Staff Feature: Checking in with Angie in 2025
We caught up with our fabulous instructor Angie to see what she’s been up to lately—and wow, has she been busy! Between cheering at basketball games and casting off some gorgeous projects, she’s also discovered a new love for teaching crochet. Read on to see what’s on her needles (and her hook!), and why her new wooden ball winder has her swooning.
Interview
OH FUN!!!
It’s been a little while since we’ve checked in—what have you been up to lately?
All sorts of things! Work and family take up most of my time right now (I sure do miss being in the store and seeing everyone on a weekly basis). This year my youngest join a travel basketball league and I’ve been able to get a lot more knitting time in! It’s amazing how much knitting can get done between game time travel time (thank goodness my hubby likes to be the driver!). Although the other parents keep joking that I will probably be able to tell when the game was really tense because my stitches are probably tighter! LOL! Mostly socks (Barley, worsted weight & fingering weight, Nest Socks, mix of fingering and DK weight) and I just cast off an Outline Tee.
All sorts of things! Work and family take up most of my time right now (I sure do miss being in the store and seeing everyone on a weekly basis). This year my youngest join a travel basketball league and I’ve been able to get a lot more knitting time in! It’s amazing how much knitting can get done between game time travel time (thank goodness my hubby likes to be the driver!). Although the other parents keep joking that I will probably be able to tell when the game was really tense because my stitches are probably tighter! LOL! Mostly socks (Barley, worsted weight & fingering weight, Nest Socks, mix of fingering and DK weight) and I just cast off an Outline Tee.
You’ve been creating some awesome new crochet classes lately! What’s that process been like for you?
When I said YES to teaching crochet, I honestly had no clue how much I was going to LOVE it! I really enjoy teaching the beginner knitting classes, there is something so wonderfully satisfying about watching a person learn and conquer a new skill. Diving into the crochet class planning ignited a new love for both teaching and for the art of crochet itself. I dug out my hooks, watched countless tutorials, picked up a few new tricks and went to writing the class handouts. It’s been an absolute blast! It helps that my first group of beginner crocheters (also know as my crochet guinea pigs, lol) were a hilarious bunch, they all joined me for Crochet 102 and some went on to the granny squares class, so it felt like we built this really great little group and all became fast friends.
When I said YES to teaching crochet, I honestly had no clue how much I was going to LOVE it! I really enjoy teaching the beginner knitting classes, there is something so wonderfully satisfying about watching a person learn and conquer a new skill. Diving into the crochet class planning ignited a new love for both teaching and for the art of crochet itself. I dug out my hooks, watched countless tutorials, picked up a few new tricks and went to writing the class handouts. It’s been an absolute blast! It helps that my first group of beginner crocheters (also know as my crochet guinea pigs, lol) were a hilarious bunch, they all joined me for Crochet 102 and some went on to the granny squares class, so it felt like we built this really great little group and all became fast friends.
Any favourite moments from teaching recently?
BEST moment: First Crochet101 of the year there was a father - daughter duo. He is a mechanic and has these big man hands, and confessed to never ‘yarning’ anything before in his life. They both had so much fun, and it was such a joy to watch him figure out what to do with this hook and strand of string! They got together for weekly crochet dates in between the first two classes as a way to spend time together and came back to the second half of C101 with perfectly stitched dishcloths! Huge success!
BEST moment: First Crochet101 of the year there was a father - daughter duo. He is a mechanic and has these big man hands, and confessed to never ‘yarning’ anything before in his life. They both had so much fun, and it was such a joy to watch him figure out what to do with this hook and strand of string! They got together for weekly crochet dates in between the first two classes as a way to spend time together and came back to the second half of C101 with perfectly stitched dishcloths! Huge success!
What are you currently working on—crochet or otherwise?
I have actually had a couple of weeks of FINISHING! Which is rare for me. I mentioned a few projects earlier, and I just finished crocheting the Herringbone cowl - it is such a beautiful stitch once you get into the groove of it. I’ve got a Find Your Fade in one of Gillian’s curated fade sets on my needles, a pair of DRK Everyday socks in <Gillian, what is the name of that scrappy yarn we bought in the fall? {Hmmm...Laines du Nord: Eclectic Sock!! Colour #6} That’s what I’m using> (2 at a time of course). I have way too many other projects on Time Out, lol, they’ll have their day to shine eventually!
