An Interview with...Mia Rinde

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/peony-perimeter

Once a week I post interviews with interesting people about their insights on their experience of working in the Knitting industry.  I’ve noticed that every one of these individuals makes their living in a slightly different manner bringing their own unique presence to the Knitting world.


You can find Mia here and here on Ravelry

Where do you find inspiration?
My inspiration often comes when knitting or looking at a stitch pattern, "this flower could be turned into a heart if I just change this and that" or "that cable could be exaggerated into looking like barbed wire, I wonder if anyone else has done that.." I find that when I knit a lot I get many new ideas whereas when I'm only knitting a little bit a day I'll get confused on what to start next.

Please tell us a little about your focus on lace knitting.
Lace patterns are the things that always pop up in my head. This will sound a bit pompous but it's like the yarn overs and decreases forming lace patterns are the knitting language I speak fluently. I'm hoping I will be able to build up this sense for cables soon but at the moment they are much more of a mystery to me. So I haven't made a deliberate choice to focus on lace, it's just what I learned first and with what I feel most comfortable.

Do you look at other designers’ work or are you afraid that you will be influenced by their designs?
Of course I look at others' works, but I try not to do it too much, it's easy to get swept away for hours and loose too much knitting time!

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/funkia

How do you feel about the so called controversy of “dumbing down” patterns for knitters/crocheters?
It might be different for me since English isn't my native language, long instructions make me nervous and absolutely don't make it easier. I remember only knowing the terms knit and purl and understanding chart symbols, the instructions I was working from said to work 6 rows of garter stitch, aah, I didn't know what that meant! But as it turns out garter stitch is a very useful word, and it didn't take me long to look it up elsewhere. I'm glad every pattern I've read since then doesn't have long explanations of how to knit garter stitch. I now make patterns the way I would have liked to have found them, describing things without detours, and if it's your first shawl or your first time reading an English pattern you might need to look things up.

How many sample/test knitters do you have working for you or do you do it all yourself?
I try to always have two versions of the design, I make one and a friend does all the second samples. But there are actually two designs I haven't knitted, it was my husband who did them and I just sat next to him with my knitting talking about how to tackle upcoming issues. I also have several test knitters, they are wonderful at giving helpful input without high expectations in return.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/shallow-waters

Did you do a formal business plan?
No, I didn't think much about the business part. I started out just wanting to try writing a pattern. I then took a two day course on starting a business, learned I could still classify it as income from hobby and forgot the rest.

Do you have a mentor?
No, I don't, it would be very interesting though, come to think of it.  I have actually never really talked about designing to anyone in the business.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/firebolt

What impact has the Internet had on your business?
Ha ha! If it wasn't for the internet I wouldn't have learned how to knit lace, and if it wasn't for Ravelry I wouldn't have gotten the positive comments that made me believe in my knitting. I cannot imagine my life without the knitting community and knitting friends I have over the internet.

Do you use a tech editor?
Not really, my husband does layout, charts and schematics and a friend does knit and language checking.

How do you maintain your life/work balance?
Balance? It's self-regulating I think, I have a toddler and I don't dare to pull out my lace knitting when she is in the room.

How do you deal with criticism?
I haven't had much criticism, if it hits a sore spot and there really is a problem I would get sad but try to fix it, but there are the random "I would have liked the pattern better if it looked differently" which I just ignore. Talking to other knitters eases my mind, but it is one of my fears when it comes to growing, both the positive and the negative will increase so I will need to get tougher.

How long did it take for you to be able to support yourself?
I don't support myself on designing, I also have a full time job. I thought it would just finance my yarn addiction but it now does a little more than that.

What advice would you give someone who wants to pursue a career in knitting design?
Knit what you like and do what makes you happy, then if a pattern doesn't sell at all at least you had fun producing it!

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wired

Discount on Craftsy – Handknit Garment Design with Shirley Paden

I'm a huge fan of Shirley Paden's work. I interviewed her here on my blog sometime ago. I got to meet her at the teacher's party at Vogue Live and she is not only talented but a lovely person as well. Meeting her was one of the highlights of being there.

Shirley has very kindly sent me a discount link to her Craftsy class. It's good until  Sept. 2 for a 50% discount. So don't hesitate. Once you buy the class my understanding is that you can take it at you own convenience.

Also, now through labor day (September 2nd), Craftsy is running a class give away.  Anyone can enter to win the "Handknit Garment Design" class free by clicking on the following link: <http://craftsy.com/ext/shirleypaden_giveaway>.  The winner will be announced the day after Labor Day.   

Knit Meat - Knitted Art

I found these images on Trendland. The site includes the following information.

" Stephanie Casper is the creator of these tightly knit and vacuum sealed meats and fish. Grocery style, complete with Styrofoam plates and suffocating cellophane. She set out to produce an artistic replica of how packaged supermarket meats are sold. I would rather open up a package of that gorgeously knitted roast chicken or steak, than an off-hue helping of the real stuff. Casper is a New York based art director and designer. Bringing beauty back to the protein section, Knit Meat is Casper’s capstone series after graduating Pratt Institute."


http://stephcasper.com/meat.html

Editing and Grammar

I recently read the amusing book Eats, Shoots and Leaves, written by Lynne Truss. One of the very interesting things about writing publicly is, everyone feels free to offer helpful advice. Unfortunately, much of the advice results in conflicting information.

I'm of a personality type that sees the world in shades of gray (or in my case as a Canadian, grey).

Cute mnemonic device:

grAy is how it's spelled in America,

grEy is how it's spelled in England,

but I digress!

I've had a few discussions with my husband, about my run on sentences, it turns out according to Lynne, that my real problem is not my sentence structure, but my lack of fame! Oh dear, I think I just did it again!
 
