1 00:00:03,210 --> 00:00:05,880 Mia Hobbs: Hello and welcome back to series two of the Why I 2 00:00:05,880 --> 00:00:09,570 Knit podcast. My name is Dr Mia Hobbs and I'm a clinical 3 00:00:09,570 --> 00:00:12,510 psychologist who's passionate about knitting and its benefits 4 00:00:12,510 --> 00:00:16,200 for our mental wellbeing. Each episode I interview a different 5 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:19,260 knitter about why they knit and how it benefits their mental 6 00:00:19,260 --> 00:00:23,040 health. This week on the podcast, I'm joined by Casey 7 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:26,250 Bernard who co-presents the VeryPink Knits podcast along 8 00:00:26,250 --> 00:00:27,270 with Staci Perry. 9 00:00:34,830 --> 00:00:36,780 Hi Casey. Welcome to the podcast. 10 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:38,460 Casey Bernard: Thank you! Thanks for having me. 11 00:00:38,900 --> 00:00:40,760 Mia Hobbs: I always start the podcast with asking where your 12 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:43,730 relationship with knitting began. Where did yours start? 13 00:00:45,010 --> 00:00:46,900 Casey Bernard: Well, I've been thinking about this since you 14 00:00:46,900 --> 00:00:52,990 sent me the questions. I was in graduate school in my mid 20s 15 00:00:53,020 --> 00:00:55,540 and then I finished and suddenly I was like, "I have all this 16 00:00:55,540 --> 00:01:02,110 free time!" I've always dabbled in some kind of crafty thing, 17 00:01:02,110 --> 00:01:05,770 and I started cross stitching and... I don't know what else I 18 00:01:05,770 --> 00:01:08,230 was doing. And then I started with crocheting because I knew 19 00:01:08,230 --> 00:01:11,680 the basic crochet chain from when I was a little kid. And 20 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:14,710 then I was looking at patterns and looking at things, and I was 21 00:01:14,710 --> 00:01:19,450 like, "I really don't..." I had like knitting envy, I often say, 22 00:01:19,450 --> 00:01:21,850 because I like the finished product of knitting versus 23 00:01:21,850 --> 00:01:25,660 crochet. And so it came after graduate school. It came to be a 24 00:01:25,660 --> 00:01:28,570 thing that I could do, and something that I could pick up 25 00:01:28,570 --> 00:01:32,560 and put down. I have a tendency to fall asleep if I'm watching 26 00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:34,060 TV, so... 27 00:01:34,390 --> 00:01:36,040 Mia Hobbs: I do that if I'm not knitting. 28 00:01:36,460 --> 00:01:39,940 Casey Bernard: Yeah, exactly! [Laughs] Because my husband 29 00:01:39,940 --> 00:01:43,570 would get so mad, he would say, "You've watched the beginnings 30 00:01:43,570 --> 00:01:50,230 of so many great movies." [Laughs] And so knitting kept me 31 00:01:50,230 --> 00:01:53,890 awake on the couch. And then it just got to be a thing where now 32 00:01:53,890 --> 00:01:55,960 it's just part of my life. 33 00:01:56,170 --> 00:01:58,450 Mia Hobbs: Yeah. And did you teach yourself? 34 00:01:58,780 --> 00:02:01,780 Casey Bernard: Yes, this was pre-YouTube so... 35 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:04,189 Mia Hobbs: Yeah, same! I always say that: "Pre-YouTube" [laughs] 36 00:02:04,249 --> 00:02:07,980 from a... Well, my mum taught me, but when you had problems it 37 00:02:08,041 --> 00:02:11,050 was harder! You can't just look stuff up [laughs]. 38 00:02:11,660 --> 00:02:13,910 Casey Bernard: Yeah. And it took a while for me to figure out 39 00:02:13,910 --> 00:02:18,800 which schematic in a book worked better for me. I found there 40 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:22,130 were some that showed hands and some that didn't show hands, and 41 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:26,870 when I saw the hands it helped. And then my mom had knit in the 42 00:02:26,870 --> 00:02:31,310 past. But now I've gotten her into it again, and she's like 43 00:02:31,310 --> 00:02:34,430 more obsessed with it than I am. So she was there to help me, but 44 00:02:34,460 --> 00:02:38,360 it took her a while to kind of get going with it too. But yeah, 45 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:41,420 I just pretty much taught myself through books. And then it was 46 00:02:41,420 --> 00:02:45,500 kind of around the time of Stitch 'N Bitch; that book came 47 00:02:45,500 --> 00:02:53,240 out... that was like early 2000s. Then I took a couple 48 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:58,190 classes at the local yarn shop, and that's where I met Staci 49 00:02:58,190 --> 00:02:58,670 Perry. 50 00:02:59,260 --> 00:03:01,750 Mia Hobbs: Okay, and you guys obviously host the VeryPink 51 00:03:02,830 --> 00:03:06,550 podcast together. Okay, so you met her through knitting? 52 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:10,884 Mia Hobbs: She didn't teach you. Okay. What kind of things were 53 00:03:07,090 --> 00:03:07,120 Casey Bernard: Mm-hmm. 54 00:03:10,959 --> 00:03:13,200 you knitting at the beginning? 55 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:16,095 Casey Bernard: I think I was knitting scarves. So the reason 56 00:03:16,163 --> 00:03:20,221 I switched and I like knitting more than crochet is you can 57 00:03:20,290 --> 00:03:24,486 keep track of the stitches. I crocheted a scarf that was just 58 00:03:24,555 --> 00:03:28,406 like wonky, because I kept losing track of the number of 59 00:03:28,475 --> 00:03:32,671 stitches. [Laughs] So once I found knitting, I was like, "Oh, 60 00:03:32,740 --> 00:03:37,141 it's all there on the needle. I can keep track a little better." 61 00:03:37,210 --> 00:03:41,062 I think I was knitting like... you know, my friends were 62 00:03:41,131 --> 00:03:45,326 starting to have babies so I was making baby things. I never 63 00:03:45,395 --> 00:03:49,384 really enjoyed making scarves that much. I have a few that 64 00:03:49,453 --> 00:03:53,580 I've made, but they just take too long. I find them tedious. 