tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34406034902595970832024-03-05T03:47:07.875-05:00How to become a Professional Knitter - Robin Hunter DesignsA knitting blog about career transition, personal development and the search for fulfillment.Robin http://www.blogger.com/profile/01240699910272614928noreply@blogger.comBlogger1350125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3440603490259597083.post-22257062342105341142019-06-28T05:36:00.000-04:002019-06-28T05:36:04.269-04:00Patternfish - An Interview with...Me <h2>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This interview originally appeared in the Patternfish newsletter. I'm adding it to my blog as several other interviews I did were lost when their on-line sources disappeared. The interview was published in June 2011 so some of my responses are out of date.</span></span></h2>
<h2>
<br /></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">Designer of the Month: Robin Hunter</span></h2>
<a href="https://www.patternfish.com/des/robin_hunter">
<img align="left" alt="Robin Hunter" border="0" class="image" height="100" hspace="10" src="https://www.patternfish.com/assets/newsletter/Robin_Hunter.jpg" vspace="0" width="80" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Like
many other designers, Robin Hunter combined a lifelong love of textiles
and fibre arts with a corporate career before happily retiring to
provide Patternfish and the rest of the knitting world with her designs.
A quick look through her patterns shows to what extent Hunter
challenges herself. Shawls, socks, hats, and scarves in configurations
at once unique and wearable are her trademark. We wait with anticipation
for each of her new designs. We interviewed Hunter to find out about her designing history and views of the knitting world.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What inspires you? What are you passionate about?</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I look at everything for inspiration, art, theatre, fashion and the
outdoors. I love bright strong colours. I live in a condo with a huge
terrace and I garden in pots. The colours of the flowers are often an
influence on the colours of yarn I choose. I've been passionate about
fashion, clothes and the arts all of my life.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Which design is your customers' favourite?</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The two biggest sellers are the Prudence Crowley vest and the Evelyn
Howard scarf. I'm working hard on growing my portfolio so my best
sellers will change as I add patterns. I was very pleased that these two
turned out to be popular as I feel strongly that they are true to my
design aesthetic even though they are very different.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Which designers do you admire?</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The interviews I've
done with many fabulous designers on my blog have widened my knowledge
of just how many talented designers there are. I've found admirable
qualities in them all so it's really hard to narrow down to just one or
two. I especially admire those who push the envelope by developing new
techniques or those who take an existing technique and raise the
standard. I've taken a lot of classes in the past with wonderful
knitters like Sally Melville, Debbie New, Lily Chin, Annie Modesitt and
Maureen Mason-Jamieson so I will give them all credit for inspiring me.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Describe your perfect day.</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I get up at 6 AM with
my husband, play with my cats and then snuggle into the corner of the
couch to drink a great cup of coffee and read. I do a few quick
household chores, some mornings I exercise and then I start working.
Generally I work on the computer from 10 AM to 3 PM, blogging at http://knittingrobin.blogspot.com/, pattern writing, and developing
course materials and lectures. I start knitting at 3 PM, either working
on samples or swatching. Some days I spend time reading about knitting
in the big three magazines or in books but I usually knit until 8.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>In what ways do you spend your time that would surprise people?</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I doubt that I do anything very surprising, no bizarre or peculiar
behaviours that I can think of and that I'm willing to share. However
I'm a voracious reader. I read blogs, books (both fiction and non-fiction) and I'm a ballet and theatre fan. I don't drive which always
shocks non-urban types; however, I live within sight of a subway station
in Toronto and I walk a lot which is great for both my weight and my
happiness level. I also like peanut butter and bacon sandwiches.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What is your favourite knitting technique?</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm a
knitting generalist who skips from one technique to another. My
interests lie in a good fit that flatters the wearer and adding details
that make my work stand out as different. I have a fair bit of
experience in pattern drafting and I'm very frustrated with the
simplistic form that many existing knitting patterns take. There are a
lot of small details that would make a big difference to the end result
so I try to work out how I can best incorporate these into my patterns.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>When did you start knitting? Who taught you?</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I
started knitting in my teens and designing in my twenties. I'm not sure
who taught me to knit as I have no recollection of learning. My mother
and both of my grandmothers knit so it may have been one or all of them.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What's your design process?</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I approach design
from several different directions but essentially I like to have design
parameters. It can be the yarn itself, a silhouette that I've seen and
want to adapt, a stitch pattern or a request from someone. The Pinwheel
cardigan was an adaptation from a lace linen hat that I was asked to
knit for a class. I was asked for a vest pattern for a magazine
submission and that lead to 2 completely different designs, the Prudence
Crowley vest and a more conservative design that will be published next
Fall.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>When did you start designing and what was the first design that you created? Which is the first that you sold?</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I no longer recall my first design since I have been designing for
myself since the late 70's. I started by using patterns and adapting
them. I was always the kind of knitter that liked a pattern but thought
it would look better with a different neckline or another modification
so I would change it up in some way. I'm self publishing and the very
first pattern I sold was at a shop I worked at. Karen Dinner, the owner
of the shop, encouraged me to publish more widely and put me in touch
with Julia Grunau of Patternfish. The Patternfish business model worked
for me because I don't want to give up my own copyright and the thought
of running my own website didn't appeal to me.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Which is your favourite design?</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I love them all,
they are my babies! I wear everything that I knit but I do end up with
some favourites, the pieces I feel are the most flattering on me. My
friend Mary Pat often models my designs in our Guild's fashion shows.
When I see the designs without the influence of my own figure concerns, I
love them even more.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Where have your designs appeared?</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Currently my
patterns are available exclusively on Patternfish. <i>(With the closing of Patternfish they are now all on Ravelry and I'll adding them to LoveKnitting soon.) </i>I plan to expand into
wholesale in the next year or so. Hopefully, shops will be interested
in my patterns as well as my lectures and classes. I also will have a
design in the magazine A Needle Pulling Thread next fall. I dislike
working to deadlines as so much of my corporate career involved very
tight timelines. At this point I haven't submitted to any magazines
mainly for that reason.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Do you teach/do you like it?</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I love teaching! I
find students very inspiring. They push me in directions that I wouldn't
have thought to go on my own. I find the challenge of giving back very
stimulating to my own process. At one level knitting is just yarn and 2
sticks and at another it's a complex layered web that has still has many
hidden jewels left for me to discover.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Where do you think the knitting/crocheting/fibre world will be in 10 years/why?</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I think it will remain very much a niche market and sub-culture as it
is today. The Internet has changed things forever. We are now all
connected in a way that is allowing our culture to flourish. In the past
there were highs and lows and we thought the knitting traditions might
die, but I now have confidence that knitting will live on and evolve.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Do you look at other designers' work?</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I look at
everything and I usually have one of two reactions. "Wow, why didn't I
think of that" or "That would be better if you changed something".</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How do you deal with criticism?</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I like
constructive criticism; it truly allows me to grow because it gives me a
direction to focus on. That's helpful and I can learn from it. So far
I've been lucky; people have been really encouraging and kind.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What advice would you give someone who wants to pursue a career in knitting design?</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You have to be prepared to work long hours and have an alternative
income source to get started. It's a creative pursuit for me. The market
is changing right now as we go from a marketplace run by the
traditional publishing world to an ever evolving model of self
publishing. I think that if you are serious and focused there is
potential for a fulfilling career but probably not one that will make
you wealthy.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How do you maintain your life/work balance?</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">That
is turning out to be harder than I thought it would be. I seem to be
working all the time. The good news is that I love it, it's not like
working for someone else and to be honest it doesn't really feel like
work.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table style="margin-left: 5px;"><tbody>
<tr><td><div class="pattern_badge small_badge" id="pattern_badge_7926">
<a href="https://www.patternfish.com/patterns/7926-robin-hunter-designs-the-prudence-crowley-vest">
</a><br />
<div class="prodimgshop">
<div>
<a href="https://www.patternfish.com/patterns/7926-robin-hunter-designs-the-prudence-crowley-vest"><img alt="Prudencethreequarters" height="320" src="https://d2grhvctvttt6.cloudfront.net/pattern_pictures/uploads/000/053/610/small_badge/PrudenceThreeQuarters.jpg?1387773713" width="153" />
</a></div>
</div>
<a href="https://www.patternfish.com/patterns/7926-robin-hunter-designs-the-prudence-crowley-vest">
</a>
<br />
<div class="proddescshop">
The Prudence Crowley Vest
</div>
</div>
</td>
<td><div class="pattern_badge small_badge" id="pattern_badge_7793">
<a href="https://www.patternfish.com/patterns/7793-robin-hunter-designs-evelyn-howard">
</a><br />
<div class="prodimgshop">
<div>
<a href="https://www.patternfish.com/patterns/7793-robin-hunter-designs-evelyn-howard"><img alt="Ehfronthirez" height="320" src="https://d2grhvctvttt6.cloudfront.net/pattern_pictures/uploads/000/052/336/small_badge/EHFrontHiRez.jpg?1387772056" width="249" />
</a></div>
</div>
<a href="https://www.patternfish.com/patterns/7793-robin-hunter-designs-evelyn-howard">
</a>
<br />
<div class="proddescshop">
<ul>
<li>Evelyn Howard </li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Robin http://www.blogger.com/profile/01240699910272614928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3440603490259597083.post-1035140012549612352019-06-08T06:30:00.000-04:002019-06-08T06:43:57.667-04:00Ten Years!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3-ItYLvtRaVVI5ZLaACqm_cegxnFjzdmxOFJQ9cCUXMxc0PSLQ0RJ2DD5rk5TtzlvfAGzr9nk-EEFZms4h5tEjm5XP6IaEH9EbTaN39GIP9dhPCi9cPO8dDP_sfWdAzKPf9eAvKQ-4M/s1600/B1b.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="610" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3-ItYLvtRaVVI5ZLaACqm_cegxnFjzdmxOFJQ9cCUXMxc0PSLQ0RJ2DD5rk5TtzlvfAGzr9nk-EEFZms4h5tEjm5XP6IaEH9EbTaN39GIP9dhPCi9cPO8dDP_sfWdAzKPf9eAvKQ-4M/s320/B1b.PNG" width="252" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today is the ten year anniversary of writing this blog. It was
meant to be a record of the changes I would experience moving into the
knitting industry. I went back recently and read the annual birthday/anniversary posts I wrote
and it was very interesting for me to take the time to review the past. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I no longer keep to a strict schedule of publishing a post three times a week. I post occasionally and on my own timeline. Interestingly I get over 4500 visits per month in spite of this. I can see on my stats page that readers are following links and often arrive after searching a topic of interest to them. Entry comes about equally from Google and directly from my Ravelry pages. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I now have 65 published designs. All but one are on Ravelry now that Patternfish has closed. I'll be adding the Patternfish exclusives to LoveKnitting in the near future. Some of them may get new samples in the coming year as they could use some updating and better photos. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Speaking of LoveKnitting, I have noticed the customers there are very different. They buy different patterns, mainly garments not accessories. When I get the monthly sales report it's common to see all my sales were of garment patterns. I did a quick comparison and while I've sold a lot more patterns on Ravelry the LoveKnitting customer has bought garment patterns at around ten times the percentage rate of the garment sales on Ravelry. The smaller number of shawl pattern sales also tend to be of the more difficult patterns. While it's not always possible to know where pattern support emails come from, the only one I ever got which I could identify as coming from a LoveKnitting sale was a real case of errata in a pattern, not a question about understanding the instruction which is the most common type of pattern support I do. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was
in a photography group for knitters. That group did eventually collapse. However one of the members and I turned it into a monthly lunch date which has been followed up with trips to many galleries, shopping, visits to various fibre shows and one outing to the </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. Many of those outings give me inspiration for my designs </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This
past year I had several offers for teaching and speaking events. However my husband retired in March of 2018 and I no longer have the same interest in spending my time prepping and doing those events so I turned all but one of them down. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I stopped doing interviews here on the blog not because I planned to but simply because the requests were no longer being responded to. In the past generally two out of three requests would be happy to be interviewed. In this last year I was increasing the number of requests and rarely getting a response, so it seemed time to let it go. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My collaboration with <a href="https://www.signatureyarns.com/">Signature Yarns</a>
continues and works well. I get to work with gorgeous yarns and it's a
