It’s Saturday and I haven’t done a spotlight in quite some time. I was motivated while at Rhinebeck hugging and taking pics with all of my fiber friends, these are some talented women. I had to get back on my goal of helping spread the word, because the world needs to know they exist. Each of the folks I shine my light on have inspired my crafty nature in ways I can’t explain, so grab your favorite beverage and meet Shameka! If you are on Ravelry, you saw this beautiful face on the blog after Rhinebeck. 
Ok so tell me how long have your been knitting? Do you crochet and who taught you?
I am going to tell you my knit and crochet story, answering both questions. I started crocheting when I was 14. I made one huge granny square as a blanket for my little cousin who was born that year. He is now 22, and the blanket was never finished. Lol! But I crocheted the heck out of a half double crochet stitch. I tried to teach myself knitting from a book shortly after. I got the knit stitch down, but the purl stitch drove me crazy. So I totally stopped fiber crafting after I got impatient.
So, fast forward to college. I was dating a guy who refused to wear a scarf, because he didn’t have a proper one. We went out to a comedy show, and I saw a woman on line in front of us with a colorful scarf that you just couldn’t buy anywhere. It had to be handmade. The lightbulb went off. I went to Pearl Paint, bought some Red Heart, and crocheted him a scarf in time for Valentine’s Day. He treasured it, and finally wore a scarf. Ha! He also didn’t believe I made it, and my roommate had to tell him about how many nights I stayed up late working on it. After the crocheted scarf, I decided that I wanted to tackle the purl stitch again, because I wanted to make a true knitted ribbed scarf. I actually prefer the look of knitted stitches better. I purchased a bundle of yarn and needles on EBay for $13. I found some resources from the Craft Yarn Council’s website. I taught myself. I started the scarf, and then got sidetracked because I didn’t want to knit with that yarn forever. It was pretty scratchy. The EBay package had double pointed needles, so I made my first knitted hat in the round with a ribbed brim. Yaaaaaay! Totally forgot about the scarf once I learned a new technique with the DPNs. Shortly thereafter, I found a Vogue Knitting magazine and that opened my eyes to sweaters and socks. I haven’t looked back since.
I love that you taught yourself, because your work is AMAZEBALLS! Ok so from what I have seen you like the lighter weight yarns. Do you have a favorite brand and why?
I have been on this sock yarn kick for the past year, because I have had 2 pairs of handknit socks get holes in them, and realized it is certainly time for new socks. I own enough yarn to make a sock a week for the whole year. And of course, even though I have accumulated so much, I still have that itch to buy more yarn. I have fallen in love with sock yarns made by indie dyers. I love to support small businesses, especially those owned by women. There are so many things in society and the media that devalue women, and tell us that we cannot achieve success on our own because of so many (nonsense) reasons. I like to believe that I am combatting that stereotype with each purchase. My favorite hand dyers are
Voolenvine yarns,
Peepaloo Fields, and
Spun Right Round. What grabs me the most is the color when choosing the yarn. Voolenvine yarns have a great mix of color within each skein that doesn’t flash and pool in an odd way that I have seen in some other yarns. Peepaloo fields has little pops of neon rainbows that appear in every row across a contrasting background. Spun Right round has amazing speckle dyed yarns. I am not throwing any shade to commercial yarns, by the way. I have my own crazy stash of KnitPicks Felici colorways that are now discontinued. I always go a bit crazy when they release new colors. I think I still have some from the first ever release of Felici. Sorry, I’m not de stashing that collector’s item. ;-). I love self striping yarn.
OK you know you are talking to the YARNHO right? How you throwing yarn company names around all willy nilly. *runs to a new tab to check out these names she just threw in my face, ya’ll saw that right?* I am guessing the answer is socks but I will ask anyway. What is your favorite item to knit?
