Interview with Cheryl Chow

With the 2014 Indie Designer Gift-A-Long going on right now I had an opportunity to interview a fellow designer this year! Let me introduce Cheryl Chow!

There is still time to purchase some of Cheryl's patterns for 25% off using the code giftalong2014 (through November 21st). Check out here bundle here.

Climbing Ivy Vest

Cheryl, I'm so excited to have you on the blog! Allow me to ask you the age old question every knitter receives: how did you get started knitting?

My mom taught me to crochet first and then to knit when I was around 11 years old. Knitting was very difficult for me as I made my stitches very tight, my hands sweat with trying to get the needles to work, and I ended up in tears more than once  I'm very surprised I continued on with the craft.

Well it's very lucky for us you did! Are you a multi-crafter? What other crafts do you enjoy?

Yes, so many fun crafts and so little time to enjoy them all. I currently quilt, spin, and crochet. I used to do cross stitch as well but gave all those supplies away a few years ago.  

At what point did you get started in designing knitwear?

I joined a charity group called Heavenly Angels In Need and they were looking for knit and crochet baby patterns that their group could make and donate to hospitals and families. I thought "I can do that" and designed a couple of simple baby blankets. It was so much fun (and an ego boost) to see other people knit up the blankets and post about them on Ravelry. In 2013 I decided that I would try designing a cardigan and was really happy with how well Firkant turned out. 

Do you have a "regular" job as well? How do you find balance between the two?

I have a part time job with a quilt book distributor. The hours aren't consistent so finding time to do both is not too difficult. Setting goals and a schedule for my knitting projects/designs helps a lot too.

Have you had a project that went so wrong you had to scrap it?

Yes, sadly. I started Kaiso Linen Tee, wrote up the pattern and had a few testers work through it. I had so many negative comments about it that I gave up. I love the design and have plans to rework it and release it eventually.

Do you have a favorite design? 

I think Matomoko is my best design yet. The cable and lace patterning worked really well together and I like the neckline. I think it was just meant to be as it came together quite easily.

What is your favorite yarn and needles?

Hiya Hiya needles are my favourite. I have an interchangeable set and am very sad if all the size tips or cords are in use and I have to choose a different needle. As for yarn, I can't say I have a single go to yarn. I love all the different indie dyed yarns and tend to go for the fingering/sport weights in natural fibers.

Resu

Do you have any knitting tools that you couldn't live without?

My row counter. My husband bought it for me for Christmas and it is amazing. 

Do you do much gift knitting? Why or why not?

Not much. Since I've started designing I don't have much time. I do knit/crochet small items for my kids occasionally.

What was the most well received gift you ever gave? What was the least well received?

I made a Hillswick Lumber cardigan for my mom and she loved it. It was an ambitious project but I knew she would appreciate it. Least well received was Burr (Chocolate Yummm) for my MIL. She said she didn't like it and returned it to me. Sad, but lesson learned, she only gets store bought things from now on. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to share about yourself with us! 

Interview and Giveaway with Ann Weaver

Here it is, as promised.  I am so thoroughly excited to be sharing with you a wonderful interview with Ann Weaver, the author of the self-published pattern book, Craft Work Knit.

How did you get started creating your own designs?

When I learned to knit (I think I was about 7), I didn't learn to read a pattern, so I made everything up. It was all just simple scarves, mittens, and the occasional large and asymmetrical granny square. I learned to read a pattern when I made my first sweater. Very soon I was improvising sweaters based on the measurements in the schematics in pattern books.

The first sweater I made that really got me thinking about my design potential was an Yves St. Laurent-inspired jacket I knit in 2006. I loved the colors of the original, but didn't care for the construction, so I made this one. It has a shoulder-strap construction, which I think is hilarious! I had no idea what I was doing, but man, it fits really, really well.

Yves St. Laurent Jacket

In 2007 I decided to try to share a design I knit, so I wrote up the pattern for Neiman, and it was accepted to Knitty! And that was that.

Where do you find design inspiration and are there any specific design themes in this book?
For Craft Work Knit, I was inspired by Dutch national athletic uniforms (you'd better believe there are more Dutch-based patterns coming, after their STUNNING World Cup performance this summer), paintings by Josef Albers, action movies, my own doodles, and photos of 1970s punks in knitwear.

I'm constantly being drawn to stripes and stripe patterns as well as unusual color combinations. More than anything, I design things that I would like to wear. I never know what will inspire me next.

Albers Shawl

Is there a technique that you love (or hate) to use in your designs?
I LOVE knitting a ton of garter stitch, but you know this. I also like stranded knitting as long as the patterns are relatively easy to memorize, yarn-over patterns, and interesting ribbing. I'm not a big fan of lace, but I think that's because it isn't my style. However, I'm branching out: I'm currently working on two lace-ish designs (I won't come right out and call them lace, because they're pretty simple, really) an intarsia project, and even a crochet design. I keep an open mind!