I have actually had a couple of weeks of FINISHING! Which is rare for me. I mentioned a few projects earlier, and I just finished crocheting the Herringbone cowl - it is such a beautiful stitch once you get into the groove of it. I’ve got a Find Your Fade in one of Gillian’s curated fade sets on my needles, a pair of DRK Everyday socks in <Gillian, what is the name of that scrappy yarn we bought in the fall? {Hmmm...Laines du Nord: Eclectic Sock!! Colour #6} That’s what I’m using> (2 at a time of course). I have way too many other projects on Time Out, lol, they’ll have their day to shine eventually!
Are there any new techniques or patterns you’re excited to try next?
I have plans to start the Mosaic Cardi by Nomad Stitches this week, it’s a mosaic crochet project so I’m hoping to hone in on those skills in the hopes of expanding the Crochet offerings at The Mitten. My plan is to swing by the store with some of my stash and fill it out with some selections. There are 7 colours so it should be fun!
I have plans to start the Mosaic Cardi by Nomad Stitches this week, it’s a mosaic crochet project so I’m hoping to hone in on those skills in the hopes of expanding the Crochet offerings at The Mitten. My plan is to swing by the store with some of my stash and fill it out with some selections. There are 7 colours so it should be fun!
How do you usually pick your next project—do you plan ahead or go with the flow?
Plan ahead???? NAH! It’s usually a late night frenzy where I impulsively buy a pattern and then have to buy yarn to justify my pattern purchase! Or, more likely, I’m in the shop and get inspired (aka peer pressured, hahah) into a great new project!
Plan ahead???? NAH! It’s usually a late night frenzy where I impulsively buy a pattern and then have to buy yarn to justify my pattern purchase! Or, more likely, I’m in the shop and get inspired (aka peer pressured, hahah) into a great new project!
With warmer weather on the way, do your project choices change with the season?
I like to have lighter weight yarns Fingering - DK and smaller projects, like socks and tees, on my needles in the nicer weather. This year I want to build up my short sleeved options, I’ll wear them all year round and they knit up so much quicker.
I like to have lighter weight yarns Fingering - DK and smaller projects, like socks and tees, on my needles in the nicer weather. This year I want to build up my short sleeved options, I’ll wear them all year round and they knit up so much quicker.
What’s one tool or material you can’t live without right now?
I FINALLY bought myself a really nice Wooden Ball Winder to go with my Umbrella swift. I am in love, I honestly want to buy yarn just so I can wind it and look at it. The set is so lovely to look at I keep it out in our main living space all the time.
I FINALLY bought myself a really nice Wooden Ball Winder to go with my Umbrella swift. I am in love, I honestly want to buy yarn just so I can wind it and look at it. The set is so lovely to look at I keep it out in our main living space all the time.
Anything you’re really looking forward to in the coming months?
Crochet seems to be at the forefront of my brain at the moment, so I’m really looking forward to trying some very wearable crocheted items.
Crochet seems to be at the forefront of my brain at the moment, so I’m really looking forward to trying some very wearable crocheted items.
And of course, we have to ask: what’s in your project bag right now?
My main project bag is EMPTY! It felt so good to wash and block 3 FOs over the past couple of weeks. But I suppose my main on-the-go project is my DRK Everyday Socks, I hope to get the heels done before the next big tournament weekend so I can focus on cheering instead of counting! On a side note, I was super happy with how easily I was able to do the toe up / fleagle heel two at a time, it’s such a mental game for me to be able to complete a PAIR of socks. And with the scrappy yarn I love watching the two different socks knit up at the same time.
My main project bag is EMPTY! It felt so good to wash and block 3 FOs over the past couple of weeks. But I suppose my main on-the-go project is my DRK Everyday Socks, I hope to get the heels done before the next big tournament weekend so I can focus on cheering instead of counting! On a side note, I was super happy with how easily I was able to do the toe up / fleagle heel two at a time, it’s such a mental game for me to be able to complete a PAIR of socks. And with the scrappy yarn I love watching the two different socks knit up at the same time.
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