My favorite thing to knit…. It’s a tie between socks and sweaters. I believe that fall weather needs a quintessential cozy cabled sweater. I also want to have a matching pair of socks to stay warm in those boots that will be worn with the cozy sweater. I like to knit when I am commuting to work. Once the sweater gets too big to take on the train comfortably, I can always resort to a small sock to keep me occupied. They are easy and portable. It’s also funny to see the looks on the faces of passengers when they see me knitting Magic loop or with DPNs. They look so perplexed. I smile back, while my fingers keep knitting. Never missing a stitch.
Knitting will definitely draw attention, when I was working in Brooklyn I had many conversations based on what I was working on at the time. Ok so let’s talk about your business Mekamika, how did it start and what is your top seller?
My business started in 2008, when Obama was running for President. I sold stitch markers and earrings with a charm that had the campaign logo printed on it. It was my way to raise funds to donate to the campaign. That was my way of testing out how Etsy shops work. It was so new back then.
This year, I had a resurgence of creativity and decided to open up my shop again. I came up with the slogan “Embellish your knitting! Embellish your life!” The basis of my stitch markers is that they have a little Swarovski crystal bling added to each charm. Why not have something sparkly and fabulous hanging from your project while knitting? My top sellers have been my Worldwide Knit in Public stitch markers and my Rhinebeck stitch markers. I believe these sets remind the knitter of reasons why they love to knit. For example, the Rhinebeck stitch markers have a sweater charm, a spinning wheel charm, and a basket of wine charm. I distinctly remember being in line at Rhinebeck, waiting for a wine tasting, while the sheep to shawl competition is going on. At the same time, a few women approached me, inquiring about my sweater that I was wearing. I hope that the stitch markers can bring such vivid memories of fiber festivals to other knitters.
You already know I love your stitch markers and hell I have some earrings too! Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me. If my readers wanted to check you out where can they find you out there in the internet?
My etsy shop is
Mekamika.etsy.com. My business blog is
Mekamika.blogspot.com. I am also @mekamikashop on Instagram and Twitter. I can be emailed at mekamikashop at gmail dot com. And, I have a Facebook page named Mekamika
If you just want to check out my knitting life, my personal blog is
shamekaknits.blogspot.com and my Ravelry ID is shamekaknits.
Well folks I hope you enjoyed the proverbial dusting off of Saturday Spotlight. You guys know how I do things. I have another set of the Rhinebeck stitch markers for one of you. How can I enter to win GG? the contest starts at 1:15 just click the link —->
Knit on my fiber friends…knit on
~GG
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Ok so tell me how long have your been knitting? Do you crochet and who taught you? 
Just wanted to say you are truly inspiring to me and as well to others. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
Aww thank you!! Don’t forget to take a chance to win
GG give me those stitch markers! And my mom and I are also GG.
LOL that’s awesome!
Excellent interview, and great seeing you at Rhinebeck!
Always good seeing you! Thanks for reading!
Guess what’s going in my Christmas stocking this year!
Love the stitch markers.
They are lovely aren’t they?!
GG give me those stitch markers
Only if you say please!! LOL good luck!
GG give me those stitch markers!! They are so beautiful! I love your newsletters!! I taught myself how to knit, too, but haven’t gotten far yet! In time I will try different things!
Hey Nancy! thanks for reading and good luck with the giveaway!
Fun blog! GG I would treasure those stitch markers – pick me!
Thanks for reading and good luck
Gg please give me those stitch markers, and please ask her to give me that white yarn in the middle of her stash lol. Love reading your blogs your always so upbeat
Lol, I’ll tell her! Thanks for reading!
And good luck
Link to enter not working. 🙁
I think it ended already let me check for you
GG give me those stitch markers! (If sending them to Europe is possible)
My name is Manon, not “Man”
Good luck
Good luck
Thanks for the giveaway!
Thanks for reading
I give you all the credit in the world, Because of your strength I am working on things that I have never ever thought I would. You are amazing and I so love your Blog and page because your strength gives us strength God Bless You.
Love you!
Morning GG! I struggle with adding colors to a pattern. Would love for you to do a video on adding color.
Thank you.
Do you mean changing colors or selecting complimentary colors?