Donita Westman
About Me...
About Me…
Many years ago, Martha’s mother taught her to knit in an (unsuccessful) attempt to keep her quiet. Martha loves the soothing, meditative rhythms of knitting and is fascinated by its technical aspects. After more than 20 years in the corporate world she retired in order to spend a more appropriate amount of time knitting.
She is a regular at Meg Swansen’s Knitting Camp each summer, but was expelled from the Achtung School of Knitting for spray-painting “You Are the Boss of Your Knitting” across the front of the administration building.
Instructor Q&A
How did you first learn to knit?
I was 10 years old and home sick from school. Not sick enough to be quiet, though. My mother had five pre-school children (did I mention I come from a big family?) and was getting pretty desperate, as you can imagine. So she cast on about 80 stitches and taught me the knit stitch. The knitting took. Being quiet, not so much.
What’s the first thing you ever knit?
The scarf my mother started me on. It was red worsted weight wool, garter stitch, on size 4 needles. Man, did it grow slowly!
What’s your best knitting memory?
Dale Long admiring my lace shawl. He was a truly gifted knitter and I felt honored.
What’s your best funny knitting story?
I entered a contest whose title was “Just Because You Can Doesn’t Mean You Should.” My entry was an alpaca lace toilet seat cover (it’s cushy for your tushy!). We were required to give a two-minute presentation and I was practicing it with friends at our local Panera’s. A man at a nearby table overheard me and laughed so hard we almost had to resuscitate him. Upon reflection, I realize you don’t see people bringing toilet seats into Panera’s every day. P.S. I won the contest.
What’s on your needles (or hook) right now?
A coat, heaven help me. I hope I get it done before next winter.
What’s your favorite place to knit?
Anyplace there are other knitters!
What are your favorite kinds of knitting projects?
I love ’em all. I think it is just magical that you can take a one-dimensional piece of string and turn it into a three-dimensional object by waving two pointy sticks around.
What’s your most irresistible fiber temptation?
Bamboo. If water were dry it would feel like that.
What’s your best advice for beginners?
Start with wool yarn and bamboo needles. If you drop a stitch, it won’t go anywhere. It will just sit there quietly while you figure out what to do.
Why do you love to teach?
It’s so rewarding to see the light come on and the tension drain away as people realize that there’s no wrong in knitting. There’s only do you like what’s happening or don’t you. And if you don’t we’ll just try another approach. It’s all good.
614 Knit Studio Instructors
Terri Meehan
Terri learned to crochet at the tender age of 5, and then again at 12 when it finally stuck. She learned to knit as a teenager, and again about 12 years ago when that finally stuck. Over the years, she’s shared her love of fiber crafting as she taught many friends and family to knit and crochet.
Susan Griffith
Susan learned to knit about 25 years ago while working on the foreign desk of a money management firm – she needed something to fill her time when she got out of work at 2pm and the rest of the world was still sitting at their desks.
Andrea Panzica
Andrea grew up in an artful home, so it seems reasonable that she would choose fashion design as her field of study. However, upon graduating college in said field, she promptly went into the restaurant…
Beth Monahan
Beth began her love of knitting and crocheting when she was 6 years old and made her first sweater at the age of 7. Beth received a Bachelor Degree in Art Education from The Ohio State University where she...