Spotlight On: Laura Broach

Who taught you how to knit?
My mother taught me how to knit when I was about nine years old and I made a long red scarf. I didn’t knit again until I was in my early twenties and some nice yarn store ladies in San Francisco guided me and a friend, step by step, through knitting our first sweaters together. I am so grateful for their kindness and patience! Local yarn stores rock! Over the years, I have continued to learn from my knitting friends – and now I learn so many fun tips and tricks from my knitting students!

What is it that you love most about knitting?
There are so, so many aspects of knitting that I love: the creative process when planning a project, the opportunity to learn new techniques, the puzzle-solving skills needed when something goes wrong, and especially the meditative, rhythmic motion of moving two needles together to create fabric. But most importantly, I love being part of a local community of knitters who share the same hobby and can learn and laugh together – while also continuing a long tradition of the knitting craft around the world and throughout history.

What is your favorite item to knit?
While I love to make sweaters because there are so many interesting and fun patterns and squishy yarns, I always have a pair of stripe-y socks on the needles. They’re easy once you get the hang of it and they’re portable so I carry them everywhere I go. Now I have so many that I only wear handknit socks in the winter!

What is it that you love most about teaching others to knit?
Teaching people how to knit is so satisfying because the students are being introduced to a new hobby that can change their lives. It’s deeply rewarding to watch adults tackle something challenging, take risks, and learn new skills in pursuit of a craft that often becomes a meaningful part of their daily lives.

What advice do you have for new knitters?
My best advice for new knitters is to practice, practice, practice – and be patient with yourself. Most importantly, find someone to support you! Knitting may seem like a solitary hobby, but it’s much more fun as a group activity!

Bonus Question: What is your secret knitting super power?
My secret knitting super power is that I can read while I knit! I am an avid reader, so most evenings, you can find me snuggled up with my labradoodle beside me, knitting socks or a sweater and reading on my Kindle. I realized I could do this when I was in graduate school and had huge, heavy books to read. I would set them on the table at my local coffee shop, and hold my knitting in my lap. It worked! And the repetitive knitting helped me concentrate on my reading material. Now it's so delightful to have two hobbies that fit together so well.