What made you decide to self-publish a collection of patterns?
I had so many designs in mind, most of which didn't fit any current calls for submissions to magazines or books. I also had a vision of what I wanted the book to be, from the yarns and the colors to the models and the layout. I knew there was no way any publisher would let me have this kind of freedom, so I decided to go for it.

First I thought I would publish an eBook, since that wouldn't require as much financial investment as a print book. Then it hit me that what I value most of all in my knitting, the craftsmanship, the feeling of the work itself, the beauty of the object, ran absolutely counter to the notion of a book that would not be available in high-quality paper form. So there went the notion of quick profitability! Ha!

The book IS available digitally, however, because I understand that this is more convenient for many people. There is also a great deal for purchasing both the paper and digital copies.

Do you have a favorite pattern in this new collection?
I do. Grundy, both Man's and Woman's versions. This was the most difficult pattern to write, because it's a new construction style for me (my tech editor can attest to how terrible the editing process was) and because I had a very specific fit in mind, but the results are EXACTLY what I imagined. It's like magic when that happens.

Grundy

What was the most difficult pattern for you to create?
The Grundy, again. It was painful. Ask the tech editor. Ask the sample knitter who made the man's version. I thought I was going to have an aneurysm.

Do you have any specific design goals for yourself?
Interesting. I don't do well thinking about the distant future, so I'll give you my goals for this coming year. I want to put out another collection of patterns in Fall 2011, sort of a knitting/art/literature mashup. I've already begun a few of the designs. That's all I'll say for now.

In other goals, I'd like to work with a few new magazines, online and print, to reach different audiences. I may have a design in an upcoming Yarn Forward, which is in discussion now. I like the idea of a British audience that may not be heavily involved with Ravelry or knitting blogs seeing my work. I'm also always up for inclusion in interesting books and pattern collections, so I'll see what comes my way this coming year.

Do you have a favorite yarn?
In terms of major yarn companies, I really like Berroco Ultra Alpaca worsted, Rowan Wool Cotton, Madelinetosh Sock and Vintage, and Malabrigo (any). However, my special love is reserved for smaller companies, like Fleece Artist (I used their BFL 2/8 for the Tempest cardigan in Knitty, and have used their BFL Aran for Grundy Man's in this book. I cannot say enough good things about their yarns), Briar Rose Fibers Abundance (which I used for Vert & Horiz), Alchemy Haiku and Kozmos, and The Fibre Company Terra. 

I am currently making designs from Fly Designs Cashmara (WHOA) and Lorna's Laces Honor (a yarn to kill for), so man, the list could go on and on.

Silhouette 

What type of knitting needles to you prefer to use?
Addi Turbos all the way.

Do you store yarn in any strange places?
Is everywhere strange? Really. I store it everywhere. While working on the patterns in this book (along with a few other designs for other publications), I had a drift of plastic bags filled with yarn and projects leaning against the living room wall, about 10 feet long. Chris, my husband, started threatening to call the A&E program Hoarders to get an intervention.

How many works-in-progress do you tend to have at any given time?
Several, but it's not out of control. I'm usually working on 3-4 things, with others that nearly done but awaiting design decisions.

Le Mans

With all your designing, are you able to find time to knit for yourself?
I have a lot less time than I would like (seeing that I work full time too, BOO!). However, I've managed to knit a pair of Nancy Bush socks this month, and am working on some other gift knits as well. I've promised myself that I'm going to make a Nimbus and a Shroom for myself this fall; I even have the yarn.

If you would like to see the piece I knitted for Ann, the Albers Shawl, you can check it out here.

Thank you Ann for a wonderful interview! It's been an awesome experience knitting for you and getting to know you through this interview. I'm thinking Button Coil or Grundy may be my first projects from this book!

If you have any questions you can contact Ann at ann@annweaverknits.com. As she stated in her interview, her patterns from Craft Work Knit are available in both book format as well as digital copies. To purchase either a paper or digital copy (or get both for a special discount) you can go to Ann's new and super snazzy website annweaverknits.com. Additionally, single patterns are available for download on Ann's website and on Ravelry.

And now for even more exciting stuff. One lucky reader can win their very own eBook version of Craft Work Knit!

To enter just leave a comment under this post sharing your favorite pattern from Ann's new collection and whoosh! You're entered. Make sure to leave your contact information in the comment as well! This giveaway will run until October 10th when I will use the Random Number Generator to draw the winner. Good luck! 

Interview and Giveaway with Alana of Never Not Knitting

As promised, here is the interview with Alana of the Never Not Knitting blog and podcast. I have been dying to share it with you, so enjoy!