65 00:03:53,649 --> 00:03:58,120 And then I soon started doing weird stuff like a bikini. [Laughs] 66 00:03:59,410 --> 00:04:00,400 Mia Hobbs: How did that go? 67 00:04:01,740 --> 00:04:03,450 Casey Bernard: It turned out really small, and I gave it to 68 00:04:03,450 --> 00:04:05,220 my sister-in-law who's really skinny. 69 00:04:06,450 --> 00:04:08,760 Mia Hobbs: Is it usable in water? 70 00:04:08,759 --> 00:04:11,128 Casey Bernard: Well, it's kind of like, you know, the 70s 71 00:04:11,184 --> 00:04:12,539 crocheted kind of thing. 72 00:04:12,860 --> 00:04:16,010 Mia Hobbs: I always just felt like it would just stretch the 73 00:04:16,010 --> 00:04:21,680 minute it got wet and that would not work well for me. [Laughs] 74 00:04:22,770 --> 00:04:25,920 Casey Bernard: Some yarn has elastic in it, so it kind of 75 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:27,720 holds its shape. It's cotton with elastic. 76 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:31,770 Mia Hobbs: Okay. Yeah, I guess it's not like alpaca then it's 77 00:04:31,770 --> 00:04:33,750 just going to hit the floor, isn't it, as soon as you get out 78 00:04:33,750 --> 00:04:34,290 the water! [Laughs] 79 00:04:36,510 --> 00:04:37,710 Casey Bernard: Yeah, I don't think you're really supposed to 80 00:04:37,710 --> 00:04:38,340 swim in it. 81 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:42,890 Mia Hobbs: No, it's more for like hanging out. Okay. And why 82 00:04:42,890 --> 00:04:46,820 do you still knit? I guess one of the reasons I contacted you 83 00:04:46,820 --> 00:04:49,220 is because I'm really interested from listening to your podcast, 84 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:53,090 the conversations that you and Stacy have about process versus 85 00:04:53,090 --> 00:04:57,170 project knitter. And I think you're both quite different ends 86 00:04:57,170 --> 00:05:03,440 of the spectrum, maybe, in that. And I've always wondered... 87 00:05:03,470 --> 00:05:08,600 Stacy seems to think that she loves knitting and is a process 88 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:12,800 knitter and it's almost like all knitting is equal. Whereas you 89 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:16,250 seem to be more of a somebody who gets bored. [Laughs] Like 90 00:05:16,250 --> 00:05:19,070 you said, you don't like knitting scarves. Why do you 91 00:05:19,070 --> 00:05:21,560 still knit? What is it about knitting for you? 92 00:05:22,140 --> 00:05:24,810 Casey Bernard: I mean, I love the finished project, obviously. 93 00:05:24,900 --> 00:05:28,770 And I think we've talked about this before, that I feel like my 94 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:30,990 knitting time is a little bit more limited, because I don't 95 00:05:30,990 --> 00:05:34,560 have as much free time as she... not free time, but she has her 96 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:39,060 own day. She's single, doesn't have kids, she's got the dogs 97 00:05:39,060 --> 00:05:42,120 and the business to run. But, you know, I have kids, I have a 98 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:45,420 job, I have to cook for everybody, and so I feel like my 99 00:05:45,420 --> 00:05:49,590 time is limited. So I want to accomplish something, which may 100 00:05:49,590 --> 00:05:52,680 make me more project-oriented. I'm also just a project-oriented 101 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:59,610 person, I think. In my job I worked on projects. I was just 102 00:05:59,610 --> 00:06:01,950 talking about this with my son last night. I could never have a 103 00:06:01,950 --> 00:06:05,760 job where I think about one thing for like 30 years, and I'm 104 00:06:05,910 --> 00:06:10,890 focused on that one topic. I need some variety. I mean, 105 00:06:11,220 --> 00:06:16,530 knitting is relaxing to me. I'm working on a hat right now that 106 00:06:16,530 --> 00:06:20,490 has taken me so long, because I just haven't had the energy. 107 00:06:21,180 --> 00:06:23,940 Then I'll sit down at the end of the day and I'll start knitting 108 00:06:23,940 --> 00:06:27,060 it, and I fall asleep! Or I'm watching TV and I'm falling 109 00:06:27,060 --> 00:06:31,860 asleep because I've just been really busy. But sometimes when 110 00:06:31,860 --> 00:06:34,680 I'm in the morning getting dressed, my husband will find me 111 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:36,930 standing at the bed, just knitting a row real quick, 112 00:06:36,930 --> 00:06:41,910 because it just kind of like centres me. I just enjoy the 113 00:06:41,910 --> 00:06:45,600 rhythm of having that project going. 114 00:06:46,350 --> 00:06:47,490 Mia Hobbs: Would you knit every day? 115 00:06:48,180 --> 00:06:51,810 Casey Bernard: I would if I had more time. But yeah, I do at 116 00:06:51,810 --> 00:06:55,290 least a little tiny bit, usually. Even if it's one row. 117 00:06:56,710 --> 00:06:59,080 Mia Hobbs: You said you feel like it kind of centres you 118 00:06:59,230 --> 00:07:04,600 or... I don't know if you said it makes you feel calmer. Do you 119 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:07,720 feel like it gives you other things in terms of benefiting 120 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:09,370 your mental wellbeing? 121 00:07:10,270 --> 00:07:16,900 Casey Bernard: Yeah. I'm not a good meditator, and it just kind 122 00:07:16,900 --> 00:07:21,970 of shuts everything out, I guess, and I can just kind of 123 00:07:21,970 --> 00:07:26,770 focus on this thing. And I just love having the the tactile 124 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:33,100 input too, with my hands. And yeah, I like having a finished 125 00:07:33,100 --> 00:07:36,820 project, even if I don't keep it. I think about who I'm going 126 00:07:36,820 --> 00:07:41,020 to give it to and it just allows my mind to kind of like work 127 00:07:41,020 --> 00:07:42,970 through things I'm working on, while I'm working on my 128 00:07:42,970 --> 00:07:43,360 knitting. 