Truss comments: "so many highly respected writers observe the splice comma that a rather unfair rule emerges on this one: only do it if you're famous."

As I punctuate this post, I find myself second guessing each decision. Do I use British or American form? Which of the many Style guides should I use? What does the Grammar Girl say on the topic? 

Meanwhile, I know there are readers out there, shaking their heads and mumbling "It's just NOT done that way" at every choice I make.

An Interview with...Emily Ross

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/arlington

Once a week I post interviews with interesting people about their insights on their experience of working in the Knitting industry.  I’ve noticed that every one of these individuals makes their living in a slightly different manner bringing their own unique presence to the Knitting world.

You can find Emily here and here on Ravelry. 

Where do you find inspiration? 

The initial spark of an idea often comes to me in unexpected times and places - the shape of a leaf on the windshield, or the pattern on a chain link fence. At that point I start experimenting with stitch patterns, and by the time I go through swatching, charting, frogging, re-swatching, re-charting, and re-frogging, the finished design often bears little or no resemblance to my initial inspiration. For me the process is far more important and enjoyable than the original inspiration.

How did you develop your design focus on lace shawls?

I’ve always been drawn to intricate techniques in knitting, and have gone through various obsessive stages, but when I first discovered lace knitting everything just clicked.  I love the endless variety of ways in which basic stitches can be combined, I love working with fine gauge yarn, and the absolute magic of watching your shawl come to life during the blocking process never gets old.

Do you look at other designers’ work or are you afraid that you will be influenced by their designs?

I love looking at the amazing designs others create. I browse Ravelry like a magpie, picking up shiny bits and pieces that catch my eye. It might be a striking color combination, an unusual cast on, or some other small detail that I file away for possible consideration. For me this is an important part of defining my “voice” as a designer. While there are certainly some completely innovative designs out there, most are a combination of stitches, shaping, and sizing that have all been done before. The challenge of designing is all about selecting which elements to use, and composing them into a harmonious new creation.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/burano

How do you feel about the so called controversy of “dumbing down” patterns for knitters/crocheters?

I feel strongly that a well written pattern is by nature accessible to all but the most novice knitter. I learned this lesson the hard way, as I’m the type of knitter who prefers “pithy” style directions, as the great Elizabeth Zimmerman calls them. When I initially published Haruni it was a very bare bones pattern - there were no line by line directions, or explanation of how top down shawls are shaped. It even included the dreaded phrase “continue in lace pattern as established”. I was soon overwhelmed with questions from knitters, many of whom were far from beginners, but hadn’t worked lace before, or couldn’t visualize how a top down triangular shawl worked. I incorporated all of these explanations into the pattern, and after several revisions I finally have a pattern that with enough patience (and lifelines!), can be made by nearly any knitter. I absolutely love hearing from knitters who used this pattern as an introduction to lace knitting.

How many sample/test knitters do you have working for you or do you do it all yourself?

I have at times used sample knitters, but in general I prefer to knit my samples myself, as I often tweak elements of the design as I knit. And of course I design primarily because I enjoy knitting.

Did you do a formal business plan?

No. I didn’t start out thinking this was going to be a business. We (my husband is a full business partner) have kind of figured things out as we go.  We’re currently in the process of expanding to the next level.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/haruni

Do you have a mentor?

While I’ve met lots of wonderful and encouraging designers online, I don’t really have a specific role model.

Do you have a business model that you have emulated?

No

What impact has the Internet had on your business?

I can safely say that our business would not exist without the Internet. I’m a third generation knitter, and I don’t think I’ve ever knit a pattern without some modification, but it never occurred to me to write down what I was doing. I first started creating charts for my own use when I was working on lace shawls for our wedding. I was blissfully unaware that the idea I had in my head for a rectangular shawl knit in the round was difficult; I just dove in without figuring out any of the math. I innocently posted some photos of the finished shawl on Ravelry, and was blown away when people started asking me for the pattern. It was only as I tried to explain this pattern to others that I realized how complex it really was. Interestingly enough, I am just now preparing to publish this design - called Amillë. Without the interest, persistence, and encouragement of the online community I never would have thought to publish patterns.  

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/amille

Do you use a tech editor?

I use an army of test knitters, and my husband Brian is my tech ninja. His skills in  graphic design, layout, photography, web design, and general tech issues are an integral part of the business. He has an editor’s eye for errors and inconsistencies, and creates virtually every detail on the page. Together we deliberate over fonts, text flow, chart placement, etc., so that our PDFs work beautifully in print, or on screen. As we like to say, I do the knit things, and he does the tech things.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/biltmore-2

How do you maintain your life/work balance?

This is a tricky one. As I mentioned before, my husband is a full partner in the business. We are both active duty military, and have a 2 year old daughter. We fit things in as we are able, and make sure to always have fun with it.

How do you deal with criticism?

I try to learn and improve. In general I find the knitting community to be incredibly positive and supportive. When someone has a genuine critique I take it to heart, and think about how I can improve.

How long did it take for you to be able to support yourself?

This is an ongoing process. For right now this is supplemental income. We look forward to the day when we can retire and devote more time to our knitting and tech pursuits.

What advice would you give someone who wants to pursue a career in knitting design?

Don’t be intimidated, and don’t give up. It can be scary to release a new pattern, but remember that the worst possible outcome is just a pattern that doesn’t generate a lot of interest. I think every designer has a pattern (or 2 or 3) that just don’t do as well as others. As long as it is something you are proud to have your name on, it’s worth sharing. Enlist as much help as you can. To truly be a successful designer you have to wear so many different hats (hand-knit hats, of course), it is nearly impossible for one person to do it all.  If you’re lucky you can marry someone whose skills compliment yours nicely, like I did!

Emily's newest design to be published soon.