I've been told perfection is boring. Well, I'm certainly not boring (just ask my friends) and I'm definitely not perfect (just ask my kids)! Because of this I have a standing policy of rewarding people who nicely bring an error to my attention with a free single pattern download from my Ravelry pattern store.

I spent most of 2013 competing in “The Fiber Factor”, a knitwear design contest sponsored by Skacel.  I didn’t win a thing...but I am proud of the work I did (and under incredibly demanding deadlines).  Below are my intro and progress videos. Incidentally, I have every expectation of being like one of those pathetic former high-school star athletes who sits and reminisces about their glory days.  This is the closest I ever expect to come to a “glory day” and frankly, it was EXHAUSTING!!

QueenieKnits is what happens when a very active, young(ish) woman gets very sick. I was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome POTS in April of 2006. In a nutshell, POTS is an autonomic nervous system disorder which affects circulation. The longer I am vertical, the more likely I am to pass out.

When I was diagnosed I already knew how to knit and enjoyed it, but I didn't knit often and didn't knit beyond an advanced beginner level. As I began to adjust to life as a disabled person I used knitting to fill my very long, very inactive days. In the beginning, knitting saved my sanity. I could point to what I'd knit that day and know I'd accomplished something — even on the days when I couldn't get out of bed at all.

When I first got sick I had a hard time adjusting to depending on my family for things that I'd always just done for myself. So, we turned it into a joke: "Your Queen requires..." because, as I jokingly try to convince the family, I really am the Queen of the Universe. I know this for a fact because when I rise the whole world tips to greet me!!!!!! Before long the kids were calling me Queenie. And, what does Queenie do? She knits...and knits...and knits.

As the years have passed, and new medications have been tried, I have found ways to become more active. The wheelchair that I used regularly can now be left at home. I find now that my good days greatly outnumber my bad days and I no longer spend even my good days in bed. I would say I'm probably back up to 70% of my pre-POTS activity level. And, while I do not drive for fear of passing out at the wheel, I live in hope that someday that, too, will be something I will be able to do again!

The best part of the POTS journey has been the knitting journey that has accompanied it. Early on I would push myself to learn something new from each project and soon I was attempting much more complicated patterns. That constant pushing at the limits of my comfort zone eventually had me trying my hand at my own designs. Most of the early designs were completely flops. But, over time my experiments got better and better. Before I knew it I had my first pattern published (Twisted, in Knitty.com). Then, I learned how to self-publish my work and make it available through Ravelry — and hey presto — I have a little business! Since the ideas are still coming for new patterns and techniques I guess QueenieKnits.com will be around for a while. It's been a fun ride and I can't wait to see what life brings next. I know one thing though, I'll be bringing along my sticks and string.