129 00:07:43,690 --> 00:07:47,110 Mia Hobbs: Do you feel like the finished product benefits you? 130 00:07:47,260 --> 00:07:51,100 The experience of giving it to someone, or when you wear it, if 131 00:07:51,100 --> 00:07:53,650 someone says, "Oh, did you make your sweater?" or... 132 00:07:53,750 --> 00:07:57,650 Casey Bernard: Oh, for sure! I feel really excited. I made a 133 00:07:57,650 --> 00:07:59,810 Christmas sweater that has a Christmas tree on it, and I'm 134 00:07:59,960 --> 00:08:02,450 like,"Oh, I need to wear my Christmas sweater!" It's the 135 00:08:02,450 --> 00:08:06,440 week I get to wear this. And now, living in Maine, I 136 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:09,980 definitely get benefits from having all the hats and scarves 137 00:08:09,980 --> 00:08:11,330 that I have made, or cowls. 138 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:15,230 Mia Hobbs: As opposed to Texas where you were before? 139 00:08:15,410 --> 00:08:20,720 Casey Bernard: Yeah. I knit some gloves for myself last year and 140 00:08:20,780 --> 00:08:23,780 they really are better than store-bought gloves. They are 141 00:08:23,780 --> 00:08:26,600 warmer. They're just better! 142 00:08:27,710 --> 00:08:30,260 Mia Hobbs: Okay, so you're enjoying that aspect of it. Does 143 00:08:30,260 --> 00:08:33,560 it matter what you knit? Does that make a difference? Like 144 00:08:33,560 --> 00:08:35,600 does it make a difference what the stitch pattern is or the 145 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:36,680 colour or...? 146 00:08:37,700 --> 00:08:41,930 Casey Bernard: I have a tendency to buy the same colour. I find 147 00:08:41,930 --> 00:08:44,900 that I've knit multiple things that look just like the other 148 00:08:44,900 --> 00:08:45,410 thing I knit. 149 00:08:46,500 --> 00:08:50,250 Mia Hobbs: I find I have phases of that. Like at the moment I'd 150 00:08:50,250 --> 00:08:56,370 say I'm in a wine-red phase [laughs] probably influenced by 151 00:08:56,790 --> 00:09:00,900 the season, and then I have other times when I'm like "Oh, 152 00:09:00,930 --> 00:09:03,870 all of my projects are teal! I've just bought more yarn in 153 00:09:03,870 --> 00:09:07,560 that colour!" [Laughs] Does it go in phases like that? Or is it 154 00:09:07,560 --> 00:09:10,470 like overall you tend to knit one colour more than others. 155 00:09:10,990 --> 00:09:13,330 Casey Bernard: I tend to do purples and greens and then I'll 156 00:09:13,330 --> 00:09:18,130 be like "I am not buying more purple yarn!" I really like 157 00:09:18,130 --> 00:09:20,650 black, but black is so hard to knit with because it's hard to 158 00:09:20,650 --> 00:09:23,620 see. I'm working on a sweater right now that's like a grey 159 00:09:23,620 --> 00:09:27,430 marl, like a... it's not variegated, it's kind of a mixed 160 00:09:27,460 --> 00:09:34,840 black and grey. So I've been trying to expand but this last 161 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:37,150 year or so I've been trying really hard not to buy yarn 162 00:09:37,660 --> 00:09:39,910 because I have so much. I've bought so much yarn or I've 163 00:09:39,910 --> 00:09:43,270 received yarn as a gift and I'm just so behind in my production 164 00:09:43,270 --> 00:09:46,030 this year. [Laughs] I don't want to buy any more. 165 00:09:46,690 --> 00:09:48,490 Mia Hobbs: And the stitch pattern? Does that make a 166 00:09:48,490 --> 00:09:49,180 difference? 167 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:53,320 Casey Bernard: I like to mix it up. I like to do some colourwork 168 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:57,730 or I like to do some lace. Staci actually last Christmas bought 169 00:09:57,730 --> 00:10:01,720 me a sweater pattern, and the yarn for it, that's got a little 170 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:05,800 bit of textured stitch pattern, and then it's got some 171 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:10,930 colourwork in it. So it's kind of like a mixture of both. But 172 00:10:10,930 --> 00:10:14,770 sometimes, I like to just sit and knit stockinette. I really 173 00:10:14,770 --> 00:10:22,360 don't like garter stitch. It doesn't matter, necessarily. I 174 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:25,780 will probably not take on a super complicated lace pattern 175 00:10:25,780 --> 00:10:28,540 anytime, if I know that I don't have the time to focus on it. 176 00:10:28,810 --> 00:10:31,570 Mia Hobbs: Sure. Do you have different projects for different 177 00:10:32,050 --> 00:10:36,700 occasions? Like if you're sitting waiting for a kid to do 178 00:10:36,700 --> 00:10:37,660 sports or... 179 00:10:38,950 --> 00:10:40,900 Casey Bernard: Yeah, I usually have a pair of socks that... I 180 00:10:40,900 --> 00:10:44,800 don't really like patterned socks. I like this self-striping 181 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:48,670 yarn. I've knit a couple pairs of socks that have like the lace 182 00:10:48,670 --> 00:10:51,310 pattern in it and I don't really enjoy that. I like my socks to 183 00:10:51,310 --> 00:10:55,000 be simple. And I even really have gotten to where I only want 184 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:59,560 to do one kind of heel and toe. So I usually have a simple thing 185 00:10:59,560 --> 00:11:03,010 like a sock that I can just like carry around that's small. Or 186 00:11:03,010 --> 00:11:05,830 just get that done when I don't have focus but I do want to knit 187 00:11:05,830 --> 00:11:09,520 something that I just need to get a row in. And then I'll 188 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:13,120 usually have something that's got a little more something to 189 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:17,800 it. More pattern to it. But yeah, I usually have at least 190 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:20,860 four projects going on, and one may sit for months before I pick 191 00:11:20,860 --> 00:11:21,430 it up again. 