great deal of fun bouncing design ideas off of someone else. I'm currently working on two designs for release this Fall.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm aware the knitting industry appears to be thriving with retreats, events, guilds and new yarns shops opening up here in Toronto. There also seem to be lots of enthusiastic knitters. Unfortunately I'm hearing the insider news about more and more pros leaving the industry. Designers stop publishing and disappear, there are fewer classes being run locally. The constant pressure of having to provide photos for an active social media has been cited by a few as becoming a barrier to getting the actual work done. High numbers of followers don't necessarily mean good pattern sales or invitations to teach and speak at events. Compensation has been stagnate over the last ten years and in some case substantially reduced. Twist Collective has shut down. Patternfish is about to. Classic Elite is gone. Knitty had to change their approach and ask for support through Patreon to keep going. I think for many the ability to make a living is a hard path to follow.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've returned to sewing and have made a number of garments in the past year as well as recovering all of our living room throw cushions. I started sewing again mainly due to the poor quality of purchased clothing at retail. I'd been noticing that many of my older purchases are in great shape and are being worn frequently while much newer garments are wearing out very quickly due to thinner fabrics and poorer construction methods. It's also hard to buy anything in natural fibres and everything at retail seems to come in black or neutral colours. I'm really not happy about throwing out clothes because they are of such poor quality they can't be donated or recycled while at the same time I'm not getting much wear from them myself. I also like the idea of having unique garments that I can fit to my shape and preferences. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's links to the first post and the anniversary posts. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://knittingrobin.blogspot.ca/2009/06/i-start-today.html">2009</a> My first blog post - Monday, June 8, 2009 </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://knittingrobin.blogspot.ca/2012/06/its-my-blog-birthday.html">2012</a></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://knittingrobin.blogspot.ca/2013/06/happy-blog-birthday-to-me.html">2013 </a></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://knittingrobin.blogspot.ca/2015/06/six-years.html">2015 </a></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://knittingrobin.blogspot.ca/2016/06/its-my-seven-year-anniversary.html">2016 </a></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://knittingrobin.blogspot.com/2017/06/i-just-had-my-eight-year-blogiversary.html">2017 </a></span></span>Robin http://www.blogger.com/profile/01240699910272614928noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3440603490259597083.post-81534615135940429362019-06-05T06:30:00.000-04:002019-06-05T06:30:06.301-04:00The Making of a Milliner: Hat-Making Projects<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JkmNB0nzc4uIaQssK6xprrmUAuS5HB9fTNjoQlOq_YqwoGDiiboiab84aa-PhWmYd4ohXR0TNZ3X6tkgQ4sAIlXpfhGAFlyRBvIkXEc4SaQldaXsbEtICLa5RFazizjyyNss0aohaiQ/s1600/Hat3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="381" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JkmNB0nzc4uIaQssK6xprrmUAuS5HB9fTNjoQlOq_YqwoGDiiboiab84aa-PhWmYd4ohXR0TNZ3X6tkgQ4sAIlXpfhGAFlyRBvIkXEc4SaQldaXsbEtICLa5RFazizjyyNss0aohaiQ/s400/Hat3.PNG" width="301" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was recently offered a copy of,</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The Making of a Milliner: Hat-Making Projects. This book will seem a little off of the topic of knitting. However, most of the hats I have knit have been heavily influenced by the millinery class I took years ago. Here's an example of a classic pill box style trimmed with a loop stitch to emulate a fur band. I also own a large collection of my own purchased hats. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdbiud-1u2cEbEBoMTCIj7kk-5ovSQwtf6GA1rqyssO-TsC4Nw6vPUzIfvEUU64tzc5kRnb2d8B_2oFJoA5tkcjBxxZ3ZBFhxvNWZvfpiFfP1TmgCM8VWEPNFpUKFj_Aibbb_uqqYr-v0/s1600/PilBoxHatHiRez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="161" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdbiud-1u2cEbEBoMTCIj7kk-5ovSQwtf6GA1rqyssO-TsC4Nw6vPUzIfvEUU64tzc5kRnb2d8B_2oFJoA5tkcjBxxZ3ZBFhxvNWZvfpiFfP1TmgCM8VWEPNFpUKFj_Aibbb_uqqYr-v0/s320/PilBoxHatHiRez.jpg" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fur-trimmed-pillbox-hat-2"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fur-trimmed-pillbox-hat-2</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've always used the classes I took on topics other than knitting as an influence on my own work. They often shifted how I approached construction, fit and embellishment from what other knitters were doing.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The author, </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jenny
Pfanenstiel owns her own company</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Formé
Millinery. She</span></span></span></span> has a celebrity following, having designed hats for Oprah Winfrey, Michelle
Obama, and Barbara Corcoran. Jenny's work has been
featured in <i>Vogue, Tatler, Country Living, Vigore,</i> and <i>Belle Armoire</i>. She is the winner of the 2012 FGI Rising Star and both the 2009 and 2012 Hatty Awards.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The book provides a great introduction if you are interested in the construction of different styles of hats. It's full of colour tutorials that
explain the basics. Even if you don't want to make your own hats there are sections in the book which will be of use to any hat wearer. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many wooden blocks are used in the shaping of hats which is something that non hat makers are surprised by. If you are a knitter of hats you have probably used bowls or plates in the blocking process. Note that milliners also use the term blocking in shaping their projects.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBF2lCgKpq6l_qb1YlAytg0eL_Z5G0dN_EEsEhCGGEIR7vq25_0T4BLWj363L0mQHabI20adfvC8jzA-LA2-XzGrFRJD21LjnQq5JjLJ2XEem0koHv9rTOjxx6_1XfgRNftI_dHVWbaoE/s1600/Hat2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="562" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBF2lCgKpq6l_qb1YlAytg0eL_Z5G0dN_EEsEhCGGEIR7vq25_0T4BLWj363L0mQHabI20adfvC8jzA-LA2-XzGrFRJD21LjnQq5JjLJ2XEem0koHv9rTOjxx6_1XfgRNftI_dHVWbaoE/s400/Hat2.PNG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are sections on how to take measurements and how to choose flattering styles. The s</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">even designs
include a cloche, a cowboy, and a straw-brimmed hats, as well as several
fascinators.There are detailed photos in each tutorial so you will see the process for both wool felts and straw hats which are blocked into shape. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3wBR3906_4Pl5o10uSqysCITdgVeDsDHcwtZcbjPAz4OKlATbj7oohbI3FXx3xizu5Mi-cwAdxyDKgMQsHVgpP0YltgWl3DeqByywMTYMT5IeFq2YXdP-J1t3ZqDauoI80VJwrmoeVE/s1600/Hat4.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="543" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3wBR3906_4Pl5o10uSqysCITdgVeDsDHcwtZcbjPAz4OKlATbj7oohbI3FXx3xizu5Mi-cwAdxyDKgMQsHVgpP0YltgWl3DeqByywMTYMT5IeFq2YXdP-J1t3ZqDauoI80VJwrmoeVE/s400/Hat4.PNG" width="322" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You will also learn how to make hatpins, apply ribbons and work with feathers. I have found these skills very handy over the years to customize purchased hats. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I especially enjoyed the Fun Facts scattered through the book providing a little bit of the history of millinery. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The book provides supply lists which are very useful as the tools for millinery work can be hard to come by. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's a few more of my knitted hat designs to help you see how understanding millinery technique can relate back to your knitting. </span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoBLp-gUSL33j2qmgeykJhN6grH-rk4kV9uQ9JQYdt7wPrPkLStlzfWQg3Ky55aJZZLCNPfdm9mMoASgBlypoxxGkxpz8f0HvKdev_b75SeGUcU6o2wwAJrGhbTlbcIi4ixMlq0FwcyI/s1600/Dpoble+strands2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="645" data-original-width="648" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoBLp-gUSL33j2qmgeykJhN6grH-rk4kV9uQ9JQYdt7wPrPkLStlzfWQg3Ky55aJZZLCNPfdm9mMoASgBlypoxxGkxpz8f0HvKdev_b75SeGUcU6o2wwAJrGhbTlbcIi4ixMlq0FwcyI/s320/Dpoble+strands2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-scottish-tam"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-scottish-tam</span></a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOM1Y2gNZzSI5r-goRVRPomxmM-NAjlSnJy4M5WtzeYkPr00sIX6zqzVQ3NfQZgdMElAoKVhfn58k1jui1MR7LeRZG6D66BC2ji46uPU9kbrdTEIh-VAnHAy4pAyMPuh-Q_23lxscR8k8/s1600/The_Scottish_Tam-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="496" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOM1Y2gNZzSI5r-goRVRPomxmM-NAjlSnJy4M5WtzeYkPr00sIX6zqzVQ3NfQZgdMElAoKVhfn58k1jui1MR7LeRZG6D66BC2ji46uPU9kbrdTEIh-VAnHAy4pAyMPuh-Q_23lxscR8k8/s320/The_Scottish_Tam-.jpg" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-scottish-tam"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-scottish-tam</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItt6eQbYTFYlQItFSR6KV8BjJzCn8QOJkrS0POYjW5gcnXr5LxFLWhScKAtmrSWEj_YJr3JWJSpLoIeTO7YzLsi4gg5dv0NYs8jveDQ7SO8_rNT4Cnazrju_EqBAWNRFmCEa3CytuvDM/s1600/FlowrdTop_medium2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="627" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItt6eQbYTFYlQItFSR6KV8BjJzCn8QOJkrS0POYjW5gcnXr5LxFLWhScKAtmrSWEj_YJr3JWJSpLoIeTO7YzLsi4gg5dv0NYs8jveDQ7SO8_rNT4Cnazrju_EqBAWNRFmCEa3CytuvDM/s320/FlowrdTop_medium2.JPG" width="313" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-flowered-topper"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-flowered-topper</span></span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7pZIA2xj-7JzcHtfo7Jv5aqCuKoS7vIx8pwEDwi-ptI89N_vywfjNoIozla4cGNMSp7i8ZFhHxBtr5nhr7c5FDJlCbgCXAeRsXoEhfokItuCiKbZADBJYZcks-suO6Lah33m-MKfbj34/s1600/FlwrdTopper_medium2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="640" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7pZIA2xj-7JzcHtfo7Jv5aqCuKoS7vIx8pwEDwi-ptI89N_vywfjNoIozla4cGNMSp7i8ZFhHxBtr5nhr7c5FDJlCbgCXAeRsXoEhfokItuCiKbZADBJYZcks-suO6Lah33m-MKfbj34/s320/FlwrdTopper_medium2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-flowered-topper"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-flowered-topper</span></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQRUg6B7ArPJZqMuCHBEsTftOSZkD__Ihgv7VmUM_MtPUYNf3ByyBFUEJN-AqhWspKx4yVtz3r-FfDo5rkYCwUhQHqSeMiBFfsj0HkuV4-mNiUUR9Hz6L0SO3G3-PCZRzgALvk1KVo-Q/s1600/The_Breton_Hat-smw.pdf-1main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="200" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQRUg6B7ArPJZqMuCHBEsTftOSZkD__Ihgv7VmUM_MtPUYNf3ByyBFUEJN-AqhWspKx4yVtz3r-FfDo5rkYCwUhQHqSeMiBFfsj0HkuV4-mNiUUR9Hz6L0SO3G3-PCZRzgALvk1KVo-Q/s320/The_Breton_Hat-smw.pdf-1main.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-breton-hat">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-breton-hat</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Robin http://www.blogger.com/profile/01240699910272614928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3440603490259597083.post-75365504160451814382019-05-24T06:30:00.000-04:002019-05-24T06:30:11.259-04:00An Interview with...Ayako Monier<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm44P49WEpuPQzS7GptTPppFW9uO9ttbHm7jI-OpG6QcgiD0ZV02B1oSpt0Vvmo6ijl8NnIx_fmbYgTOP21IpIg6hhBu-NpUa0Wpo1T3opgUFMZkCx4DGktAE7VKhMPTlu0gWZD4inErM/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm44P49WEpuPQzS7GptTPppFW9uO9ttbHm7jI-OpG6QcgiD0ZV02B1oSpt0Vvmo6ijl8NnIx_fmbYgTOP21IpIg6hhBu-NpUa0Wpo1T3opgUFMZkCx4DGktAE7VKhMPTlu0gWZD4inErM/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/asseleen">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/asseleen</a></span></td></tr>
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</b></span></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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.<br /> <br /> You can find</span></span></b><span class="gD" data-hovercard-id="taigahilliard@gmail.com" name="taiga hilliard"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></span><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ayako</span></b> </span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/designers/ayako-monier">here</a> on Ravelry.</span></span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Where do you find inspiration?</b><br />It could be anywhere around me – nature, architectures or even in bakeries and restaurants. Any colour combinations, shapes or any organization of matters give me a hint.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What is your favourite knitting technique?</b><br />Anything that has less purling would be better. So working in the round, or if working in flat, garter stitch or reversible ribs, etc., you know what I mean.<br /><b> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Do you look at other designers’ work or are you afraid that you will be influenced by their designs?</b><br />I do all the time! There are so many talented designers out there.</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXIuRype6FLjfa7I82nsd7HWwtsIB9YzlUiR5YG73cvvSmaErmoG0yOW4Lnl_O6wiKN6KTc68-1QTI261q16yEp7PP-6VZVtiF4ajO68-dlx7WloGRDn8jHUoYSUn4xElJOTpSPxIwkNE/s1600/DSC09208-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="364" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXIuRype6FLjfa7I82nsd7HWwtsIB9YzlUiR5YG73cvvSmaErmoG0yOW4Lnl_O6wiKN6KTc68-1QTI261q16yEp7PP-6VZVtiF4ajO68-dlx7WloGRDn8jHUoYSUn4xElJOTpSPxIwkNE/s400/DSC09208-1.jpg" width="397" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/nagarray"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/nagarray</span></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>How many sample/test knitters do you have working for you or do you do it all </b><b>yourself?</b><br />I make one sample for each of my design. I usually have one or two testers for each size.<br /><b> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Did you do a formal business plan?</b><br />No.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63_j7MCXw707qp4tex_YQktMeEvQ44RhJfnUkZgaHNh5mF3p6ssh9Kj1W2bfpYLb43YoQW7vqewwFdwkZtezTzPuYqVNCuQbbCPHtmk87mc9fXgWn6BawZqg9qGHy20J2uYQn1nYcM0c/s1600/DSC01914_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="806" data-original-width="711" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63_j7MCXw707qp4tex_YQktMeEvQ44RhJfnUkZgaHNh5mF3p6ssh9Kj1W2bfpYLb43YoQW7vqewwFdwkZtezTzPuYqVNCuQbbCPHtmk87mc9fXgWn6BawZqg9qGHy20J2uYQn1nYcM0c/s400/DSC01914_1.jpg" width="352" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sochi-kochi"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sochi-kochi</span></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Do you have a mentor?</b><br />No.<br /><b> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Do you have a business model that you have emulated?</b><br />No.<br /><b> </b> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>How do you maintain your life/work balance?</b><br />Hand knitting is a time-consuming and labour intensive activity, while it is quite meditative and creative. I enjoy running, swimming and cycling to compensate for the sedative time of knitting. Also, I have a supportive and understanding husband and four healing cats to keep me always balanced.<br /><b> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>How do you deal with criticism?</b><br />It was tough for the first time, but eventually I realized that it is up to me to take any criticism in any way I would like to. Fortunately it is for the better in the future.</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVxjLl99SewHEeVzTVRPktNDQ8yjshsQCgDyZNiHgo2H2JohyphenhyphenUFwaHd59u94TnmcMMs7WAUk56uMBxJEc-Agtt20sHiXg975J9JDWTLwwjnc1RN5___hKftMrzV_7NPav2jFeX63ZCaY/s1600/DSC00846_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="791" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVxjLl99SewHEeVzTVRPktNDQ8yjshsQCgDyZNiHgo2H2JohyphenhyphenUFwaHd59u94TnmcMMs7WAUk56uMBxJEc-Agtt20sHiXg975J9JDWTLwwjnc1RN5___hKftMrzV_7NPav2jFeX63ZCaY/s400/DSC00846_1.jpg" width="397" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/juraku-pullover"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/juraku-pullover</span></span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>How long did it take for you to be able to support yourself?</b><br />I am still working on it!<br /><b> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What advice would you give someone who wants to pursue a career in knitting?</b><br />Go for it! It is your life after all.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What’s next for you?</b><br />I am into textures. I am planning to make an e-book with several pullovers and cardigans with interesting and unique textures.</span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihoe6LPMJpitqNqpc5UkiV0xG5EnnERaA39XWu5k3wKRdoj5v2xX44xFjG9n2xAWLMhePEgGTzlK_7RWlle_1wsOfENUYVj0t1Q3DJWFgGKWIg_YNMOJE1NJfFM7xuVKS7Sf-YQYc-EZY/s1600/bl8_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="558" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihoe6LPMJpitqNqpc5UkiV0xG5EnnERaA39XWu5k3wKRdoj5v2xX44xFjG9n2xAWLMhePEgGTzlK_7RWlle_1wsOfENUYVj0t1Q3DJWFgGKWIg_YNMOJE1NJfFM7xuVKS7Sf-YQYc-EZY/s400/bl8_1.jpg" width="385" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tessarina"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tessarina</span></span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span>Robin http://www.blogger.com/profile/01240699910272614928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3440603490259597083.post-7774252781296067042019-05-01T06:30:00.000-04:002019-05-01T06:49:27.934-04:00New Pattern - The Cavoli Shawl<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRb4EgX0FmvpMI3yPkbjpGKR2gWTA1dORpcsNlYWi-ZBA2nxyxEkNlUpZ_NcJ1bP-_LF84ZeaF0UxM1UffKIywr2HRJS0gu43DroT20HZZdmUPcBiND7bUl1ZGWiAzX95_-9ej5hozRk/s1600/IMG_0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRb4EgX0FmvpMI3yPkbjpGKR2gWTA1dORpcsNlYWi-ZBA2nxyxEkNlUpZ_NcJ1bP-_LF84ZeaF0UxM1UffKIywr2HRJS0gu43DroT20HZZdmUPcBiND7bUl1ZGWiAzX95_-9ej5hozRk/s400/IMG_0012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Simple
