Handknit Harmonies

Occasionally, newness arrives right in the middle of an ordinary scroll through Instagram.

A few months ago, I began following Dr. Miranda at ‘One_Knit_Wonder’ and I’m so happy to have her gracing my home feed as a fellow Knitter of Instagram.

By profession, she is a licensed psychiatrist, but on Instagram, she shares another wonderful side of herself through the world of knitting.

Miranda invites us into her creative world through short form videos. This approach gives us a little more than a glimpse of her finished garments. We get to hear her tone and enthusiasm behind each project.

Her yarn and pattern reviews are especially informative, offering thoughtful observations that I believe are a wonderful compliment to the designers whose work she showcases. 

Personally, as a knitter who bounces in and out of projects, I can also find value in seeing a pattern brought to life. Listening to Miranda’s experiences and learning about the yarn choices that make her projects special is one of my favorite ways to stay informed. 

The atmosphere of her videos are very knit-meet-fun, very unhurried, and her cadence is a nice bonus feature. Enjoying a quiet evening, or simply unwinding after a busy day makes her little space on Instagram a pleasant choice to visit.

I’m always excited when a new creative voice finds its way into my feed and hers has certainly been a welcome addition.

Let’s get into Miranda’s thoughts and expansion on the topic of ‘Collection Knitting.’ 

Interview

What is your favorite object to knit repetitively? 

Miranda: At this point in my knitting, I only knit garments. And mostly garments that I can wear in warmer weather. So I’ve knit a lot of things that have short sleeves or no sleeves. And I knit a lot with plant fibers or plant blends. I have a collection of hand knit summer tops, which I don’t think is common!

What have you noticed about why this object is your most (if not your only) favorite?  

Miranda: I really enjoy the process of seeing a garment come together. For a long time it seemed really daunting. But after I knit my first sweater, I realized it’s not as difficult as it seems. I love to wear the things that I’ve made and because I live in a warmer climate, I get the most wear out of these types of garments. There’s a lot of joy in wearing something handmade.

Do you think it’s important to ‘challenge yourself?’

Miranda: I don’t necessarily think it’s important, but I think it can be fun. Even if you’re knitting the same type of object repetitively, there are different ways you can do that. I like to try new construction techniques or different types of yarn.  But I also think it’s important to knit in a way that brings you joy. So if you’re getting a lot of joy out of doing something the same way, keep doing it.

Is repetition more important to you? If so, why?

Miranda: I really enjoy the repetition that is a part of knitting. Even when you’re casting on, your hands are doing the same movement repeatedly. If you are knitting stockinette in the round, you’re making the same stitch repeatedly. I really love the feeling of that process. But I would say repetition and trying new things can still go hand in hand. I don’t think one has to be more important than the other. 

 • In what ways do you benefit from ‘Collection Knitting’? 

Knitting has really been my space of peace in the last year. Having the collection also adds in the fun. Because I do think it’s fun to wear the things that I’ve made.

Interview Concluded.

Miranda, thank you for adding your warmth, knowledge, and inspiration into my little corner of the knitting world.

Readers, thank you. 

To see more knitting by Dr. Miranda, follow her on Instagram at One_Knit_Wonder and subscribe to her channel on YouTube also titled ‘One Knit Wonder.’

Postscript. This top knitted by Miranda is one of my personal favorites of her finished blouses. I learned a lot from her instructions on how she altered the pattern for her preferences. Beautiful work!

Written/Blogged By: Keisha Lemon, Handknit Harmonies