’s crochet hooks (also I didn’t know how to use DPNs and I really wanted to make a hat). As I tumbled further down the fibre arts rabbit hole, I decided to try my hand at making crochet hooks as another way to combine things that I love…why should’t nature meet knitwear?!
What’s your favorite thing you’ve made?
Oh gosh. I’m THE most indecisive person…I’m not sure I could pick a favourite make. Although I really love the koto + aromatic cedar crochet hook set I made earlier this year. Cause dang, those two woods belong together.
What’s a piece of advice for someone just starting out in your field?
My favourite quote can also be used as a piece of advice: Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle. I try to remember this as someone who has been dabbling in the fibre arts the last 10 years, and would have loved to tell myself those words when I was first starting out.
Does knitbrooks have a mascot?
No mascot, just me flailing around trying to keep it all together haha.
What was your most memorable success?
I think selling out an online crochet hook shop update in less than five minutes was definitely a success highlight for me. I’m still blown away by the support I receive with my fibre tools.
Also notable was during an outdoor market a few years ago, while I was still doing the handmade knitwear scene, I sold a scarf to the lead singer of my favourite band from my angsty teenage years. Be still, my 17 year old emo heart.
What was your most memorable challenge?
I don’t have one memorable challenge in particular, because I find myself riding the struggle bus on a weekly and sometimes daily basis, but I find focusing to be very challenging. As in, focusing on my already full plate and NOT adding 27 other things to it because I can’t say no, or I don’t want to pass something up, or I have FOMO.
How did or are you overcoming this challenge?
I’m hoping I’ll eventually learn, one unfortunate stress spiral after another, that I can’t do everything. Just because an opportunity presents itself, or I have a fun idea, doesn’t mean I should pursue it…especially if I already have a full schedule, which I usually do. Restraint Kelly, RESTRAINT.
What’s next for your knitbrooks?
We only just recently launched our circular knitting needles so we’ll be focusing on that for a while. But I would eventually like to give straight knitting needles a try, along with tunisian crochet hooks. I would also like to try my hand at woodturning a yarn bowl, and potentially some kind of fun subscription box. So many ideas, so little time!
The Future for knitbrooks
What’s your latest project?
I actually have two projects I’m working on right now! My newest knitting pattern project is the Trestle Trail Slouch, a textured oversized hat.
I also have an exciting little crochet-hook related somethin somethin coming out on October 26th (my birthday!). I’m collaborating with two other very special creatives, and I’m really excited about it!
Where did the inspiration come from for this project?
As soon as mid-September hits, I go into slouchy-hat-making-mode. It happens every year, and I’m not upset about it – those crisp mornings where autumn is just around the corner seriously inspires me to make a brand new hat to snuggle up in.
The two other creatives I’m working with on the collaboration, Antonella of Cosy Posy Yarn Co and Nichole of Sacred Oak Goddess, both inspired me for this project. It was a great experience to create a crochet hook based off of something specific, and watch a yarn dyer conjure up a colourway inspired by the same thing!
Have there been any challenges with this project?
As with many of my projects, I create my own challenges with taking on more things while my current plate is already full! But the new knitting pattern and such a fun collab are both totally worth it.
Will this be free or paid?
Both the new knitting pattern and the collaboration goodies will be paid.
Where can we find this project when it’s finished?
The Trestle Trail Slouch will be available on knitbrooks.ca, Ravelry, and Etsy.
When the collaboration launches it’ll be up for grabs on knitbrooks.ca!
Go and give Kelly some LOVE! Like, share, or adopt one of those beautiful hooks or needles. Remember, supporting Kelly is supporting a small business and a local maker’s dream.
Here are the links:
Instagram: @knitbrooks
Website: knitbrooks.ca
Ravelry: Click Here
If you’d like to purchase a Trestle Trail Slouch, I know Kelly would appreciate it!
Comment below if you have any questions for Kelly or knitbrooks.
And THANK YOU so much for reading and joining along on our Maker Spotlight. You can see a new maker right here EVERY Monday. I have some AMAZING makers lined up and I cannot wait to share them with you.
xoxo, Lindsey
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