Lets_Knit_Issue_143_April_2019e

a garter stitch piece were twisted.

Thankfully I corrected this mistake and went

on to knit my irst successful project; a white

and oatmeal tweed jacket with ultra suede

patch pockets.

When Coats and Clark moved out of the

city, I worked at the Bucilla Yarn Company

for two years. In my role as supervisor, it

was my job to write directions and make

samples. Eventually, I began work on their

Of Loom Kits. The irst project I took

charge of featured a waterfall. The second

featured a forest and was displayed on an

embroidery hoop. My kits sold well and

I was extremely proud. I enjoyed working

for both companies because I was being

paid to be creative and to do something

that I loved.

Over the years I have worked at yarn

stores in Brooklyn and New York. I have

taught people how to knit, crochet,

needlepoint, crewel and write directions.

I love to be surrounded by yarn – it inspires

me. I always ask myself “how would that

ibre look as a hat, baby blanket, scarf or

shawl?” and I simply can't go into a yarn

store without buying something. Just the

other day I travelled into the city for two

balls of yarn for a custom order. When I

went to check out I left half of my pay

check with the cashier!

Since 2005 I have been teaching at the

PACE Knitting Circle. I instruct new

students and together we produce baby

blankets and bootees, along with hats for

both adults and children. At the end of the

year, Pace donates these items to hospitals

and shelters. I love helping students to knit

and crochet. Due to government cuts,

these skills are no longer taught in schools.

I want to pass along my knowledge to as

many people as possible.

About two and a half years ago, my

doctor handed me an article about

WOOLN and instructed me to contact

them. WOOLN sells unique items that

have been hand-knitted by senior

citizens who are living in New York. I'm

so happy that I reached out to them, as

I absolutely love my work. All the ladies

are extremely friendly and I can't thank

Faustine and Margaux (the founders of

WOOLN) enough!

wooln-ny.com @wooln_ny

C

reative from a young age,

it is no surprise that VELMA

BASCOME has been knitting,

crocheting, designing and of

course, inspiring for several decades.

Now a valued member of the WOOLN

team, 72 year old Velma has been kind

enough to share her life in patterns...

I lived in Germany for three years as a

military dependent. I did not work or

have children, so I was very bored.

One day, I found a copy of Homes and

Gardens Knitting in the Post Exchange.

When I got home, I learnt how to crochet.

I then used a pattern in the book to make

a child's dress. I found that by working

carefully and correcting my mistakes, all

of my projects turned out well in the end.

Once I had mastered the basics, I spent

most of my time crafting Christmas gifts

and baby clothes.

When I returned to the US, I found an ad in

the New York Times for a position at Coats

and Clark. They needed a directions writer.

They hired me because I was able to write

directions just by looking at an item or even

a photograph. I worked for them from 1974

to 1976 and it was here I learnt that I had

been knitting incorrectly! A inisher called

Maria showed me that my knit stitches on

98

“I want to pass along

my knowledge to as

many people

as possible."

Baby Magda in

Velma's stripy

sweater

The PACE
Knitting
Circle

Velma's

blanket

design for

WOOLN

PACE projects

sold for a

good cause

MY LIFE

IN PATTERNS