In an exciting new twist to my product reviews, I’m going to try something different: an interview! 

I’ve recently come across a wonderful Etsy shop, Swaddle Me Softly, which has the most adorable knitted gifts for babies and small children!  I interviewed the creator, Adonia, who is also the mother of twins(!) and she offered one of her special Lion Adventures Hat & Tail Set as a giveaway prize to one of my readers at Twice Blessed Life – Raising Twins Heartistically!

Adonia, when did you start knitting?

Not so long ago actually! Around three and a half years ago, I had the opportunity to get together with one of my aunts, who knits very professionally (she has knitted ornaments for the President’s Christmas tree, and mastered Japanese knitting!) She took the time one afternoon to teach me the basics, as well as a few helpful tips. It was a great start, and I was off! From there, I am mostly self taught, which has given me a lot of space to find out what works and what doesn’t, as well as the creativity to make my own patterns.

Wow! You’re the mother of twin toddler boys!  When do you find the time to knit your beautiful creations?

Haha! Good question, I wonder that myself sometimes… I get the bulk of my knitting in while the boys are napping or after they have gone to bed. Occasionally I can get them to play together nicely for a good chunk of time, and I just “supervise” while I am super-focused-speed-knitting for 15 or 20 minutes.

When you design a new item, do you work from a basic pattern, or do you make it up as you go?

When I get an idea for a new item, I am completely smitten with it! I can’t stop thinking about it, and I’ll spend hours awake at night constructing it in my head: how it will look, how to practically put it together, what problems I’ll encounter, and how to resolve them. Then the next day, I take the pattern in my head and put it on the needles! I have to write down the process as I go, or else I won’t be able to replicate it later. Sometimes I have to adjust a few things, but usually my piece of work turns out as planned, or better.  

Do you multitask while you knit – what kind of music do you listen to, shows you watch, etc, while you knit?

Most of my projects are rather complex. I have to do a lot of counting stitches, increasing, decreasing, buttonholes, etc., all on fairly tiny items. So usually, my knitting time is KNITTING TIME. When I am very focused, I keep consistency and quality in my work. If I do have a larger, more simple item (like a blanket) then I enjoy working on it while watching a movie with my family, or talking with a friend. Then the time just flies! I do enjoy my knitting time, though. It’s peaceful, relaxing, and I can think about things (unlike when I have two little boys jumping and climbing all over me!) Knitting is almost always a nice break.

Are there any keepsake hand-made items that you’ve kept from your own baby-hood/childhood?  What’s the story behind it – who made it, etc…?

You know, I really don’t! I do have a blanket and pillow I got from the hospital when I was born, and I still really love the pillow… It makes me think of home, and my parents, and the fact that at one point, I was just a baby…. But I don’t have much handmade. Perhaps that’s why I want my own children, and others, to have that experience, that connection to their beginning. I think it’s something special.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Adonia’s work is very special, indeed!  And we’re so happy to be able to host a giveaway of one of her most famous creations:  the Lion Adventures Hat & Tail Set!  (Winner chooses Color in either Yellow/Cream or Cream/Yellow & Size Range: from Newborn – Child 6 yrs old.)  Just in time for cold weather – this gorgeous piece can be ordered here for $28.00 USD, or you can…..

Win it!  Just fill out the Rafflecopter Entry Form below and complete whatever tasks you like for the number of entries listed!  Just remember to complete the mandatory first entry for all the other entries to count!  Good luck!

*I have received no compensation or consideration, monetary or otherwise for this post.  The opinions expressed herein are completely my own and uninfluenced in any way.  The giveaway item offered will be shipped directly to the winner by Swaddle Me Softly.  Contest ends 9/30/11 11:59PM EST and is open to residents of USA, 18+ and older.  Family of Lara N. are excluded (sorry!).