Etsy Knitters and Crocheters on Parade

Eileen Skocdopole of Skocdem has just re-opened an new shop with emphasis on luxury this week. Eileen works full time at a drafting job, and part time on the weekends at a sheep farm that produces wonderful wool yarn. As you can see, she has two young children 2 and 6 years old and a husband that she says is very patient!

She knits with ear buds, listening to hip-hop and drinking coffee with her feet up!!


Drafting is your day job, what is your field of expertise?

I got interested in the Drafting profession because I like to draw, and I thought that this field would be a good blending of my creative and technical sides. And it has! I work for a major corporation and I have been there for 5 years, and been in this career for 7 years total. I create new, or modify existing part drawings for the company. The drawings look sort of like blue prints or part lists you get with bookcases, etc. Except these drawings are more detailed, and basically a legal document that the company has to adhere to.


When and how did you learn to knit?

Last November, I bought a "Teach yourself to knit" book and some yarn, and that is how I started. I remember watching my mom knit when I was a child, and that info must have stuck, because I could cast on right away!! Then I really leaned on the book and YouTube videos to learn the stitches and techniques.


You've just re-opened one of your shops www.skocdem.etsy.com with luxury items. Do you plan to market that shop any differently than the other?

Well it is a more sophisticated shop, I am seeking customers that would normally buy at a boutique, and elevate them to a hand-knit item, versus a mass produced high-price item. I am really reaching for the stars here! I am keeping it simple, few classic designs, few colors, almost minimal. I know some people who know some people, so we will see if the traffic flows my way!!!


What is your favorite fiber and why?

Favorite fiber, ooooh my. I purchased a white boucle Angora Mohair from Lynn at fuzzyfibers1960 that is ABSOLUTELY to die for. The softness is above anything I have felt. I have an order in to her for 400 more yards. But now I buy all my fibers from a network of lovely Etsy-ers, and look for their names in my listings!


If you could do or be anything you wanted for one day, what would it be?

My ultimate fantasy would be a day that I would just be pampered from dawn till dusk with the whole movie star treatment, think Mariah Carey. Facials, manicure, pedicure, massage, organic food, professional make-up and hair, the whole works. And then fall asleep on soft sheets and a cloud-like mattress. Just for one day. Is that too much to ask??


I'm hoping that dream comes true. You can visit her shops at http://www.etsy.com/shop/skocdem and http://www.etsy.com/shop/kloseknit, or click on the title Etsy Knitters and Crocheters on Parade.

Etsy Knitters and Crocheters on Parade

Holly Priestley has re-joined us after a hiatus, and I am very glad she did. Her shop is Silly Little Lady. She loves to breathe in the smell of old books in the library, a good glass of wine, green grass and big leaves. You will love her hats, scarves and handspun.

I love to hear about the process of choosing yarns. Please tell us how you choose your yarns.

Unless I have a specific project in mind, the yarns pick me! If I go browsing around a yarn store (virtually or in person) sometimes a yarn will just jump at me and say "you MUST make me into a super chic and warm slouchy beanie" or "my destiny is to become your warmest, coziest scarf."

What is your very favorite yarn to work with?

Hmm...favorite yarn to work with...Oh I don't know if I could pick just one! but I'm sure everyone says that haha. I love the uniqueness behind every skein of handspun or hand dyed that either I create or get from some Etsy seller. Those skeins are all one of a kind and just speak wonders to the world! If I had to choose one yarn to work with the rest of my life it would be handspun :)

Why do you like elephants?

I'm not quite sure the exact time elephants became my favorite animal, but I'm sure it had something to do with the stuffed elephant that was mine before I was even born. His name is Buddy and I still sleep with him on occasion ;) Elephants are truly majestic creatures, their memory, their size, their mourning ceremonies, elephants have feelings!

What do you do when you are not knitting?

When not knitting, right now I can be found doing homework, I'm a junior at New Mexcio Tech, getting my bachelors in Management and a minor in psychology. If I am procrastinating and not knitting, I love to dye my own yarns and spin, I also love to cook and train our 4 month old puppy :)

Where do you see your shop in five years?

Since I will have been out of college for a few years by that point, I will have much more time and energy to dedicate to my shop and I see it becoming very successful and hopefully my soul source of income (at least until I can get my yarn shop slash tea/coffee bar started up in Colorado somewhere ;)).




You can get to Holly's shop by clicking on the title Etsy Knitters and Crocheters on Parade and you can get to her blog at http://sillylittleladysspotontheweb.blogspot.com/