BY CINDY PAO, with contributions from SHARON BURTON, VICI KOSTER-LENHARDT, JULIA LAND, CHERYL LANDES, MARCIA RIEFER JOHNSTON, JAMYE SAGAN, VAL SWISHER, and DANIELLE VILLEGAS
There was a time in my life where all I could think about was knitting. Work was stressful, and knitting helped me leave all that in the office. I soon found that there are many like-minded individuals with in STC. We found each other at the Summit, and then we connected online in places like Twitter. Here is our story:
Who taught you to knit?
Marcia, Val, Sharon, and Vici learned from their moms. Jamye learned from her friend’s mom. Cindy and Julia’s grandmas taught them to knit. Danielle taught herself. Cheryl’s third-grade teacher taught her to knit. (It was a class assignment for girls and boys!)
These people taught us the basics. Today, we take classes at yarn shops and online, we seek advice from each other in hotel lobbies and at restaurants, and we turn to YouTube for free videos when we’re trying to learn something new.
What do you like most about knitting?
It’s relaxing, cheap therapy, and stress relief. Knitting can also be challenging, and it is definitely productive.
You work with some of the prettiest colors, finest fibers, and most complicated stitches.
But Sharon summed it up in this beautiful way: “Making something from sticks and string with my own hands. Giving people I care about handmade gifts. I’m giving them my time.”
What do you dislike about knitting?
Hands down: Fighting with tangled yarn and making mistakes, especially the ones you find several rows later. Frogging your work is no fun! (Yarn-speak for tear it out. Rip it! Rip it! Get it?!)
Why is knitting like tech comm?
Knitting and tech comm work your brain. The neat thing is that doing both activities helps you work both sides!
You must be patient, curious, methodical, systematic, and organized to communicate technical information and knit a sweater.
You often learn as you go along, even though you have a requirements document or a pattern.
Accuracy in your directions and in patterns is crucial! Even minor errors can throw all of the other directions off.
Don’t forget to do your audience analysis so that you create the right thing: Online help or user guide? Bunny slippers or rainbow socks? Hard copy or soft copy? Machine wash or hand wash?
Fortunately, after all that effort, there is something deeply satisfying about what you produce.
Final Thoughts
Danielle added this: “Knitting has been a huge catalyst in helping me to get to know many of the women who are involved in this article. I first connected with Sharon Burton on Twitter because we had both tech comm and knitting in common. When I went to my first tech comm event, she invited me to a yarn crawl with her, Sarah O’Keefe, Marcia Johnston, and Val Swisher. It was these new connections that formed new friendships, and knowing these ladies has helped me meet more people.”
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I’m also a technical communicator addicted to knitting. My husband noticed years ago that many people shackled to computer screens all day will take up 3-D hobbies such as knitting (or Legos) to relax. Knitting also helps ease my arthritis – the motions are different from typing.
Add me to the list of tech comm knitters! I have been knitting for almost 20 years and still find the process rewarding, challenging, and most of all fun. That last one is so important.