garter stitch keeps the focus on the shaping in this project. The wrap is
worked sideways creating a curved upper edge. It’s easy to wear and perfect for
wrapping around your neck. Starting from </span></em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">one narrow point, the stitches increase on one edge and
decrease on the opposite edge creating a series of triangles. The shape is sometimes called a vortex shaped shawl due to the way the stitches swirl as the shaping stitches are worked. The cast off edge
works a separate series of triangles along the second side of the curved
triangular shape. The pattern includes extra details to assist the knitter with
yarn substitutions. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Robin http://www.blogger.com/profile/01240699910272614928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3440603490259597083.post-53753527891776234132019-03-29T06:30:00.000-04:002019-03-29T06:30:07.934-04:00Sizing Issue Round-up Part 2<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last Friday I published Part One of this post with links to fascinating articles about size and fit issues in the fashion industry. Almost all of these links came from the fashion blog <a href="https://www.wardrobeoxygen.com/">Wardrobe Oxygen</a>. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<h1 class="_21349 quartz none _4ca8e">
<a href="https://qz.com/932354/the-stupid-reason-that-larger-clothes-fit-so-badly/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The stupid reason that larger clothes fit so badly</span></span></span></a></h1>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<h1 class="title" itemprop="name">
<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2015/04/08/retails-plus-size-problem-designing-for-larger-sizes.html"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Retail's plus-size problem: Designing for larger sizes</span></span></span></a></h1>
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<a href="https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/plus-size-problems"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Problem With Plus Size</span></span></span></a></h1>
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<a href="https://www.self.com/story/extended-plus-sizing-fit"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More Sizes Don’t Always Mean a Good Fit for Plus-Size Shoppers</span></span></span></a></h1>
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<a href="https://www.self.com/story/diversity-in-fashion-2016"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">2016 Was A Good Year For Body Diversity In Fashion—But There's Still Work To Be Done</span></span></span></a></h1>
Robin http://www.blogger.com/profile/01240699910272614928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3440603490259597083.post-2320780520985244372019-03-22T06:30:00.001-04:002019-03-22T06:30:02.605-04:00Sizing Issue Round-up Part 1<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the many fashion blogs I follow is <a href="https://www.wardrobeoxygen.com/">Wardrobe Oxygen</a>.
Last week she published links to various articles on the issues around
sizing in the fashion industry. I was surprised to see a source I have
linked to in the past mainly because I think of it as a makers resource.
I've read a lot of the archives due to my interest in pattern
drafting and fit issues. There are so many good articles to link to I've broken the list into </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">two parts. Here's the first part. All these ones are from <a href="http://fashion-incubator./">Fashion-Incubator.</a></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://fashion-incubator.com/why-existing-manufacturers-dont-add-plus-sizes/"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why existing manufacturers don’t add plus sizes</span></span></span></a></h1>
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<a href="https://fashion-incubator.com/grading_is_not_morphing/"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grading is not morphing</span></span></span></a></h1>
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<a href="https://fashion-incubator.com/why-isnt-womens-clothing-sized-like-mens/"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why isn’t women’s clothing sized like men’s? pt.1</span></span></span></a></h1>
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<a href="https://fashion-incubator.com/why-isnt-womens-clothing-sized-like-mens-pt-2/"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why isn’t women’s clothing sized like men’s? pt.2</span></span></span></a></h1>
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<a href="https://fashion-incubator.com/what-is-a-size-break/"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is a size break?</span></span></span></a></h1>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Robin http://www.blogger.com/profile/01240699910272614928noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3440603490259597083.post-22161012270142191712019-03-15T06:30:00.000-04:002019-03-15T06:30:07.641-04:00Bobbles are Back!<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Back in 2012 my husband and I did a video on all of my tips for making bobbles. I taught a session on them at my knitting guilds skills exchange evening. Since most of my readers couldn't be there we did a video presentation on my topic: Knitting bobbles without turning the work. The link is at the bottom of this post. The video includes several techniques for increasing and decreasing the stitches of a bobble. There are two methods for creating bobbles without turning the work, as well as a number of extra tips for successful bobbles.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Then bobbles fell out of favour and I stopped teaching them. I know they are back again because I'm suddenly getting Youtube notifications. The video is up to 31,095 views. So I thought it was time to remind you about the video. Of course for me the fun part is seeing how much I've changed, I'm both significantly greyer and slimmer than I was back then.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<br />Robin http://www.blogger.com/profile/01240699910272614928noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3440603490259597083.post-29344561547818970952019-03-08T06:30:00.000-05:002019-03-08T06:30:11.111-05:00An Interview with...Stephanie Earp<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXBYhssEJbRuT2BAv5caHvlivBXXo-9wZYaOBNSk0pWqzKugLDRl_xaTqIE2LWm7TE41P9rfiX-ZZRZW0r8P5Niki2z6ujuAsJrdhiPo4g-0gX9RAwewpDxZCgF_r4DPNBS3M2NRVBy8/s1600/se2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXBYhssEJbRuT2BAv5caHvlivBXXo-9wZYaOBNSk0pWqzKugLDRl_xaTqIE2LWm7TE41P9rfiX-ZZRZW0r8P5Niki2z6ujuAsJrdhiPo4g-0gX9RAwewpDxZCgF_r4DPNBS3M2NRVBy8/s400/se2.jpg" width="397" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/black-sea-3">Black Sea</a> (credit Dianna Walla)</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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.<br /> <br /> You can find</span></span></b><span class="gD" data-hovercard-id="taigahilliard@gmail.com" name="taiga hilliard"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="qu" role="gridcell" tabindex="-1"><span class="gD" data-hovercard-id="stephanie@stephanieearp.com" data-hovercard-owner-id="23" name="Stephanie Earp">Stephanie</span></span></span></b> <b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.stephanieearp.com/">here</a> and <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/designers/stephanie-earp">here</a> on Ravelry.</span></span></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/galore-2">Galore</a> (credit Joseph Baron)</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Where do you find inspiration?</span></span>
</b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
Often, in my own closet. I’ll look at the store-bought items I love and
try to parse what it is about them that I like - is it the shaping, the
colour, the fit? I do keep my eye on fashion trends, and I really like
to browse street style posts on Instagram and Pinterest. I generally ask
myself three things about my designs. Is it fashionable and
contemporary? Is it impressive, as in, would a knitter want to brag
about having made it? And is it special, something that you couldn’t buy
off the rack?</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What is your favourite knitting technique?</span></span>
</b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
I’m having a moment with circular shapes in knitting, both in colourwork
and lace, so right now I’m very into Estonian lace increases, creating
many stitches from one.</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do you look at other designers’ work or are you afraid that you will be influenced by their designs?</span></span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
definitely look at other designers, and I love to knit from other
designers’ patterns. I learn a lot when I do, from better ways to phrase
instructions in pattern writing, new techniques and even different
layout ideas. There are only so many ways to design a sweater, or a
shawl, or a pair of socks, and it’s inevitable that some designs will
have similarities. I had a moment last year where I had a design almost
ready to go, it was in tech editing, when a very successful designer
posted a preview picture of an upcoming design that really did look a
lot like mine. More than one person sent me a private message about it,
so it wasn’t just my imagination. I was worried that if mine came out
after hers, people would think I’d stolen the idea, so I rushed mine out
and as a result, it had errors in it. And then the other design didn’t
come out for another six months. I created a little crisis for myself
out of nothing. So now I don’t worry about it and I extend the benefit
of the doubt anytime I see similar designs. Sometimes things are just in
the ether and more than one designer pursues the same path.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46V-IXAreEuHEj7ZJBzucF_Sh4tCmdha8LptQywetr_cqmpj08CdFcV4a2nZb5Ys7e75etOECNmXU2y2KPelf-kfHkZJ42ALErznJCv0DEmlFFlmt-f-iFA9XlFQGPeTovziyGUONO84/s1600/se3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46V-IXAreEuHEj7ZJBzucF_Sh4tCmdha8LptQywetr_cqmpj08CdFcV4a2nZb5Ys7e75etOECNmXU2y2KPelf-kfHkZJ42ALErznJCv0DEmlFFlmt-f-iFA9XlFQGPeTovziyGUONO84/s1600/se3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sweet-vicious">Sweet Vicious</a> (credit Owen Campbell)</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How many sample/test knitters do you have working for you or do you do it all yourself?</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
knit my own samples 99% of the time, and I do run test knits through a
group on Ravelry. Testing is a funny thing - most of the time, the
pattern is fine. Maybe a little feedback over layout will come back, or
something small like forgetting to include the phrase ‘bind off’ and the
end of a cuff. But every now and again, a test saves you from disaster.
I had one design that didn’t fit over anyone’s head. I mean, my sample
did, but obviously something about my knitting style (very loose!) let
me get away with it. If it wasn’t for my testers, I would have released
it. I still feel bad thinking of it - all that work for a garment they
had to rip! I’m extremely grateful for the time they invested.</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Did you do a formal business plan?</span></span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
haven’t yet, though I keep saying I will. I do have goals that I’ve
written down, though. Most of them are not really financial goals, more
about making connections, getting out to more events, doing more
teaching. And now that I’m thinking of it, having those goals clearly
established has definitely gotten results, so maybe it’s time to add
some hard figures.</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do you have a mentor?</span></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
do have a few mentors. I’m very lucky to have my friend Dianna Walla as
a mentor, she’s been incredibly generous about sharing her expertise
and experience with me. She’s told me she has a few people who did the
same for her when she was getting started as a designer. So it’s cool, I
feel like I’m part of a chain of people lifting each other up, and I’d
like to do the same for others when I have more expertise to share. I
also have a whole gang of amazing knitters to touch base with from
working at my LYS, Espace Tricot in Montreal. The wealth of knowledge
inside those four walls is crazy. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do you have a business model that you have emulated?</span></span>
</b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
I don’t really have a business model I’ve emulated, but I do look at a
few ‘personas’ that have inspired me. I think I found my public voice
when I started listening to ‘My Favorite Murder’ a popular podcast that
combines comedy and true crime. I’m definitely an extrovert and can have
a dark sense of humour, and I worried about being myself on social
media, in a community sort of renowned for introverts. But letting go
of that and just being myself has made the social media aspect of this
job so much more fun. In fact, I’d honestly say I love it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do you use a tech editor?</span></span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oh
yes! I need a tech editor, big time. I turn out some pretty terrible
first drafts. And sometimes terrible second drafts. It took a few goes
to find the right person for me - but I really did. My editor knows me
well enough now to question anything and everything. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Yse_UDkCOHwO9f9nTiXw7jW1P33KKztbtsdvkqMq2bQQAE5hljuWB1TMsF0BqsLHl53W37BfiM44xSAGreoTnkrhBMQqPlyuGR8MRp5AQIkSjyAkMLDzq46ZMKoUCGI9zBfxZrG-4XQ/s1600/se4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Yse_UDkCOHwO9f9nTiXw7jW1P33KKztbtsdvkqMq2bQQAE5hljuWB1TMsF0BqsLHl53W37BfiM44xSAGreoTnkrhBMQqPlyuGR8MRp5AQIkSjyAkMLDzq46ZMKoUCGI9zBfxZrG-4XQ/s1600/se4.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vionnet-2">Vionnet</a> (credit Dianna Walla)</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How do you maintain your life/work balance?</span></span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Honestly,
I don’t. I knit all day, and I knit all night, and then I dream about
knitting. It’s probably not at all sustainable, but I just passed the
one-year mark in doing this, and I figure I’m going to give it
everything I’ve got for at least another year and see where that gets
me. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How do you deal with criticism?</span></span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ha!