192 00:11:21,630 --> 00:11:23,400 Mia Hobbs: You said you gravitate towards the same 193 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:27,270 colours. I suppose that I have times that I think, "Oh, I want 194 00:11:27,270 --> 00:11:29,730 to knit some bright colour" because I feel like it gives me 195 00:11:29,730 --> 00:11:33,330 a little boost to my mood that day or something. Does it make a 196 00:11:33,330 --> 00:11:35,550 difference when you're working on it? Or are you thinking more 197 00:11:35,550 --> 00:11:38,520 about, "No, I want to WEAR that purple sweater" or whatever it 198 00:11:38,520 --> 00:11:38,760 is. 199 00:11:40,100 --> 00:11:41,660 Casey Bernard: Yeah, so I have this sweater that I'm working 200 00:11:41,660 --> 00:11:46,580 on. It's like a navy blue base and it has a bright gold and 201 00:11:46,580 --> 00:11:50,690 then magenta colour pattern. And when I'm knitting that I'm like, 202 00:11:50,720 --> 00:11:53,840 "Oh, I love these colours so much." And it does make me want 203 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:56,150 to work with it a little bit more. And you get excited! Like 204 00:11:56,270 --> 00:12:00,560 I love the self-striping yarns. The colour changes and so it 205 00:12:00,560 --> 00:12:03,230 gets kind of exciting to switch to the other colour. 206 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:07,380 Mia Hobbs: Yeah. So that keeps your interest going. Is knitting 207 00:12:07,380 --> 00:12:09,390 ever unhelpful for your mental health? 208 00:12:10,230 --> 00:12:12,540 Casey Bernard: Sometimes, when I feel like I have too many 209 00:12:12,540 --> 00:12:15,750 projects going on and I feel a sense of dread... not dread, but 210 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:21,090 I feel like it's just another thing on my list. Like right now 211 00:12:21,090 --> 00:12:24,300 I've been trying to make some hats using a little knitting 212 00:12:24,300 --> 00:12:29,250 machine. My friend has a shop here in town and she asked me to 213 00:12:29,250 --> 00:12:32,520 make a few hats. And it was enjoyable, but at the same time 214 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:36,600 it felt like a chore. I would never want to do it for a job. I 215 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:40,020 would never try to sell my stuff because I don't enjoy that 216 00:12:40,020 --> 00:12:41,880 feeling of having to get it done. 217 00:12:42,540 --> 00:12:44,130 Mia Hobbs: So were they like shop samples? 218 00:12:44,810 --> 00:12:49,190 Casey Bernard: No, I just made like six or eight little hats 219 00:12:49,190 --> 00:12:51,140 that you can make on the little crank machine. 220 00:12:51,000 --> 00:13:00,210 Casey Bernard: Yeah. Or, you know, I made a hat for a friend 221 00:12:51,120 --> 00:12:55,049 Mia Hobbs: Yeah. So then it felt like pressure. 222 00:13:00,210 --> 00:13:02,820 that we went to dinner with the other day and the dog ate it. 223 00:13:02,820 --> 00:13:02,850 [Laughs] 224 00:13:03,780 --> 00:13:04,440 Mia Hobbs: Your dog? 225 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:06,090 Casey Bernard: Yeah, right before we left. 226 00:13:06,090 --> 00:13:06,510 Mia Hobbs: Oh no! 227 00:13:07,050 --> 00:13:08,880 Casey Bernard: He just like grabbed it and pulled on it, and 228 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:14,400 so it kind of ruined it. When you're making something for 229 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:17,760 somebody as a gift for a specific day, it was just like 230 00:13:17,940 --> 00:13:19,230 that kind of same feeling. 231 00:13:19,380 --> 00:13:25,590 Mia Hobbs: Yeah, sure. I'm not great with deadline knitting. I 232 00:13:25,590 --> 00:13:29,880 think I couldn't also do it as a job. I think it would reduce the 233 00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:37,260 enjoyment, and it wouldn't be relaxing. Are you gifting a lot 234 00:13:37,260 --> 00:13:39,150 of the things you make, or mainly for yourself? 235 00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:41,940 Casey Bernard: No. I mean, sometimes I'll knit something 236 00:13:41,940 --> 00:13:44,220 and maybe the socks come out a little too big, and I'll give 237 00:13:44,250 --> 00:13:46,650 them to a friend. Or while I'm knitting this hat that I'm 238 00:13:46,650 --> 00:13:48,420 working on that's taking forever, I'm thinking about 239 00:13:48,420 --> 00:13:53,160 giving it to a friend, just because I have a lot of hats and 240 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:58,890 I thought she might like a hat. I've knit for my husband, I'll 241 00:13:58,890 --> 00:14:06,780 knit for my kids. My son wants a scarf so I'm going to use my 242 00:14:06,780 --> 00:14:08,130 machine to make him a scarf. 243 00:14:08,670 --> 00:14:11,580 Mia Hobbs: So they're still good recipients of knitted gifts? 244 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:13,130 Casey Bernard: Yeah, they recognise the need for it! 245 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:15,710 Mia Hobbs: Oh yeah, now that you're living somewhere cold! 246 00:14:18,650 --> 00:14:21,410 Okay. I wonder, Casey, if you could tell me about a 247 00:14:21,410 --> 00:14:23,150 significant knitting project. 