What was your inspiration for learning to knit and crochet and what do you like most about the craft?

I fell in love with my friend's crocheted acrylic afghan (I know!) and had to learn how to make one immediately. The next day I went to the library, got a very advanced crocheted afghans book and started teaching myself. It was a very ugly, slow process.

Later I taught myself to knit with 2 metal DPNs and some worsted weight acrylic. Also very scary. 

Somehow I was able to persevere through the learning process and become the knitter that I am today. It took a very long time though. It wasn't easy learning on my own.

I fell in love with knitting and crochet as soon as I first touched the yarn. Well.. maybe it was the second or third time since my first experiences were so awful! The idea of creating a functional artistic piece has always really drawn me to the craft. As a knitter today, I really appreciate knitting as a calming quiet process that produces the most beautiful things. Its a craft that is portable and easy to pick up and put down when you have just a few moments. 

What made you want to start designing?

I decided to become an independent knitwear designer as a nice change of pace from my previous job at my local yarn shop. This is something that I am able to do while staying home with my daughter, and it's a lot of fun! 

My daughter initially was my inspiration for my design work. I've loved making her little knitted things and see her wear and get use out of them. When I really started writing up my patterns, I started with little girl garments. It was fun putting together colors and textures and seeing the item go from concept to finished piece.

What continues to inspire you for your designs?

I've gotten great feedback on my patterns. That really motivates me to keep designing! Also.. I love yarn. There are so many gorgeous yarns out that are so wonderful to work with. When I find a yarn I like I try to think of what the most perfect project would be to show it off. 

Is there one project that you’ve designed that is your favorite?

I would have to say my favorite pattern to date has been the Cedar Leaf Shawlette. I loved it from beginning to end. And I love wearing the finished product! 

Do you have one project that was the most difficult for you to complete?

YES! I had to knit my Cosette Wrap pattern twice to get it right. Its a very easy pattern to follow and I love it, but designing it was a pain. I hate having to unnecessarily reknit things. 

Is there something that you would love to design but have not yet?

I would really love to get into stuffed animal and toy design. I love to knit toys for my daughter, I think it would be a fun thing to try.

Do you have any designing goals for yourself?

I would love to keep branching out in my work, and eventually self publish a pattern booklet. I am currently working on getting Never Not Knitting designs in yarn shops around the world.  

What do you consider the most difficult thing about being a knitwear designer?

Pattern writing and number crunching can be pretty tedious at times. Math was never a strong subject for me!

What advice would you give a budding designer?

Anything can be accomplished with hard work and perseverance! 

As a busy mother, when do you find time to knit and design?

In the middle of the night. I stay up way too late for my own good!

What made you decide to start blogging and podcasting?

I started the blog and podcast for fun! As an obsessed knitter, I had a lot to say on the subject and wanted to share my projects with others that were interested in the craft. 

What inspiration helped you to continue blogging and podcasting?

My wonderful podcast listeners and blog readers! They are so supportive and encouraging! 

Do you have a favorite yarn?

It always changes.. right now I am really into Madelinetosh, Handmaiden yarns, Malabrigo, and Becoming Art. I'm always finding new and exciting yarns to work with though! 

What kind of knitting needles to you prefer and tend to use the most?

I am picky about my knitting needles. I only like metal nickel plated circulars. Knit Picks needles are my favorite!

In your home, do you store yarn in any strange places?

Not exactly, but I keep all my good yarns in ziploc bags. I am obsessed with keeping my yarn very clean. If say, my yarn accidentally rolls onto the ground outdoors, or gets pet hair on it, I die a little inside. I'm weird like that.  

How many works-in-progress do you tend to have at any given time?

I don't like WIPs. I try to only have a few projects going at once. I don't like to leave them lingering. I try to finish everything quickly.

I'm all about having the finished product.

Thank you Alana for the interview! It was fun to learn a few new things about you. 

If you are interested in purchasing any of Alana's patterns you can do so on Ravelry by browsing her designer page. If you are interested in carrying her patterns in your shop, Alana can be contacted at NeverNotKnitting@gmail.com

Now for some more fun stuff! Readers of this blog have a chance to win a free Never Not Knitting pattern! Oh yes, it's true. Alana has been so kind as to offer a signed copy of her newest pattern, the Cosette Wrap.

This is a beautiful, versatile wrap that is knit in worsted weight yarn with a gently curved shape and picot edge. I love the functionality and simplicity of this shawl and have been dying to knit this since the pattern first came out.

To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment under this post sharing which Never Not Knitting pattern is your favorite. This giveaway will run for two weeks, until April 7. On April 8th a winner will be chosen using the Random Number Generator. Good luck!