Poorly at first, and then after a sulk about it, I start to take it in
and see how I can use it and grow from it. I try to not respond until I
hit that second phase of things, if at all possible. </span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How long did it take for you to be able to support yourself?</span></span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
don’t yet, although I’ve had a few months that were pretty great. I
need to get to a place where those good months are the rule, not the
exception. I’m seeing this time as an investment in building a small
business, and like any other business, I think it’s normal that it’s not
earning me a living wage in its first year, but the next 12 months will
have to change for me to be able to keep going.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What advice would you give someone who wants to pursue a career in knitting?</span></span>
</b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
Work in a busy, modern yarn shop if at all possible. It gives you great
insight into what people want to knit, what elements of a pattern they
struggle with, and what yarns are out there.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What’s next for you?</span></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
I have several designs in the pipeline, in test knitting and tech
editing now so they’ll be coming out over the next few months. I’ve been
investing more time in submitting designs ideas to magazines, which has
been fruitful, so I’m working on those too.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEuumGhbwD9Vl98nFhkOLQZr6jDdJvVSWa6v-13R9CncNqMv8erVZKoMmZTUG_njIY3OuxvW2mLKJViNoXsno0scLGh6uJSaFW4UgrqKesssESS5KxpztFmauX6aZtYdJdAqShpmetJ4U/s1600/se5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEuumGhbwD9Vl98nFhkOLQZr6jDdJvVSWa6v-13R9CncNqMv8erVZKoMmZTUG_njIY3OuxvW2mLKJViNoXsno0scLGh6uJSaFW4UgrqKesssESS5KxpztFmauX6aZtYdJdAqShpmetJ4U/s1600/se5.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/straylight">Straylight</a> (credit Dianna Walla)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
Robin http://www.blogger.com/profile/01240699910272614928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3440603490259597083.post-52771434952635356442019-03-01T06:30:00.000-05:002019-03-01T06:30:07.543-05:00Tips on How to use my Patterns as Stashbusters<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM09VRW-qa8AaXTBz9rsNQ8ay_UW-oXVlOLKgv4863XdYsImQx6B3KeYYWL-nBpkKO3yt_A89vU1y6B20mO9ZecqkjY60HAZIrUaxPW0SSjaJ5xiT4VTuJIIdLLIa_iYABWwMly14Tiho/s1600/Facebook.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM09VRW-qa8AaXTBz9rsNQ8ay_UW-oXVlOLKgv4863XdYsImQx6B3KeYYWL-nBpkKO3yt_A89vU1y6B20mO9ZecqkjY60HAZIrUaxPW0SSjaJ5xiT4VTuJIIdLLIa_iYABWwMly14Tiho/s400/Facebook.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's a repeat of an old post to finish up this month's topic of stash busting. </span></i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">I
just spoke at a local guild on this topic so I'll share a few of my
ideas here. First, why? I've been working on busting my stash since last
summer. I donated a lot of yarn which I knew I wouldn't use to a group
in a shelter. Another friend was running classes there and they got some
of my stash. I've also realized it doesn't matter how old you are you
can't escape the lessons your family taught you. In my case my
Grandmother never got over the depression. Being wasteful just seems
wrong to me. Finally, I really get a kick out of working on design
challenges and this has been a lot of fun! I've got two stash buster
patterns, both with super
simple knitting, mostly garter <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">which</span> allows me to combine very different yarns together. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Here are the tricks of the two designs. First working top down or sideways, while
increasing and decreasing means you can knit as long as you have yarn.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Both patterns require a minimum of three colours/yarns and
you can go crazy depending on how many ends you want to deal with in the second
version which is the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ruth-kettering-wrap">Ruth Kettering Wrap. </a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">My earlier stash buster is the</span></span></span> <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-dolly-bantry-shawl"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dolly Bantry Shawl.</span></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZR2dAIjjrGT958-H1pe_o6yTQRdI62tCRYAF9hSjgUfiFf87ZxVap-99bp3wZWdGaaKmA6z_hG286NfItdlfS5JpGu_3FnWFziILa9ocNcitpIJW1WKsIJPaZkIbY8dfTE6o7ABjarmY/s1600/Dolly+Bantry+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZR2dAIjjrGT958-H1pe_o6yTQRdI62tCRYAF9hSjgUfiFf87ZxVap-99bp3wZWdGaaKmA6z_hG286NfItdlfS5JpGu_3FnWFziILa9ocNcitpIJW1WKsIJPaZkIbY8dfTE6o7ABjarmY/s400/Dolly+Bantry+%25282%2529.jpg" width="367" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGArPlhk0dv0W6D-aC5WpkoYxx-zVbrMjV5VHAPw3KsE0VuuyZ8yy4jBNh3x0iK-8aHOGxZxT-YIlXPPCtFXL7cnL8l4Lo80bk8LecW0Um_pAarmYHOHu4QLJWtXTdThckhB4rF_x-rQ0/s1600/Dollyantrygreyrontnot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGArPlhk0dv0W6D-aC5WpkoYxx-zVbrMjV5VHAPw3KsE0VuuyZ8yy4jBNh3x0iK-8aHOGxZxT-YIlXPPCtFXL7cnL8l4Lo80bk8LecW0Um_pAarmYHOHu4QLJWtXTdThckhB4rF_x-rQ0/s400/Dollyantrygreyrontnot.jpg" width="383" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">There are several colour strategies I used for both patterns.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Pick
one variegated or multicolored yarn and choose other yarns that look
right to your eye when you put them together. The green and mauve wrap
on the left of the top photo uses that combination, which is mainly
green and mauve.</span></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Choose three solids - two neutrals and a colour<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> or</span>
two
colours and a neutral. In the photo at the top you will see these
versions as well. Or you could go monochromatic and choose all one
colour or even all one neutral. </span></span></span>
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</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">What about a rainbow spectrum based on a colour wheel?</span></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">If you
do use a colour wheel and want to use three colours, a harmonious mix could be analogous
groupings. Pick three colours in a row. As an example yellow, yellow/orange,and orange.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8Qit41e1hzEhmElOlZ78OewrRU4unCMAhJGwzKS_eLHjggE2_YF53wI-vxrnLTFAHWPwrtmf1pNeQHgTsJhKoCaaMnmHug9WFD7iJBLHqFj3WyS4-dDABH6SlxapOWIqg6qNwSUNNe4/s1600/Colour+Wheel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8Qit41e1hzEhmElOlZ78OewrRU4unCMAhJGwzKS_eLHjggE2_YF53wI-vxrnLTFAHWPwrtmf1pNeQHgTsJhKoCaaMnmHug9WFD7iJBLHqFj3WyS4-dDABH6SlxapOWIqg6qNwSUNNe4/s320/Colour+Wheel.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Remember if you use complimentary colours (across from one another on the wheel), equal proportions don’t
work as well, use the Ruth Kettering pattern not Dolly Bantry and shift the complementary proportion to be about a 1/9 ratio. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Keep in mind</span>,
colour is very personal so feel free to ignore my suggestions and
experiment. What is pleasing to my eye might not be to yours. </span></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">One
of the reasons I had so many bits of yarn I could combine is that we
are often drawn to the same colours. You will probably find the same
situation when you dig into your stash.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Mixing
yarn weights works in these patterns because you are
changing yarns very quickly, so there are no large areas of a single
yarn. It's often a good idea to start the edge with the heaviest yarn
before switching to lighter yarns. </span></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">The picots we</span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">re added to my second design as a place to bury the ends and keep everything neat with multiple yarns.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">The samples have as many as three to four
different weights in them. They vary from lace, fingering, dk, worsted, aran and include a thick and thin handspun.</span></span></span>
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</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">For needle size, I use either the needle recommended
for the heaviest yarn or one size up. If you are a tight knitter go up two sizes,
you want a drapey fabric for a shawl/wrap. </span></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">For the Dolly Bantry pattern the smallest one has 154 yards as its
shortest yardage for a single yarn. The lower edge is started when about 45% of the yarn is used up.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">The Ruth Kettering <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">W</span>rap
has a total of 600
yards (200 each colour of light fingering) in the black, green and
yellow version. You can get more details on the pattern and project
pages about sizing. </span></span></span>
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Robin http://www.blogger.com/profile/01240699910272614928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3440603490259597083.post-25572834833295309062019-02-22T06:30:00.000-05:002019-02-22T06:30:00.331-05:00Stash-Down Results <h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-hqJ9YgsAST2ineHx4re9MfJWCj7l32KsHmOc4x4Q622qOo6ICZetPxObXaen9VBJ2vPk2cbTYt7rygvlSo7MBMwVZW5rqDiU2yB3DP54JR2hVLUcb3FlK9FVwDQ2MugnHjm9BstOj4/s1600/sd3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="475" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-hqJ9YgsAST2ineHx4re9MfJWCj7l32KsHmOc4x4Q622qOo6ICZetPxObXaen9VBJ2vPk2cbTYt7rygvlSo7MBMwVZW5rqDiU2yB3DP54JR2hVLUcb3FlK9FVwDQ2MugnHjm9BstOj4/s400/sd3.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's another example of the results of my ongoing Stash-Down.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was raining so much it Toronto the day I finished this, that I struggled to get any photos at
all. The sun came out for a few minutes so I started snapping. You can
see the light changing fast in these. By the time I turned the mannequin
around to do the back it was so dark I'm not bothering to include those
shots. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtiVSaQf5QzDd2z1TbrtBhY3_0Rbun8otRh7xDJdfjELgiQ1ywpD_e7HpRyuGoQkQ9P-E9AQsLeU7oBzrj02q5VH34qTGCDcgFoPV5jRqeDFOHaXXdMA_MvwvoSOSJqMa1AC3q9T0u9E/s1600/sd1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="475" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtiVSaQf5QzDd2z1TbrtBhY3_0Rbun8otRh7xDJdfjELgiQ1ywpD_e7HpRyuGoQkQ9P-E9AQsLeU7oBzrj02q5VH34qTGCDcgFoPV5jRqeDFOHaXXdMA_MvwvoSOSJqMa1AC3q9T0u9E/s400/sd1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There won't be a pattern for this one but if you would like to create something like it first read <a href="http://knittingrobin.blogspot.ca/2017/03/tips-on-how-to-use-my-patterns-as.html">this post</a> for the tips and tricks. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
sweater was worked top down so I could add in yarn if I needed to. I
didn't. I did the sleeves bottom up because by then I realized I had
more than enough yarn. In this case all the yarn is red, however the
reds vary and I have multiple weights and fibres. Everything from lace
to worsted weight as well as cashmere, silk, wool, and rayon to name
just a few. The worsted was some Cascade 220 purchased for a hat and
scarf but unused and some Knit Picks which came to me by way of another friend's
stash down. Some are leftovers from other projects and were of very
small amounts. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do
a swatch to define a gauge when mixing weights together. I used the
needle size which I would normally use for a worsted yarn. I did the
knit one row in each of three yarns trick and repeat. (Make sure the
weights of the three yarns are all different.) Then I changed out yarns a
few times. Make a bigger than 4 inch swatch. </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Block it. </span></span>Pick a simple top down sweater which matches the gauge. Start knitting. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWb-uB-z5ElTKG2nLAtjD2IGSfrdj_2ancL-n5O0qc4dW4OpPcPjJ7fcYRhcOMNXTKBgjU1GxKsmoR-MNc_XVkOn3iqjy-GmtuW05qIbzeMjAxYQEfNCBbJY1pSKzZqwNvhQLvXwnZk2c/s1600/sd2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="475" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWb-uB-z5ElTKG2nLAtjD2IGSfrdj_2ancL-n5O0qc4dW4OpPcPjJ7fcYRhcOMNXTKBgjU1GxKsmoR-MNc_XVkOn3iqjy-GmtuW05qIbzeMjAxYQEfNCBbJY1pSKzZqwNvhQLvXwnZk2c/s400/sd2.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Recently
one of my friends found out I mix yarn bases and told me I was scaring
her. Don't be scared! This works because each yarn is used in one row at
a time. You can mix as long as you don't do any large areas in a single
weight. If you do, it will revert to it's normal gauge. The fabric will
drape. The hand is more like a silk or cashmere blend even though about
70% of what I used is 100% wool. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
knit the length to about 3/4's of what I wanted before the band and
then I put it on my mannequin for about 48 hours. I had to take it off
and do the neckline part way because it was stretching out too much to
be sure about the overall length. Once I knit the neckband I got a much
more accurate length. The armholes also looked a little sloppy but after
I did the neckline I realized the sleeve seams were going to take care
of them as well. I did a saddle shoulder which may have added to the
stretch there. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I did all the edges in one of the worsted weight yarns for consistency. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgR-xrgdpWreenkTTHus9y_Y9pwSKXSHfahBA_SiMpPX5G_pFrekdujqm6SCydYFcrtkaR9uvlaGN8YC3Es0EOiF3IwwJXJ4VTHaiHDd07k_fkwAYXMVUtv3-XyQ8XJcM70KNEOVvx38I/s1600/sd4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="475" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgR-xrgdpWreenkTTHus9y_Y9pwSKXSHfahBA_SiMpPX5G_pFrekdujqm6SCydYFcrtkaR9uvlaGN8YC3Es0EOiF3IwwJXJ4VTHaiHDd07k_fkwAYXMVUtv3-XyQ8XJcM70KNEOVvx38I/s400/sd4.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
Robin http://www.blogger.com/profile/01240699910272614928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3440603490259597083.post-19925769263938212412019-02-15T06:30:00.000-05:002019-02-15T06:30:01.344-05:00Stash-Down and Stash-Less <h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UY5302OYPpc3VPebSuMYdqXhHSe3x0FTUy6MDrK-2pRYxTqhxWf-cxMqBxlI6UL95zEE313ddBJKsRn1Ok-I9FZx798Ieo-eqKmkhwOAxrx1425IyEu7_ywOCssT0PteUqyGZJHBwho/s1600/blog+stash.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="458" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UY5302OYPpc3VPebSuMYdqXhHSe3x0FTUy6MDrK-2pRYxTqhxWf-cxMqBxlI6UL95zEE313ddBJKsRn1Ok-I9FZx798Ieo-eqKmkhwOAxrx1425IyEu7_ywOCssT0PteUqyGZJHBwho/s400/blog+stash.JPG" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">https://www.etsy.com/listing/515513591/my-stash-explained</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm
still picking away at my stash-down project. It's moving along slowly
between my pattern development projects. I haven't got a firm timeline
in mind but I have realized that the focus has resulted in a stash-less
policy which I didn't specifically put in place. I've not made a single
purchase from the yarn vendors who are often at my monthly guild
meetings. I've also stopped buying the raffle tickets since the prize is
so often yarn. I've been in yarn shops without buying as well. It's
funny how one word can have such a big impact on one's strategy. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the last guild meeting I sat beside a friend who has been doing both</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> stash-down and </span></span>stash-less
for at least a year. We discussed the problem of all those single
skeins we buy from hand dyers which are often not enough for a project.