248 00:14:23,630 --> 00:14:25,070 Casey Bernard: Significant in what way? 249 00:14:25,630 --> 00:14:27,220 Mia Hobbs: Any way. Some people have spoken about something they 250 00:14:27,220 --> 00:14:30,190 were knitting at a specific time in their life, or it could be 251 00:14:37,930 --> 00:14:40,510 when you mastered some certain skill, or it could be the first 252 00:14:40,510 --> 00:14:43,420 thing you ever made, or a complete disaster. It could be 253 00:14:43,420 --> 00:14:43,750 anything! 254 00:14:45,460 --> 00:14:48,250 Casey Bernard: Well, I think about this sweater that I made. 255 00:14:48,250 --> 00:14:51,130 I bought this mohair yarn (this is when I was a new knitter), 256 00:14:51,280 --> 00:14:54,700 beautiful mohair yarn, and there was a pattern in interweave 257 00:14:54,700 --> 00:15:00,430 knit. And I didn't really (obviously) understand gauge. So 258 00:15:01,360 --> 00:15:08,650 I had like an extra 12 inches of fabric on my sleeves. It was 259 00:15:08,770 --> 00:15:12,340 this pillowy, lovely thing and I worked so hard on it. It was 260 00:15:12,340 --> 00:15:18,010 huge. And I got everything right but yeah, it was gigantic. So it 261 00:15:18,010 --> 00:15:22,270 really was a lesson to me, how to do that properly. 262 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:28,180 Mia Hobbs: What became of it? Mohair's also horrendous to rip 263 00:15:28,180 --> 00:15:28,780 back, isn't it? 264 00:15:28,780 --> 00:15:33,400 Casey Bernard: I know! I gave it to Goodwill, to the charity 265 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:36,640 shops. So hopefully somebody found it and is loving it. 266 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:37,720 Mia Hobbs: Yeah. I'm sure they are. 267 00:15:38,230 --> 00:15:42,220 Casey Bernard: Yeah. But I do think a lot about... I had this 268 00:15:42,220 --> 00:15:47,020 purse that I made that was pretty intricate intarsia, and 269 00:15:47,020 --> 00:15:50,080 then it was felted, and I just really love it. I forget about 270 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:51,970 it every once in a while and then I'll find it. And I'm like, 271 00:15:52,060 --> 00:15:55,750 "This is gorgeous, a gorgeous design". It's got a big flower 272 00:15:55,750 --> 00:16:02,050 on it. So I just remember that was a complicated piece, and I 273 00:16:02,110 --> 00:16:05,050 stuck with it and made a nice little thing out of it. 274 00:16:05,410 --> 00:16:06,250 Mia Hobbs: And you still have it? 275 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:07,150 Casey Bernard: Mm-hmm. 276 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:08,290 Mia Hobbs: Did you make it a while ago? 277 00:16:08,590 --> 00:16:11,890 Casey Bernard: Oh, yeah. It's been probably 10+ years. 278 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:16,240 Mia Hobbs: That's great. I also normally ask about a knitting 279 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:21,640 high and a knitting low. They could be events; they don't have 280 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:22,900 to be projects. 281 00:16:25,210 --> 00:16:30,670 Casey Bernard: A knitting low is when I've worked so hard on 282 00:16:30,670 --> 00:16:34,540 something and then it comes out and it doesn't fit right or 283 00:16:34,540 --> 00:16:42,760 doesn't look the way you wanted it to look. But a high... last 284 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:46,450 year I finished a sweater that's got this rainbow variegated 285 00:16:46,450 --> 00:16:51,730 yarn, and it's a super basic sweater. It's just a pullover, 286 00:16:52,510 --> 00:16:57,580 but it's like a sweatshirt: cosy. It makes me happy every 287 00:16:57,580 --> 00:17:01,390 time I put it on. I purposely knit it knowing that in the dark 288 00:17:01,390 --> 00:17:05,200 winter days here, I would be like, "I need some happy rainbow 289 00:17:05,500 --> 00:17:10,270 in my life". [Laughs] So this rainbow sweater... it's cosy and 290 00:17:10,540 --> 00:17:13,210 every time I put it on, I'm like "I need to make another sweater 291 00:17:13,210 --> 00:17:15,070 like this because it's so comfortable." 292 00:17:15,820 --> 00:17:16,870 Mia Hobbs: Is it quite a thick yarn? 293 00:17:17,380 --> 00:17:23,350 Casey Bernard: No it's DK. It's really soft. It fits me 294 00:17:23,350 --> 00:17:27,100 perfectly, and it just fit the bill, you know? 295 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:29,470 Mia Hobbs: So that's something that makes you feel happy when 296 00:17:29,470 --> 00:17:30,070 you put it on? 297 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:31,690 Casey Bernard: Yeah, for sure. 298 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:34,180 Mia Hobbs: And with the lows, are you someone who will rip 299 00:17:34,180 --> 00:17:37,240 back if it's not looking how you want it to? 300 00:17:36,930 --> 00:17:40,135 Casey Bernard: Yeah, for sure. And there's been many projects 301 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:37,960 Mia Hobbs: Put it in the naughty corner! 302 00:17:37,960 --> 00:17:38,620 Casey Bernard: Yeah, for sure. 303 00:17:40,205 --> 00:17:44,386 that I've ripped back and then just given up on, and put the 304 00:17:44,290 --> 00:17:54,310 Mia Hobbs: But do you feel like that gets any easier over time? 305 00:17:44,455 --> 00:17:47,940 yarn away and can't figure out what to do with it. 306 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:58,260 Casey Bernard: Yeah, especially when you're a project knitter 307 00:17:58,260 --> 00:18:03,240 like me, and I was a younger knitter, I hated to rip stuff 308 00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:07,470 back, and I would just deal with the mistake. But now I 309 00:18:07,470 --> 00:18:10,320 recognise, no, you want to have that thing look good and you 310 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:15,180 want it to look right. It makes such a difference. I'm thinking 311 00:18:15,180 --> 00:18:20,670 about a tank top that I made. The whole back was lace and it 312 00:18:20,670 --> 00:18:25,470 was with a thick yarn so it didn't take forever, but I must 313 00:18:25,470 --> 00:18:29,670 have pulled that thing apart like three or four times. And I 314 00:18:29,670 --> 00:18:32,130 was so frustrated when I was doing it, but I'm glad that I 315 00:18:32,130 --> 00:18:34,680 did because the final product is perfect! 