It means buying more to make use of what you have, if there isn't a good
companion yarn already in stash.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As you know from a <a href="http://knittingrobin.blogspot.ca/2017/03/tips-on-how-to-use-my-patterns-as.html">previous post</a> I have two patterns to address the blending of different yarn scenario. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've
just come across a blog series on stash which I would like to share
with you. There are 17 extremely insightful posts on the topic <a href="http://thecraftsessions.com/stash-less">here</a>. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They are written by </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Felicia, creator of <i>The Craft Sessions. </i>Her stash includes both yarn and fabric but her journey of discovery applies to all stash or <b>hoarding</b>.
I hate to use that word but saying it to myself has had a positive
impact on my behaviour. It seems the word stash sounds more innocent to
my ears. The series runs from Oct 2014 to Sept 2015 and reflects her
changing thinking throughout. I especially liked the post on
restrictions and the one on desire. I've read widely in the area of
positive psychology. When I first came across the idea that desire is
actually a stress it was a light bulb moment for me. Even bigger is
accepting that fulfillment of the desire doesn't lead to happiness! Take
a look and let me know what you think. <i><br /></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. <a href="http://thecraftsessions.com/blog/2014/10/5/stash-less-week1">Stash Less - A challenge</a><br />The original post where I talk about what and why.<br />2. <a href="http://thecraftsessions.com/blog/2014/10/6/stash-less-week-2" target="_blank">Stash Less - The details of the challenge</a><br />Where I lay down the rules! For me - not for you ;).<br />3. <a href="http://thecraftsessions.com/blog/2014/10/21/stash-less-why-we-stash" target="_blank">Stash Less - Why we stash?</a><br />The reasons why I (and you??) start stashing.<br />4. <a href="http://thecraftsessions.com/blog/2014/10/28/stash-less-taking-stock" target="_blank">Stash Less - Taking Stock</a><br />I took stock of the stash, what was there and how it came about.<br />5. <a href="http://thecraftsessions.com/blog/2014/10/28/stash-less-let-it-go-let-it-go" target="_blank">Stash Less Challenge - Let it go, Let it goooo!</a><br />The one where we talk about recycling things that haven't worked.<br />6. <a href="http://thecraftsessions.com/blog/2014/11/18/stash-less-an-update" target="_blank">Stash Less - An Update</a><br />A post where I talk about the interesting lessons I've learned so far about hoarding and using the things you love.<br />7. <a href="http://thecraftsessions.com/blog/2014/12/01/stash-less-a-realisation" target="_blank">Stash Less - A Realisation</a><br />Where I talk about a bit of a shock I had as part of the process and what it means to change a habit.<br />8. <a href="http://thecraftsessions.com/blog/2014/12/9/stash-less-why-restrictions-rock" target="_blank">Stash Less - Why Restrictions Rock!</a><br />A post about the upsides of Stashing Less - a big shakeup in the creativity department.<br />9. <a href="http://thecraftsessions.com/blog/2014/12/8/stash-less-selling-discontent" target="_blank">Stash Less - Selling Discontent</a><br />Where we talk about how desire and discontent affect our making and about the journey to move towards slow fashion.<br />10. <a href="http://thecraftsessions.com/blog/2015/1/6/stash-less-a-habitual-practice" target="_blank">Stash Less - A Habitual Practice</a><br />Where I looked at how my habits and making have changed since the start of the project and an update on the cash!<br />11. <a href="http://thecraftsessions.com/blog/2015/1/26/stash-less-found-the-key" target="_blank">Stash Less - I May Have Found The Key</a><br />I've found out something really interesting about how to reduce my triggers for stashing - the key to freedom from desire?<br />12. <a href="http://thecraftsessions.com/blog/2015/2/20/stash-less-falling-off-the-wagon" target="_blank">Stash Less - Falling Off The Wagon</a><br />How and why I fell.<br />13. <a href="http://thecraftsessions.com/blog/2015/3/26/stash-less-a-marker-of-success" target="_blank">Stash Less - I Got A Gold Star</a><br />Where I finally get to the "special" stash.<br />14. <a href="http://thecraftsessions.com/blog/2015/5/4/stash-less-breaking-the-habit" target="_blank">Stash Less - Breaking The Habit</a><br />The keys to changing your habits.<br />15. <a href="http://thecraftsessions.com/blog/2015/5/19/planning-your-knits-and-mmmay" target="_blank">Stash Less - Creating An Intentional Wardrobe</a><br />Details of the journey to "enough".<br />16. <a href="http://thecraftsessions.com/blog/2015/6/16/stash-less-not-just-for-the-holidays" target="_blank">Stash Less - Not Just for the Holidays</a><br />About making the choice to continue.<br />17. <a href="http://thecraftsessions.com/blog/2015/9/29/stash-less-lets-talk-about-desire" target="_blank">Stash Less - Let's Talk about Desire</a><br />Talking about how desire influences behaviour.</span></span>Robin http://www.blogger.com/profile/01240699910272614928noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3440603490259597083.post-59121339441531538192019-02-08T06:00:00.000-05:002019-02-08T06:00:04.743-05:00Lessons from the Stashdown <h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJI33oN1s914hE0sAr6x7rBg7bzULY4nFBKKOzapZGeZK8ue0_QyDQxfw2f8MGlosIfYSDCYXD8ElOrXCkJD7-CAkpkGvLl0u32NHjBQRdziR0O55Q-xsk69p4ZH-fxwf7o3MSMtM3w4/s1600/stash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJI33oN1s914hE0sAr6x7rBg7bzULY4nFBKKOzapZGeZK8ue0_QyDQxfw2f8MGlosIfYSDCYXD8ElOrXCkJD7-CAkpkGvLl0u32NHjBQRdziR0O55Q-xsk69p4ZH-fxwf7o3MSMtM3w4/s400/stash.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://learn2knit.ca/knitting-cartoons/nggallery/slideshow?print=print">Photo from Learn2Knit</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What
am I learning from my stash-down, well sometimes liking and wanting
aren't really the same thing. Not every yarn needs to come home with me.
It might be better if I leave some yarns which don't work with my
overall knitting plan wherever they already happen to be. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can never go wrong with good basic yarns.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I should donate more of what I don't want rather than try to force it. I did realize <i>startitis</i> is often a message from your unconscious it's time to let something go. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The thought that someday someone else has to deal with all that yarn if I don't is becoming much more disturbing. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the positive side I really do have some lovely yarns to keep me busy for the next while between design projects.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
truly love the design challenge of making something great from what's
turning up while I'm sorting through the stash. See my post <a href="http://knittingrobin.blogspot.ca/2017/03/tips-on-how-to-use-my-patterns-as.html">here</a> on what I've been doing. </span></span><br />
<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7kCeHKY3daf-e7OfqA2Dj3zB0XgsiVG3etIR-XGdnTZ0h-cQaQgm52otp30dll-6KZx4Mp-U74lrBj5DMZMZlW-Z4p6FIox4hhJxQX-a3dE320ToIJ9NqMetAvbS_fuh1ZzParPyZyo/s1600/Facebook.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7kCeHKY3daf-e7OfqA2Dj3zB0XgsiVG3etIR-XGdnTZ0h-cQaQgm52otp30dll-6KZx4Mp-U74lrBj5DMZMZlW-Z4p6FIox4hhJxQX-a3dE320ToIJ9NqMetAvbS_fuh1ZzParPyZyo/s400/Facebook.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One pattern four ways:<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ruth-kettering-wrap">http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ruth-kettering-wrap</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Robin http://www.blogger.com/profile/01240699910272614928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3440603490259597083.post-18145771094052919532019-02-01T06:30:00.000-05:002019-02-01T06:30:05.062-05:00New Year's Stash Busting Resolutions <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOJnxQJk1hxJkRVh1-cfH-8fs1Pvjdf_vHw844Xr6bryLpvOYKz0atYplhxs-zpC3xeeGmp8DbLqfDf7riMk97ulIsA8FhxKk6w2z8_LVL-hsO99BKMjaIE3n-9dYskLGfRxjE_TkjcM/s1600/BlogNY1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="956" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOJnxQJk1hxJkRVh1-cfH-8fs1Pvjdf_vHw844Xr6bryLpvOYKz0atYplhxs-zpC3xeeGmp8DbLqfDf7riMk97ulIsA8FhxKk6w2z8_LVL-hsO99BKMjaIE3n-9dYskLGfRxjE_TkjcM/s640/BlogNY1.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's February, how many of you have already forgotten about your resolutions? When I google the topic of stash busting I get 190,000 results. Of course they aren't all just this year which just means it's an ongoing battle. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm going to use this month to revisit some posts to highlight stash busting strategies. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First up, some previous thoughts on stash management.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tossing the Stash
</span></h3>
<div class="post-header">
</div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sometimes
we just can't escape our past. I'm working on a stash
down. I'm looking at good yarns but often in small amounts and different
weights. I tried to bundle some of them up for donation and then fell
into the trap of feeling wasteful. This is where my past comes in. My
paternal grandparents came to Canada from Scotland in the late 1920s. My
grandmother came from a family who while they weren't wealthy, they
were hard working merchants and enjoyed the fruit of their efforts. She
was the oldest daughter in a large family and all of the kids worked in
the family business at very young ages. She never got over the
depression. She was frugal to a fault. She lived with us from the time I
was 10 so she had <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">many opportunit<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ies to share her concerns about money. </span></span>It
also didn't help when my husband saw some partial balls (too small to
donate) in the garbage and started teasing me that maybe I should keep
it <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">because</span> someday I might not be able to afford yarn.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Later that day I attended the <a href="https://www.fluevog.com/flueblog/autumn-knit-night-at-686-queen/">Fluevog Knit Night.</a></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
had my social knitting project to work on since my current design
project isn't very portable. My friend was working on some complex lace
and cursing herself for not having something more appropriate for social
knitting. My project is relatively small so it won't last much longer. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm on the garter stitch short row section of this pattern: </span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEP6W4EbP6SMASLI4gcj2zOudMo7IOkpyHk_xaHDZwE6Zc4c-Zo2ahwO4hobtlR9OqGqk0HiAFnBdSXBFjZ2c0Bhvgb8fkdNpRWOvBqMYETxw2m8Sngcz2haJw-3Pzn6gq0n0x4qwfB0/s1600/MartineDubois+LongDangling.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEP6W4EbP6SMASLI4gcj2zOudMo7IOkpyHk_xaHDZwE6Zc4c-Zo2ahwO4hobtlR9OqGqk0HiAFnBdSXBFjZ2c0Bhvgb8fkdNpRWOvBqMYETxw2m8Sngcz2haJw-3Pzn6gq0n0x4qwfB0/s400/MartineDubois+LongDangling.jpg" width="362" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-martine-dubois-crescent-scarf"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-martine-dubois-crescent-scarf</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJrmcx0hMLKOZZx7qVfXctLhFZYPMBYDahSB2anz5ZclDGF5kMQP45oH0GLigKgGapR_S2v3AUmOof7QqS4IcF9Om172jcHjAgvxQ5FmbmD6X_u98PCCqaAPcn1vwE1DmAiGFA6Cqe10/s1600/MartineDuBoisDetail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJrmcx0hMLKOZZx7qVfXctLhFZYPMBYDahSB2anz5ZclDGF5kMQP45oH0GLigKgGapR_S2v3AUmOof7QqS4IcF9Om172jcHjAgvxQ5FmbmD6X_u98PCCqaAPcn1vwE1DmAiGFA6Cqe10/s320/MartineDuBoisDetail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm knitting it in this gorgeous yarn from a trip to Rhinebeck a few years ago. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM4ygJPrHJJc8qIeeT1Y9JdspZ6monTin-S9bmXXiMxbTffCE0KX5pWs3GcHEd4Y5jkBpnm1DiwtKxYzjyRI8LWjfevTGFyfECUmGeo1DwjnqWZJDzzykFxdidr65XkpzLGBYgd132Zy0/s1600/bmar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM4ygJPrHJJc8qIeeT1Y9JdspZ6monTin-S9bmXXiMxbTffCE0KX5pWs3GcHEd4Y5jkBpnm1DiwtKxYzjyRI8LWjfevTGFyfECUmGeo1DwjnqWZJDzzykFxdidr65XkpzLGBYgd132Zy0/s400/bmar.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj83cUCD73kKzDgXVVauacO272_t2Ux0okqn5ShUrOShPGPe2qyeZRPuSEVKs15vRSqqVergg_8-WX2KmfZZe9gLoqmHO4NTEO6HE0rm5Ag6Aa8rN3DHuGpMGIsJSMvit0KUgwroz7W9k/s1600/Bma.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj83cUCD73kKzDgXVVauacO272_t2Ux0okqn5ShUrOShPGPe2qyeZRPuSEVKs15vRSqqVergg_8-WX2KmfZZe9gLoqmHO4NTEO6HE0rm5Ag6Aa8rN3DHuGpMGIsJSMvit0KUgwroz7W9k/s400/Bma.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I realized this morning while <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">sorting my </span>stash
that the yarns I'm not happy about not using could be used for some
very simple social knitting projects, either in garter or something
equally simple. I started grouping for colour and I wanted to share a
super simple trick for combining colours. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">See
this, it's Malabrigo Rios in the colour 856 Azules. They already