316 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:40,720 Mia Hobbs: I suppose I feel like I've got more tolerant of 317 00:18:40,750 --> 00:18:46,810 ripping back, the longer I've been knitting. I've accepted now 318 00:18:47,500 --> 00:18:51,010 that that's just part of... like all knitters make mistakes, 319 00:18:51,010 --> 00:18:55,240 that's just how it goes. And sometimes I'll rip stuff back, 320 00:18:55,270 --> 00:18:57,190 especially maybe at the beginning of a project, trying 321 00:18:57,190 --> 00:19:04,150 to get something right. But I often think if I was cast on a 322 00:19:04,150 --> 00:19:07,270 desert island with one ball of yarn, and I didn't need it to 323 00:19:08,290 --> 00:19:12,070 catch fish to eat or something, I would still knit, even if I 324 00:19:12,070 --> 00:19:14,860 had so little I couldn't make a thing. I don't know whether you 325 00:19:14,860 --> 00:19:15,160 would? 326 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:18,610 Casey Bernard: Yeah, for sure. I would probably start finding 327 00:19:18,610 --> 00:19:23,020 ways to turn palm tree leaves into yarn or something like 328 00:19:23,020 --> 00:19:23,590 that. [Laughs] 329 00:19:24,520 --> 00:19:25,870 Mia Hobbs: Very resourceful. 330 00:19:26,530 --> 00:19:28,840 Casey Bernard: Well, I learned how to do basket weaving a 331 00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:33,190 couple months ago, so now I see, "I could make baskets out of 332 00:19:33,190 --> 00:19:35,830 that!" But basket weaving and knitting... there's a lot of 333 00:19:35,830 --> 00:19:41,440 similarities! You have fibre and you're weaving. But finding 334 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:46,240 fibre in different kinds of plants... yeah, I would totally 335 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:50,950 do that. [Laughs] Weaving and taking the strings out of 336 00:19:50,950 --> 00:19:52,780 coconuts and turning it into yarn. 337 00:19:53,890 --> 00:19:55,780 Mia Hobbs: I didn't even think about all of these things! 338 00:19:55,780 --> 00:20:00,850 [Laughs] I think I feel like I'm more tolerant of ripping back, 339 00:20:01,120 --> 00:20:05,470 and that maybe I've become more process-focused in other areas 340 00:20:05,470 --> 00:20:07,840 of my life. I don't know what you think... whether there's 341 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:09,730 been any overspill from knitting? 342 00:20:10,170 --> 00:20:14,190 Casey Bernard: Yeah. Like I said, I'm a project-based person 343 00:20:14,190 --> 00:20:19,050 anyway, but I've got a lot more patience with myself. And like, 344 00:20:19,230 --> 00:20:22,170 a hat that I'm working on that should not take this long, is 345 00:20:22,170 --> 00:20:25,380 taking me a couple months... it's like, whatever. There's no 346 00:20:25,380 --> 00:20:30,360 deadline. I'll always have something going on. Although my 347 00:20:30,360 --> 00:20:32,640 husband... I'm working on a sweater for him and I have put 348 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:35,070 it away and have not picked it up again, and he's like, 349 00:20:35,070 --> 00:20:35,910 "Where's my sweater?!" 350 00:20:36,810 --> 00:20:39,210 Mia Hobbs: Okay. But I guess at least he's keen for the end 351 00:20:39,210 --> 00:20:40,830 product, which is also a good thing. 352 00:20:41,250 --> 00:20:47,760 Casey Bernard: Yeah. It's one of those big oversized cardigans. 353 00:20:49,110 --> 00:20:50,760 The Big Lebowski sweater. 354 00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:54,620 Mia Hobbs: Oh, yeah. I guess that is probably one of the 355 00:20:54,620 --> 00:20:57,830 bigger things to knit, isn't it? An oversized man's sweater? 356 00:20:59,030 --> 00:21:00,950 That's a not insignificant project. 357 00:21:01,320 --> 00:21:04,080 Casey Bernard: Yeah. And the yarn is just not super 358 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:07,140 forgiving. So I think I put it away mostly because there's a 359 00:21:07,140 --> 00:21:11,310 pattern to it, and it was getting warmer, and I didn't 360 00:21:11,310 --> 00:21:15,690 want this giant thing in my lap. I just haven't had the time. 361 00:21:15,690 --> 00:21:18,180 Like I said, I haven't really had a lot of time and energy to 362 00:21:18,180 --> 00:21:23,100 knit. My kids have to get to school earlier here than they 363 00:21:23,100 --> 00:21:26,520 used to in Texas, and normally I would stay up late at night and 364 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:30,810 I just can't do that because I have to get up so early here. So 365 00:21:30,810 --> 00:21:34,980 I'm really tired! It's messing up my circadian rhythms and my 366 00:21:34,980 --> 00:21:38,160 knitting rhythm, staying up when everybody else is in bed. 367 00:21:39,900 --> 00:21:42,510 Mia Hobbs: Do you need an easier project for times like that? 368 00:21:42,990 --> 00:21:45,540 Reading a pattern, if you're tired, it's just too much and 369 00:21:45,540 --> 00:21:46,470 you need something... 370 00:21:46,990 --> 00:21:47,410 Casey Bernard: Yeah. 371 00:21:50,410 --> 00:21:53,200 Mia Hobbs: Sure. I guess getting back into it is probably a 372 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:55,570 challenge in itself, finding where you were in the pattern. 373 00:21:56,080 --> 00:21:56,740 Casey Bernard: Yeah, for sure. 374 00:21:57,700 --> 00:22:00,670 Mia Hobbs: Okay. Casey, I always end with asking what's the 375 00:22:00,670 --> 00:22:04,030 biggest gift knitting has given you for the rest of your life? 376 00:22:04,810 --> 00:22:07,570 Casey Bernard: That's a good question. I mean, if I'm stuck 377 00:22:07,570 --> 00:22:09,940 on a desert island, I can make clothes. 378 00:22:11,020 --> 00:22:12,490 Mia Hobbs: [Laughs] Yes! You won't be naked; you've made a 379 00:22:12,490 --> 00:22:13,420 bikini before. 380 00:22:13,690 --> 00:22:16,390 Casey Bernard: That's right! I'm going to pull those coconut 381 00:22:16,390 --> 00:22:20,290 strands and make some yarn. No, I just feel like it's always an 382 00:22:20,290 --> 00:22:26,260 opportunity to make something for someone or, you know, have 383 00:22:27,100 --> 00:22:30,610 that... I kind of feel sorry for people who don't have a hobby 384 00:22:30,610 --> 00:22:34,660 like knitting, and they don't have a thing that they can claim 385 00:22:34,660 --> 00:22:36,910 to be their own; that they'll just spend all their days 386 00:22:36,910 --> 00:22:43,390 watching Netflix or whatever. It just feels like I have this 387 00:22:43,390 --> 00:22:47,830 special talent and special magic, that I can turn something 388 00:22:47,830 --> 00:22:48,580 into something. 389 00:22:50,530 --> 00:22:53,770 Mia Hobbs: Okay. So for you, it's about the magic of the 390 00:22:54,490 --> 00:22:58,510 creative process or the crafting process, that you've got this 391 00:22:58,510 --> 00:23:02,830 special skill that you can make something like that. 392 00:23:03,370 --> 00:23:05,590 Casey Bernard: Even in times when I'm not knitting a lot, I 393 00:23:05,590 --> 00:23:08,440 will always know how to knit. And I will always be able to 394 00:23:09,220 --> 00:23:13,420 help somebody learn how to knit. I can't imagine not creating 395 00:23:13,420 --> 00:23:14,830 something all the time. 396 00:23:15,410 --> 00:23:17,240 Mia Hobbs: So it sounds like even before you found knitting 397 00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:20,450 you were a person who was making things with your hands or doing 398 00:23:20,450 --> 00:23:22,400 things like crafting, I suppose. 399 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:24,580 Casey Bernard: Right. Like I have my little macrame here. 400 00:23:24,650 --> 00:23:28,550 Mia Hobbs: Yeah, they're amazing! So have you got other 401 00:23:28,550 --> 00:23:30,980 hobbies on the go, as well as knitting, like that kind of 402 00:23:30,980 --> 00:23:33,980 thing still? Or do you think knitting has kind of superseded 403 00:23:33,980 --> 00:23:34,610 the others? 404 00:23:34,810 --> 00:23:37,390 Casey Bernard: Yeah, knitting is the thing because I can pick it 405 00:23:37,390 --> 00:23:41,620 up and put it down, I can travel with it. Like I said, I started 406 00:23:41,620 --> 00:23:43,570 with cross stitch, and I didn't like that I had to get all the 407 00:23:43,570 --> 00:23:46,900 strings out and figure out what colour I was on, and I felt like 408 00:23:46,900 --> 00:23:50,620 it just was... Anything that takes too much setup time, like 409 00:23:50,620 --> 00:23:54,370 sewing to me takes up too much setup time. I like to have 410 00:23:54,370 --> 00:23:57,640 something that I can just stand there, knit a row, get it done, 411 00:23:57,910 --> 00:24:02,500 get a little creative energy out and move on. 412 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:04,280 Mia Hobbs: I think that's a really common thing, in the 413 00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:07,040 conversations I've had, certainly. When I was talking to 414 00:24:07,370 --> 00:24:10,610 Betsan Corkhill who talks about therapeutic knitting, about why 415 00:24:10,610 --> 00:24:15,380 it's so helpful, it's that it's very accessible. I think a lot 416 00:24:15,380 --> 00:24:19,250 of people return to it after having kids. So having small 417 00:24:19,250 --> 00:24:22,160 children and needing to do something for themselves. I 418 00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:26,060 think that's a common story. And you can just do... you know, 419 00:24:26,060 --> 00:24:28,340 when a baby sleeps you never quite know how long that's going 420 00:24:28,340 --> 00:24:31,400 to be for! [Laughs] You could do one row or you could end up 421 00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:35,000 doing a couple of inches of something or other. 422 00:24:34,619 --> 00:24:38,729 Casey Bernard: Yeah. And I love it for aeroplane travel and all 423 00:24:38,729 --> 00:24:40,619 those times when you're just sitting and waiting. There's a 424 00:24:40,619 --> 00:24:43,049 lot of times when I've been like, "Oh, I don't have a pair 425 00:24:43,049 --> 00:24:45,419 of socks going and I'm sitting here at the doctor's office. 426 00:24:45,449 --> 00:24:46,319 What am I doing? 427 00:24:48,740 --> 00:24:51,560 Mia Hobbs: I once had to wait some really long waiting times 428 00:24:51,560 --> 00:24:54,470 for some appointments for my eye. I was there for three hours 429 00:24:54,470 --> 00:24:57,380 and everyone else in the waiting room's phone battery had died 430 00:24:57,440 --> 00:25:03,140 hours ago and I'd been doing... I don't love just stockinette, 431 00:25:03,170 --> 00:25:07,760 generally. I quite like... Like with a yoked sweater, I'm super 432 00:25:07,760 --> 00:25:10,520 interested in the colourwork yoke, and then it gets to the 433 00:25:10,550 --> 00:25:13,520 inches and inches of just knitting in the round, and I get 434 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:16,850 a bit bored really? So for my knitting in the evening, 435 00:25:16,850 --> 00:25:20,030 watching TV, that generally isn't enough to sustain my 436 00:25:20,090 --> 00:25:24,410 attention. But it was great for sitting in a waiting room in a 437 00:25:24,410 --> 00:25:27,320 hospital, because then I felt like I'd achieved three inches 438 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:30,980 of a