developed a great colour palette that I can use as inspiration. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkL-lcHzdQXzt4JeOE1OjLGJUQQcMyFs36t6dQvidzmptULyWH647tVNX8Hs_QacUfKqYaQqjex8OpTC0kWeRw5dbiJYZzbPRfHPDi8cXVJevqz4oVw6Bb1Dz3wniycjkyxGF02IQQEtM/s1600/bmal.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkL-lcHzdQXzt4JeOE1OjLGJUQQcMyFs36t6dQvidzmptULyWH647tVNX8Hs_QacUfKqYaQqjex8OpTC0kWeRw5dbiJYZzbPRfHPDi8cXVJevqz4oVw6Bb1Dz3wniycjkyxGF02IQQEtM/s400/bmal.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's a few other yarns in my stash<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> that fall in the same colour range.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQ6GQgoo8vW9ZBdu7J-Q1oUX3bIHDWuIsoZsauqwM1uKdfEbRoEsWCAZ3ZbVGKVsy3aNGew39XQj7egTnwUdeGhykeBWjTDV3CJ9uT4-p5AaPEZsil2McaubZg63MuykjwL_A7zqvRUo/s1600/bmalg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQ6GQgoo8vW9ZBdu7J-Q1oUX3bIHDWuIsoZsauqwM1uKdfEbRoEsWCAZ3ZbVGKVsy3aNGew39XQj7egTnwUdeGhykeBWjTDV3CJ9uT4-p5AaPEZsil2McaubZg63MuykjwL_A7zqvRUo/s400/bmalg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
trick...all you do is hold every yarn up against the original
multicolored yarn, if it looks good together to your eye put it in the
use pile. If it doesn't, it goes elsewhere. I'll probably double up that
lace weight. I'm thinking a maybe a cowl or a cape-let<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> mixing the yarns together. </span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have more yarns than I show in the photo. </span></span>I'll poke around on Pinterest and Ravelry for some inspiration and see how this goes.</span></span><br /><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span>Robin http://www.blogger.com/profile/01240699910272614928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3440603490259597083.post-85141871445192545112019-01-11T06:22:00.000-05:002019-01-11T09:02:20.129-05:00An Interview with...Asja Janeczek<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurUB49HMaSlM5k3c7sou1fbvxpUagAy-L2NXRKnLWpIPsFk45yEk5Qdv5qf53HiRHOMAd6fqD_pazh3mz-u4_i_kG7JmjAQmbE-qdaMQj7tIPCZnfg2o2llePW4Xub3O1cxK3fg26RRA/s1600/IMG_9931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurUB49HMaSlM5k3c7sou1fbvxpUagAy-L2NXRKnLWpIPsFk45yEk5Qdv5qf53HiRHOMAd6fqD_pazh3mz-u4_i_kG7JmjAQmbE-qdaMQj7tIPCZnfg2o2llePW4Xub3O1cxK3fg26RRA/s400/IMG_9931.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/nellissimo</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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.<br /> <br /> You can find</span></span></b><span class="gD" data-hovercard-id="taigahilliard@gmail.com" name="taiga hilliard"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b> Asja</b></span></span></span> <b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://asjaknits.blogspot.de/">here</a> and <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/designers/asja-janeczek">here</a> on Ravelry.</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKXT0TtRV91l__5tNv8eot8HrIQcZBJ-rcLQbD-307kk4wfuqO7g0A88hl1EpSmnrbX5TsD8YUALRzqO406mNT0PHwpwotSVNhBo07zV1dqCBq_X4NDEXisvvAMFi2q8COI1bAXWjyqY/s1600/IMG_7779.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKXT0TtRV91l__5tNv8eot8HrIQcZBJ-rcLQbD-307kk4wfuqO7g0A88hl1EpSmnrbX5TsD8YUALRzqO406mNT0PHwpwotSVNhBo07zV1dqCBq_X4NDEXisvvAMFi2q8COI1bAXWjyqY/s400/IMG_7779.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pinpoint">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pinpoint</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span><br />
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<![endif]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /><b>Where do you find inspiration? </b><br /><br />Everywhere. Movies, magazines, street fashion, fashion pictures available online, sometimes it’s the nature that inspires me, the landscape, sometimes it’s the movie and a garment I see there, but it can be a music I listen to, which evokes the images of a design to my mind. But very often it’s a combination of a few that works the best for me. I am more a knitter than a designer, and what I mean here, is that I knit and discover while working on the new construction what I want to do next with it, rather than having a concrete vision of a garment in my mind and to find ways to bring it to life. I very often start knitting having only the raw concept, like for example, I want to make a cardigan, I cast on and I experiment and try different approaches on the way to see what works and what doesn’t. Since this approach to design requires a lot of trials and errors and unfortunately is time consuming, it’s not the most effective way to work, but I enjoy the process very much and I learn a lot along the way. This is probably why most of my sweater designs are so different from each other, because once I crack the code and I understand the construction I get easily bored with it and I want to try something else. For me having a challenge in front of me is the thing that inspires me the most. <br /><br />But yarn and stitch patterns are somehow a huge part of it too. I recently learned to make swatches, like a lot, and not every swatch I make turns into design, but it’s there waiting for me, ready to inspire me when the time comes. My dear friend once told me that I am more like a musician who plays the piano but doesn’t know how to read the notes. And as funny as it sounds, it’s exactly how it is. I know how to make the purl and knit stitch, and the rest is just enjoying the process and experimenting, a cracking the code. <br /><br /><b>What is your favourite knitting technique? </b><br /><br />I don’t have any favourite, as I very often switch between few, but unfortunately I am not a huge fan of cables. I would love to change that in the future and I hope that the 2019 will be a good year to give it a go. I hate to sew the garment, and I doubt it will change in the future, so as long as it’s possible I make the garments seamless. <br /><br /><b>Do you look at other designers’ work or are you afraid that you will be influenced by their designs? </b><br /><br />Of course I do, I love to browse the ravelry and take a look at what type of designs are hot right now, and I don’t think we should be afraid of it, as a designers. It clearly shows us the trends in knitting industry that we should somehow follow if we want to succeed, but it is one thing to get an inspiration from a design that already exists, and to treat it as a starting point for your own idea, and totally different is to copy it. I am not afraid of getting influenced by existing designs, because we should get influenced. This is the way we designers challenge each other to make something new. I see a wonderful design that already exists and I make my own piece which is something totally different. There is a thin line in respecting copyrights that shouldn’t ever be crossed, but honestly, it’s getting harder and harder to make something new and fresh nowadays, because the industry is flooded with a variety of patterns, and even if you make a new type of construction, knitters very often choose the designs that they know how to make. So you may end up working very hard to make something completely new, and it may not even get noticed by the wider audience. <br /><br />Like I said, it’s a thin line between getting influenced and inspired to make a new design, and to make the same piece but in a different way. You have to be cautious, self-aware, observant, but the best way, for me at least, to avoid creating similar items to the ones that already exist, is to work according to my imagination. I often start with the stitch pattern and I experiment. The worst case scenario is that I will come up with a design that will not be popular, but at least it will be mine. <br /><br /><b>How many sample/test knitters do you have working for you or do you do it all yourself? </b><br /><br />I’ve been publishing my patterns since almost 5 years now, with an one year break in between, so there were many test knitters who were there with and for me along the way, but since I started a group on Ravelry there are probably 10 - 15 test knitters I really like to work with and I can rely on. Depending on the design there are between 10 to 20 person involved in one test knit, and there is often more than one pattern that is test knitted at the same time, so the group could be really large, but I discovered throughout the time that the more the merrier, because all the support and suggestions that test knitters bring with them to each test knit it’s absolutely irreplaceable. If I learned anything since I started writing up knitting patterns, and I learned a lot, it’s them who I am most grateful for. <br /><br />As I already explained, as a knitter explorer I couldn’t really delegate making a sample on anyone, so I don’t have the sample knitter. Anyways, I am sure I wouldn’t enjoy it at all as the knitting itself is the highlight of my work. All samples I’ve ever designed I made on my own. But I imagine I could use a help whenever I crack the code and the most of the intriguing part of making the sample is already done, like the sleeves or collars. Maybe someday…? <br /><br /><b>Did you do a formal business plan? </b><br /><br />Absolutely not. I still have problems with admitting the fact that whenever I knit I work, and even more, I am my own boss now. J But I have to go back a little bit to explain how the knitting has evolved into “work” for me. <br /><br />I little before I came to live in Germany, I just got married to my husband and I just got my diploma in psychology I studied in Cracow, but I somehow landed in a small village with no perspective for me. And when I started believing that it will change for the better, life has happened and my Mum had a stroke. Unfortunately we lost Her few days later. I was 26 years old at that time and I just began the adult life and it all stopped at once. So I was traveling back and forth between my husband and my family living in Poland for a long time, I couldn’t actually start a life here in Germany living with a one foot stuck in Poland, I had to choose at some point, and it may sound funny and impossible but it was knitting that saved me in that rough time. <br /><br />I picked up knitting, I already knew the basics so I quickly moved to more advanced projects, but I had to learn how to follow the knitting patterns. I started blogging about things I made, which opened a wonderful opportunity to find and keep in touch with Polish speaking crafters, who soon became my friends. And since I was always rather an explorer, I quickly started making my own things and designing, although I wasn’t aware I was doing it. Realizing that fact lead me to writing patterns soon after. I know that when you want something to happen, you start with a dream, and then goes the plan, and then you follow the steps you’ve planned to achieve your goals, your dreams. But it’s not always the way your life guides you. I have never even imagined I would knit for a living, but I am super grateful that knitting was there for me when I was in a need for something to save me. And that it is still saving me in an everyday struggle. I don’t know whether this knitting business I have will get bigger or not, the knitting will be there for me, and that’s fairly enough.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><b> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Do you have a mentor? </b><br /><br />I don’t have the mentor who I could speak to, but I have few idols I admire and I get inspiration from.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8I0Vc_h2icYP-slVb2yNPtVy0RO3dCB5iTqDu6uL1CSUZPkwbrrJOKSRWZXafy2czfNwYqHi3B5tlWMVGiGKxOwxwU2cJl_FBdvn0JbRdXBLEcbH-k37InUg5aoNLlmqMQsLQcoVyhdc/s1600/IMG_0952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8I0Vc_h2icYP-slVb2yNPtVy0RO3dCB5iTqDu6uL1CSUZPkwbrrJOKSRWZXafy2czfNwYqHi3B5tlWMVGiGKxOwxwU2cJl_FBdvn0JbRdXBLEcbH-k37InUg5aoNLlmqMQsLQcoVyhdc/s400/IMG_0952.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/spring-bounty">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/spring-bounty</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br /><b>Do you use a tech editor?</b><br /><br />I tried once, but it didn’t end up well for me at least. Since I publish mostly in English, and I am not an English native speaker (I was born and raised in Poland), I gratefully welcome any native English speaker test knitter in my tests and gladly take all suggestions they have for me under consideration. Anything else, like grading the garment pattern, charts or drawings and pictures I do on my own. It has been working very good so far, but I don’t rule out the possibility of hiring tech editor in the future, when I find someone suitable and brave enough to work with me. Remember, each new design of mine means a new algorithm ;)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLarV2ki-k8xRL0x0RrrZYFD8EE1UkH3QHF41Q6NoQK0V6yXYJFQV-QG_ECHPitQpcwMGYZFR8mtR5ULJd4yxJcNvhfhUlCp4trKya6SQKhM-9fJ7L9ZQGsNuUH8coaQJtYWFfBCzBy4/s1600/IMG_8282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLarV2ki-k8xRL0x0RrrZYFD8EE1UkH3QHF41Q6NoQK0V6yXYJFQV-QG_ECHPitQpcwMGYZFR8mtR5ULJd4yxJcNvhfhUlCp4trKya6SQKhM-9fJ7L9ZQGsNuUH8coaQJtYWFfBCzBy4/s400/IMG_8282.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wild-grass">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wild-grass</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br /><b>How do you maintain your life/work balance?</b><br />It’s hard. There are times when I feel like I am working even when I sleep. Each time it happens I make a pause, I stop, either by going on a trip, or taking few days off, I try to avoid then all the work related stuff and take good care of myself, because after these very work intense days my creativity just vanishes. In order to be able to create, to design, I focus on me for a short time. It usually helps, but it takes time to heal. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9tgmUcsYlqJOJPLXW2Tk6qQDIcvfhPqs78U5qSoPid2Ag0fh5UUsznD9Z_W2EsEOuyLspzQkE6VmAqWpyaG5leOcFBRosx1emioHkYWEBrs9TPevUQeyr6-K2MaHvGJ6IJR0kKvtpqs/s1600/IMG_2716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9tgmUcsYlqJOJPLXW2Tk6qQDIcvfhPqs78U5qSoPid2Ag0fh5UUsznD9Z_W2EsEOuyLspzQkE6VmAqWpyaG5leOcFBRosx1emioHkYWEBrs9TPevUQeyr6-K2MaHvGJ6IJR0kKvtpqs/s400/IMG_2716.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/flicorian">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/flicorian</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br /><b>How do you deal with criticism?</b><br />My husband is a real blessing in terms of making the criticism more digestible. We talk a lot about opinions that somehow bother me, and either he proves me wrong and I have no other choice than to accept what was written or claimed about my work, or he just makes me laugh about it and shows me how truly this opinion that became somehow so cruel in my head is irrelevant to me and to our life. But of course, a lot depends on the subject of the criticism I am dealing with. If it’s a stating the fact about the mistakes I made, or the garment I designed, it’s hard to argue with it, you have to accept it and take a lesson. <br /><br />Fortunately for me, those times when I am completely overwhelmed with opinions happen a lot and these are the most supportive compliments I get, and the times when I must deal with a real criticism are only a small percentage of many wonderful, heartwarming and appreciating comments I am super grateful for. The community of knitters are the most kind and supportive people!<br /><br /><b>How long did it take for you to be able to support yourself?</b><br /><br />I am still not there yet. ;)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHb30w8BNUmfibPQXPKXq2bX_2NrL6h4ZBOB8D7oYCc-1xfhs2Z2n6b_2Lix4FLzY9MyJc-qippbGmfLtwO158Un3tdMzFCcHnArtIOLi6e1lhRqXhjklvi9FpKFMPleCioetFZ0QHyGI/s1600/IMG_2188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHb30w8BNUmfibPQXPKXq2bX_2NrL6h4ZBOB8D7oYCc-1xfhs2Z2n6b_2Lix4FLzY9MyJc-qippbGmfLtwO158Un3tdMzFCcHnArtIOLi6e1lhRqXhjklvi9FpKFMPleCioetFZ0QHyGI/s400/IMG_2188.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/odins-leaf">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/odins-leaf</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br /><b>What advice would you give someone who wants to pursue a career in knitting?</b><br />You have to be creative and brave, that’s for sure, and enjoy the process of making and trust your instincts. It’s not always enough to have a good idea though, because you may work hard and leave your heart and the soul in everything you do and it may still not get you where you want to be, but being open minded and looking for opportunities and seeing so called failures as a one step towards your goals, that’s the hardest part.<br /><br />I have learned that although you may think of yourself as a one person company when you are a knitwear designer, you will thrive when you are part of a larger project. So look for opportunities to team up with someone! I have been designing for a couple of years now, and there are still scary and challenging moments in this job for me, which I made even more terrifying in my head than they really are, but these are my tops of the mountains to conquer. Whatever it is that stops you from making the knitwear design your thing, name it and overcome it. You may end up living your dream, and I guess it is worth it to fight for. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wN4EO9Uk64zoF8swhKuTjo_do9fK0JajtgJKpJdXMW-8quyST5ELyMQ4kXaHWKQ_r0305ZCiWmb8EevjOM91q-iy6pYZu7Gy0LKNKXv_ZC9YZBzQN5yCpQZONZyjRXeVH0lCBhMQ1vY/s1600/IMG_0060%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wN4EO9Uk64zoF8swhKuTjo_do9fK0JajtgJKpJdXMW-8quyST5ELyMQ4kXaHWKQ_r0305ZCiWmb8EevjOM91q-iy6pYZu7Gy0LKNKXv_ZC9YZBzQN5yCpQZONZyjRXeVH0lCBhMQ1vY/s400/IMG_0060%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wild-grass">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wild-grass</a></td></tr>
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<br /><br /><b>What’s next for you?</b><br /><br />I have been enjoying the travel and knitting combo last year a lot, so I guess these are my goals for next months, to travel in order to take part in the knitting events. I will be at EYF in Edinburgh in March, which I am so looking forward to, and I would love to visit Porto in Portugal and take part in Knitting with Friends in June. Those are the pleasures I have in my plans, but I am sure I will be knitting and would love to join up with the yarn companies and make few collaborations too. I am sure I will be knitting a lot. I just can’t imagine my life without it. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAazxCKdzZRPCZIMDRyB80KJ57USANAoUvrBkqMMjjPxkLRfXZjDCxJy7HLkbOWmuPGhmBEM8wXLVI9JCcudZEYxXsRpTQ-vopv8FnJanDt2wi_w2cna4a0vjDxBS6_EGqG6pSslZXSY/s1600/IMG_4005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAazxCKdzZRPCZIMDRyB80KJ57USANAoUvrBkqMMjjPxkLRfXZjDCxJy7HLkbOWmuPGhmBEM8wXLVI9JCcudZEYxXsRpTQ-vopv8FnJanDt2wi_w2cna4a0vjDxBS6_EGqG6pSslZXSY/s400/IMG_4005.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/shanel"><span style="font-size: x-small;">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/shanel</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /> </span>Robin http://www.blogger.com/profile/01240699910272614928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3440603490259597083.post-66131119871428026932019-01-01T06:53:00.000-05:002019-01-01T06:53:54.302-05:00Progress!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-WQHXvtH0BXCq5zqdvuGvpbuA8H73WC-ilxmAb55gUo1QmX8qclM281uGHBfxdojpoP1h-8sF8z7_VQJWmLsOEcc6uR-QlDbRrRCF_4X7BxP-RaqLK3UfHRhf1AKt-h-dZchPn2H_vE/s1600/progress.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-WQHXvtH0BXCq5zqdvuGvpbuA8H73WC-ilxmAb55gUo1QmX8qclM281uGHBfxdojpoP1h-8sF8z7_VQJWmLsOEcc6uR-QlDbRrRCF_4X7BxP-RaqLK3UfHRhf1AKt-h-dZchPn2H_vE/s1600/progress.PNG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Progress, that's my word for 2019. Every year I choose one word to inspire my year. I put it at the top of my Google task list so I see it everyday. I use it to guide what I'm doing everyday, it informs my decisions and shapes my day to day experience. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've lost track of how long I've being choosing a word but it may have started soon after I stopped working full time for other people. Some years the word is a reaction to the previous year's word. The year after Productivity was the year of Fun. A little self correction was happening that year!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It usually takes part of the month of December to choose my word. I add it to my task list with the current word and then try it out. I see where it takes my thinking and mull it over for a while since I'm committing to it for a year and I want to be sure I'll have room to grow with the word.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last year's word was Enough. The words often shift slightly in focus during the year. Enough was originally about gratitude for everything I have, but as the year developed it added a second component which helped me to be a little easier on myself and the high standards I set. It morphed from about being about things and experiences to being kinder about my self.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This quote was what pushed me to rethink the interpretation.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Accepting oneself does not preclude an attempt to become better.” From the Letters of Flannery O'Connor</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Give it a try, one word and the focus it provides can make some interesting shifts in your life. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span>Robin http://www.blogger.com/profile/01240699910272614928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3440603490259597083.post-65174029193743818932018-11-30T06:30:00.000-05:002018-11-30T06:30:04.997-05:00Reasons to Say No<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZZxky9owqIh7ZNs1rhlQCCoPFee8isXzhmB1yqlHGwNjkbDvSWhhpRl4R9q5t2BsY3-6M6Dhtr7WsIkbRPNtTLuep0G3UEQp-thMwzog_8kD7vjLRrNGLJawy60vZMi9t_GTCu4mPAQ/s1600/Entr.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="738" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZZxky9owqIh7ZNs1rhlQCCoPFee8isXzhmB1yqlHGwNjkbDvSWhhpRl4R9q5t2BsY3-6M6Dhtr7WsIkbRPNtTLuep0G3UEQp-thMwzog_8kD7vjLRrNGLJawy60vZMi9t_GTCu4mPAQ/s400/Entr.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I recently found myself in the position of saying no to two opportunities for many complicated reasons. Shortly afterward this great article turned up in my inbox. It was a link from another knitting industry insider. It confirmed that my decisions were correct.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The full article is here:<a href="https://www.inc.com/kevin-daum/7-great-business-reasons-to-say-no.html">https://www.inc.com/kevin-daum/7-great-business-reasons-to-say-no.html </a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by Kevin Daum</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've added in my own comments with each reason. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>1. Say NO! When No One Is Ready</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many people say yes to <a href="http://bit.ly/KDBosses" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">a boss</a> or customer request when the pieces of the puzzle aren't in place. Great work requires preparation. Great teams <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Rockefeller-Habits-Increase-Growing/dp/0978774949/?tag=roarin09-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">require alignment</a>.
If your team isn't prepared or aligned, agreeing to take on difficult
initiatives is a disaster waiting to happen. Young companies often try
to speed forward before their organizational structure or business model
is ready. They instead end up burning investor money while killing
dreams and reputations. Say <em>No!</em> so you can get everything and everyone on board and ready. Then you can say yes with confidence.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I've had lots of conversations with people who wanted commitment to projects which clearly hadn't been thought through at any level of detail. More than a couple of answers to my questions of "we haven't worked that out yet" are a huge red flag. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>2. Say NO! When It's Not a Fit</strong></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Salespeople
and entrepreneurs alike tend to see the potential in everything and
everybody. But a ton of time is wasted on prospects who are never going
to be customers, never going to invest, or never going to be <a href="http://bit.ly/KDEmploy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">amazing employees</a>.
Instead of looking for all the reasons why things will work out, save
time by focusing on the reasons they won't. Even if you say <em>No!</em>, you can always revisit the opportunity if compatibility improves.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i>This happened to me on many occasions. People would ask me about collaborative projects that didn't really work with what I was doing. As an example a printer who wanted to get in on the business of printing patterns and was very confused about the PDF pattern download world. </i></span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>3. Say NO! When You're Overloaded</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some people are afraid to say <em>No!</em>
even when they have too much on their plates. They think it's necessary
to respond positively all the time to avoid disappointing others. Then
they let things fall through the cracks, get sick or have a breakdown.
In this case, an impossible yes causes far more frustration then just
saying <em>No!</em> in the first place. Have a realistic sense of your capacity and don't go past your limit.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I made this mistake once and spent quite a few very late nights trying to live up to my commitment. Lesson well learned. </span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>4. Say NO! When It's Unrealistic</strong></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You
can't assume that every request has been thought through in detail.
Often people ask for what they want with little or no consideration of
what's involved for delivery. I never subscribe to the "customer is
always right" theory. As a consultant, I wonder, if they are always
right, why would they want to pay me? Be the expert when someone asks
for something. If you don't know how it works, do your homework and say
yes only when you know it can really happen. Otherwise, keep that
"maybe" handy.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I once committed to something, thinking that the request was complete only to discover that every week the expectations had been increased. I met the first ask but tried to pull out of the deal on the next which was even more unrealistic. In the end they wanted the pattern as it was instead of insisting on the additional work. It taught me a lot about establishing complete parameters early on in a project.</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>5. Say NO! When You Have to Go Backwards</strong></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's
hard enough to move steadily toward your goals without having to regain
lost ground. When approached with an opportunity that doesn't obviously
propel you forward, ask yourself: "Why am I even interested in this?"