sleeve. Whereas everybody else was sitting there by the 439 00:25:30,980 --> 00:25:32,270 end, just watching my hands move. [Laughs] 440 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:35,930 Casey Bernard: Yeah, for sure. 441 00:25:36,440 --> 00:25:38,990 Mia Hobbs: And I suppose for me, I think my feeling of the 442 00:25:38,990 --> 00:25:41,330 superpower is slightly different. It's more that I have 443 00:25:41,330 --> 00:25:45,170 this hobby I can whip out at any point that makes me feel calmer 444 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:50,630 and gives me a sense of purpose. And that's the way I feel the 445 00:25:50,630 --> 00:25:54,500 superpower, rather than turning something into... using sticks 446 00:25:54,500 --> 00:25:57,320 and a ball of string or coconut fibre or whatever you're using 447 00:25:57,320 --> 00:25:59,090 to make something. [Laughs] 448 00:25:59,090 --> 00:26:01,940 Casey Bernard: Yeah. And it's so much better than scrolling on 449 00:26:01,940 --> 00:26:04,820 your phone, for sure, in a waiting room. 450 00:26:05,210 --> 00:26:07,070 Mia Hobbs: Do you feel like it makes you feel different from 451 00:26:07,370 --> 00:26:08,420 scrolling on your phone? 452 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:10,940 Casey Bernard: Oh yeah! Scrolling just makes you more 453 00:26:10,940 --> 00:26:16,310 anxious and more frustrated, or feeling like you need to buy 454 00:26:16,310 --> 00:26:21,170 something or all those different feelings you have. Knitting - 455 00:26:21,500 --> 00:26:25,670 it's a sense of accomplishment. Sometimes it's frustrating, but 456 00:26:25,670 --> 00:26:28,340 it's a totally different feeling. 457 00:26:28,450 --> 00:26:31,300 Mia Hobbs: Mm. I was interested in something you said earlier 458 00:26:31,300 --> 00:26:36,100 about the idea that it gives your mind a chance to think 459 00:26:36,100 --> 00:26:40,570 about other things, or almost like process things while you're 460 00:26:40,570 --> 00:26:41,110 doing it. 461 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:46,310 Casey Bernard: Yeah, for sure. I mean, it's like meditation in 462 00:26:46,310 --> 00:26:50,240 some ways, especially if you're on a long stockinette thing, and 463 00:26:50,240 --> 00:26:52,490 you don't really have to think about what you're knitting. Just 464 00:26:52,490 --> 00:26:55,610 to be able to do that. You can be working on other things in 465 00:26:55,610 --> 00:26:56,030 your head. 466 00:26:56,990 --> 00:26:59,210 Mia Hobbs: Yeah. Do you think you're deliberately doing that, 467 00:26:59,210 --> 00:27:01,460 or do you think that's just what happens? 468 00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:04,000 Casey Bernard: Well, I think that my brain is going all the 469 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:09,430 time. [Laughs] It just happens that knitting is giving me 470 00:27:09,430 --> 00:27:12,670 something to work on while it's running in the background. 471 00:27:13,330 --> 00:27:16,120 Mia Hobbs: Do you think that's why you find knitting an easier 472 00:27:16,120 --> 00:27:19,330 way to access calm than traditional meditation, because 473 00:27:19,360 --> 00:27:21,670 you are someone with quite a busy brain? 474 00:27:22,030 --> 00:27:23,260 Casey Bernard: Yeah, I think so. 475 00:27:23,350 --> 00:27:24,760 Mia Hobbs: Yeah, I think that's true for me. 476 00:27:25,450 --> 00:27:28,840 Casey Bernard: Having your hands moving, you can see that sensory 477 00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:29,740 feedback too. 478 00:27:33,650 --> 00:27:35,630 Mia Hobbs: Great. Well, Casey, it's been super interesting to 479 00:27:35,630 --> 00:27:39,890 talk to you. If anyone wants to find out more about your 480 00:27:39,890 --> 00:27:44,660 knitting, or follow you on Instagram, or the podcast, how 481 00:27:44,660 --> 00:27:46,190 would they find out about those things? 482 00:27:46,900 --> 00:27:50,830 Casey Bernard: My Instagram is @kc.knits - that's where I'm 483 00:27:50,830 --> 00:27:53,860 more active, although lately I've been kind of taking a 484 00:27:53,860 --> 00:27:58,660 little bit of a break. I have a website, www.kcknits.com - it's 485 00:27:58,660 --> 00:28:01,690 the letter K and the letter C, even though that's not how you 486 00:28:01,690 --> 00:28:06,460 spell my name [laughs]. And then our podcast is the VeryPink 487 00:28:06,490 --> 00:28:10,990 Knits podcast. You can get it on any podcast app. And we're on 488 00:28:10,990 --> 00:28:15,310 Patreon. We have extra episodes for our Patreon subscribers 489 00:28:15,310 --> 00:28:20,530 only. And VeryPink Knits is Staci Perry's YouTube channel 490 00:28:20,530 --> 00:28:23,590 for all the tutorials and knitting lessons you need. 491 00:28:23,890 --> 00:28:29,800 Mia Hobbs: The podcast is a Q&A about knitting-related dilemmas. 492 00:28:31,180 --> 00:28:35,590 Thank you for your public service. [Laughs] Okay, great. 493 00:28:35,590 --> 00:28:36,880 Thank you so much, Casey! 494 00:28:37,150 --> 00:28:38,710 Casey Bernard: Sure! Thanks for having me. 495 00:28:43,910 --> 00:28:45,950 Mia Hobbs: Thank you so much for listening to the Why I Knit 496 00:28:45,950 --> 00:28:48,620 podcast. If you'd like to find out more about therapeutic 497 00:28:48,620 --> 00:28:50,900 knitting, you can follow me on Instagram at 498 00:28:50,930 --> 00:28:53,660 @knittingistherapeutic, or at my website 499 00:28:53,660 --> 00:28:56,810 www.therapeuticknitting.org. If you're enjoying the podcast, I 500 00:28:56,810 --> 00:28:59,270 would really appreciate it if you could leave a rating and a 501 00:28:59,270 --> 00:29:02,840 review on your podcast app. This will help grow the podcast and 502 00:29:02,840 --> 00:29:05,180 let more people know about the therapeutic benefits of 503 00:29:05,180 --> 00:29:08,150 knitting. And don't forget to subscribe too. Thank you!