You may be surprised to find there is simply no justification for
saying yes. When that happens, loudly declare <em>No!</em> and move on to opportunities that better align with your goals.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There's a supposition on the part of those who don't write patterns that all other work (teaching and speaking) is just done to promote pattern sales. It takes me about three weeks of full time hours to write a class or presentation. I see that as separate work not promotional work. I think of my Ravelry ads and social media as promotional. The catch all phrase "you should do it for the exposure" gets loud groans inside the industry because we all hear it so often.</span></i></span></span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <strong> </strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>6. Say NO! When It's Unprofitable</strong></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You
are in business for many reasons, but nearly everyone--founders and
employees alike--is in it to profit. Not all profit is related to money,
although young entrepreneurs should take note that consistent monetary
profit does help your sustainability and your valuation. Sometimes a
transaction can pay off in connections, exposure, learning, satisfaction
or, yes, money. But when a transaction does nothing to better the
people involved, then the word <em>No!</em> should be used. The key is
to make sure everyone in the company can understand, recognize and
justify a profitable deal. That requires openness and education, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Great-Game-Business-Expanded-Updated/dp/0385348339/?tag=roarin09-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">so get to work</a>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The minute I published my first pattern I started getting requests for freebies. In the beginning I was generous and did things at a financial cost to me. After a few discussions with industry insiders I realized that I was doing a disservice to everyone by artificially reducing margins. I'm in touch with a number of teacher/designers who have left the industry who all cite free patterns and the undercutting of payments by newbies trying to get their start in the knitting world. I also had a few pros who were very angry at those of us who did this and didn't hesitate to let me know. </span></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This
goes on for several reasons. First, lack of knowledge on the part of
organizers, the knitting world is full of wonderful volunteers and new
business owners popping up all the time who don't yet have a handle on
the marketplace. Secondly, due to the total stagnation of compensation
in the knitting world. Payment is set in the mind of the person making
the offer and varies widely between organizations or within them during
management changes. Ten years in and I still receive teaching offers
for less than what I got in my first year. My favourite ridiculous offer
is the profit sharing scheme with no basic compensation to cover my
expenses for travel, food or accommodation. I think in this case the
organizer was not low balling teachers she really didn't know what the
margins actually are. She seemed convinced we'd all be making a
reasonable amount. Finally it's a world of women who play by the rules
of a hobby and want to play nice. </span></i></span></span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>7. Say NO! When You Can't Meet Expectations</strong></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People
are often optimistic about how quickly and how well they can get things
done. Combine that hopefulness with the desire to please a customer,
and you are left over-promising and under-delivering. Save yourself the
mea culpa and say <em>No!</em> to what you know you can not do. <a href="http://bit.ly/17qzORq" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Be accountable</a> and
manage expectations. Whatever you do, don't say yes to get the deal
signed if you're assuming that, once the prospects are in the door,
they'll have to adapt to your change in quality, timing or price. After
they realize what's happened, few will come back to say yes and do
business with liars.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I previously worked in two industries which were both highly time pressured. I have a very strong protectionist attitude when it comes to not over committing. It's amazing how hard others will push to get you to commit to their timeline when you're being very clear it can't be done.</span></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></i></span></span></div>
Robin http://www.blogger.com/profile/01240699910272614928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3440603490259597083.post-78135235719230783192018-11-23T06:30:00.000-05:002018-11-23T06:30:02.345-05:00An Interview with...Lisa McFetridge<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3L7ybINQ-Kwa8LKPYlZF1wAPkTnrLC09pZCJZ2RtlD-WRggtNOnS3RxMXUqh75OW-JAne_akFq2AOBIfwR98vUZKe5l5Fg8MaRQJ2dEX9Lo99YDQM47iXX_vc8BNdS-KaRfqr-VrvVk/s1600/IMG_0661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3L7ybINQ-Kwa8LKPYlZF1wAPkTnrLC09pZCJZ2RtlD-WRggtNOnS3RxMXUqh75OW-JAne_akFq2AOBIfwR98vUZKe5l5Fg8MaRQJ2dEX9Lo99YDQM47iXX_vc8BNdS-KaRfqr-VrvVk/s400/IMG_0661.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Upcoming publication please see the note at the bottom of the post.</span></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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.<br /> <br /> You can find</span></span></b><span class="gD" data-hovercard-id="taigahilliard@gmail.com" name="taiga hilliard"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b> Lisa</b></span></span> </span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/designers/lisa-mcfetridge">here</a> on Ravelry.</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Where do you find inspiration?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
find inspiration everywhere that I can see the play of different
colors, including, but not limited to: store displays, walks in the
woods, flower gardens, wallpapers. Pretty much everywhere.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>What is your favourite knitting technique?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
am a stranded knitter. I like to use traditional motifs from
Scandinavia and Fair Isle but many of my motifs are mine, created as I
need them to execute a new idea. A good example of this is my
collection "Exploring World Cultures" which takes a look at many
different cultures, many with no real knitting traditions. Once I have
found motifs / stories relating to the country, I turn them into motifs
and create a piece that tells a story about the country and its history
and folklore. <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/bundles/exploring-world-cultures">(See the Ravelry Bundle "Exploring World Cultures") </a>This is the type of stranding design I love. To make a design that is efficient and tells a story but doesn't look childish.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCV1ZNRy6zxa-lZ5inszOD3IFRpYnerD7TbI3K0n_ipgR3XxKDQpqQ-CyV1q0sXit70jHgrf8ibZQTncbQYIJkFqI2sX20L82T9_etDxAZMydaXCKA65iqSdjky1Ie06LLgfHFHMYKj4/s1600/fullsizeoutput_2eab.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1264" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCV1ZNRy6zxa-lZ5inszOD3IFRpYnerD7TbI3K0n_ipgR3XxKDQpqQ-CyV1q0sXit70jHgrf8ibZQTncbQYIJkFqI2sX20L82T9_etDxAZMydaXCKA65iqSdjky1Ie06LLgfHFHMYKj4/s400/fullsizeoutput_2eab.jpeg" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/simple-snowy-slouch">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/simple-snowy-slouch</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Do you look at other designers’ work or are you afraid that you will be influenced by their designs?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That
is a great question. I don't look too much at others work mainly
because I knit small pieces only. Hats, mittens, cowls etc... as I like
to move quickly onto the next piece. If I need one of these pieces, I
design them. BUT, I am influenced by everything I see, especially play
of color. I am more likely to notice color combinations than the
design. My mantra when teaching stranded design classes is "Color
changes everything" When someone posts a photo of one of my own
designs, I am often taken aback at how their choice of color changes the
final product. Any knitter who takes a pattern and makes it his/her
own by changing colors, or making pattern modifications to suit their
needs, is a designer and I am influenced by what they do!</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Two of my most popular designs are inspired by Olympic Hats - The Latvian Hat from 2018 and the Slovak Folklore Hat from 2014. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>How many sample/test knitters do you have working for you or do you do it all yourself?</b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have had many over the years. It depends whether or not I have lots
of new elements in a piece if I have it test knit. I find testers on
Ravelry and have had a wonderful experience with the process.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyZpRtqHJChb-QfxOzzYojF0A_MF-Vw5oGS7UWEu_G43GMxwxo9Z4unLb-h0z4IpsmYq8i0sEVqxp_e0So9KA0n6Hhd047kSbx6QcQGjQBiPopK2uR9z77_h1gO1oa3rwkU2HjQVNAhQ/s1600/LM1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="640" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyZpRtqHJChb-QfxOzzYojF0A_MF-Vw5oGS7UWEu_G43GMxwxo9Z4unLb-h0z4IpsmYq8i0sEVqxp_e0So9KA0n6Hhd047kSbx6QcQGjQBiPopK2uR9z77_h1gO1oa3rwkU2HjQVNAhQ/s400/LM1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fair--squares-hat-and-boot-toppers">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fair--squares-hat-and-boot-toppers</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Did you do a formal business plan?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No.
When my youngest was small, I began designing. This was in the paper
publishing world. It was labor intensive, printing patterns, flyers,
doing mailings. In the end, making money was difficult. I taught a lot
at that time in local shops.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
stopped publishing for about 10 years, then discovered Ravelry. I
still remember figuring out how to put a pattern up and creating my
designer profile. About 5 minutes after putting it up, I had my first
sales. I was blown away at how easy it made the whole industry.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now,
of course, there are so many patterns available as well as free
patterns to compete with, but still, it makes a one-person business much
easier to run. There are now many other sites now, Etsy, Craftsy,
LoveKnitting, Patternworks. I sell on many of these as well as WEBS.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In
truth, my business plan has evolved over time. I have geared my
business toward charity. Nearly all the money I make with my patterns
goes to charity. I don't really advertise this fact though I have many
patterns that explicitly state that all proceeds go to charity. I have
created many hats for specific events, the most well known being the
Boston Strong hat created after the Boston Marathon Bombing. All
proceeds to the victims fund and also a large volunteer effort to put a
hat into the hands of every victim who wished to have one. Photos of
some of these folks in their hats are shown at the end of the movie
"Patriot's Day". </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Do you have a mentor?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My
truest mentor is Susan Shabo, a designer and my first knitting teacher
and a cheerleader for me over time. She is a wonderful person.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaem4LaSPcwWayg4OPE1R0y8RUMAVE6_a7holOe8fQPXCA3cxVMSVaoui7wZesQsTwA2FJVE0nCmCaviFVnLI18WygZdnlyXGoEiwWV1DlW6RDcqaelyJ7WWc4XbvHcUMlqHoIESBRves/s1600/IMG_9055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="1280" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaem4LaSPcwWayg4OPE1R0y8RUMAVE6_a7holOe8fQPXCA3cxVMSVaoui7wZesQsTwA2FJVE0nCmCaviFVnLI18WygZdnlyXGoEiwWV1DlW6RDcqaelyJ7WWc4XbvHcUMlqHoIESBRves/s400/IMG_9055.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/latvian-team-hat-2018">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/latvian-team-hat-2018</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Do you use a tech editor? </b> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
used to, but since my pieces are all small, I have a formula for sizing
and find that I don't need a tech editor unless I have something so new
or different that I am not confident. Usually in this case, test
knitters turn up issues in the instructions.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>How do you maintain your life/work balance?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
set aside a certain number of hours a week to work on design. After
that, I volunteer. I work for a dog rescue, a homeless shelter, I dance
with Alzheimer's patients and am currently training to be a hospice
volunteer.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuc7tI3wCV15PdrxoE1pHB9LY1ILRh63676puE8pmODwdYgMf8Vh26xZZkEFVx3l3qRInxcwOp7E3fF3ZOmTHxxf_AGEs8f71Jy2PI9_klEaujLHS-_onzd9BiCorrM9eQ8CdvpqIPUgk/s1600/lm2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="640" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuc7tI3wCV15PdrxoE1pHB9LY1ILRh63676puE8pmODwdYgMf8Vh26xZZkEFVx3l3qRInxcwOp7E3fF3ZOmTHxxf_AGEs8f71Jy2PI9_klEaujLHS-_onzd9BiCorrM9eQ8CdvpqIPUgk/s400/lm2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/autumn-glow-hat--cowl">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/autumn-glow-hat--cowl</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>How do you deal with criticism?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Initially
it stung. Now I take it in stride. The Internet is a wonderful thing,
it brings so much to the knitting community, allowing connectivity and
sharing of ideas and advice. The flip side is the anonymity, folks can
say things in a way that they wouldn't if they were sitting across from
each other. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
have had few issues in this vein, one after I published a simple hat
using a traditional tree motif. A raveler saw the hat and commented
that I had stolen the design as she had knit one similar from another
pattern. I responded that I had not seen the other pattern, but that
since it used a simple, traditional motif, there were probably lots of
similar hats. It was fine in the end. I try not to make it emotional
or angry, as it solves nothing. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>How long did it take for you to be able to support yourself?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
have never tried to support myself, always considered it "extra money"
and have been very happy with what I make. My background is in
computers, so I could make more money in computing, but this gives me
money and the flexibility to do the other things I like in life. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ucz7BZJ0GOoycsrT-2u_BQWh36iFITbLU_pcOqjftRNtvtdAIHuHkqdgN0R1HPSkhCThT_xPcP83KwyGETT7aJxMVccxgBhCMkllybh9ZU7g4nQE16Lq5kmKKLaqUW7iOPo_0GSp31k/s1600/LM3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ucz7BZJ0GOoycsrT-2u_BQWh36iFITbLU_pcOqjftRNtvtdAIHuHkqdgN0R1HPSkhCThT_xPcP83KwyGETT7aJxMVccxgBhCMkllybh9ZU7g4nQE16Lq5kmKKLaqUW7iOPo_0GSp31k/s400/LM3.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wizard-in-a-blizzard">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wizard-in-a-blizzard</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>What advice would you give someone who wants to pursue a career in knitting?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It
is a niche business and some folks make a true living at it. I think
of it like sports. Everyone has a team they love, merchandise they love
to buy, but when it comes down to it, there is only room for a limited
number of players who can become Superstars. I do it for the love of
design and am rewarded with followers and purchasers of my product. I
won't live in a mansion because of it, but I have raised a lot of money
for charity, I have met some of the most amazing people, I got to teach
on a knitting cruise and get to do what I love.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My
advice: Be ready to work hard, have a real business plan so you can
measure goal attainment and give yourself time to "become". You have to
survive the first few years of losing money or breaking even before you
can assess your real future. Working for yarn companies if you can
find a partner, is a big help. Stick with it and you get to something
you love.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>What’s next for you?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's
winter. New Indie yarns. More hats. It never gets old. There are so
many designs that percolate in my brain. Time to knit...</span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGGjg_o2M6_a8fPrEHjlR1tz_-2itEoov1zzprOhyG7SSeFQYGb0prisvaR5NBTzMUICjZEr5LfogFB6BoIvhQH8Gs_GjlMzpfDd5VwuygUgMdX3NsyPiLdxjh-5C2wqhvRsmR3-xS_A/s1600/LM4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="355" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGGjg_o2M6_a8fPrEHjlR1tz_-2itEoov1zzprOhyG7SSeFQYGb0prisvaR5NBTzMUICjZEr5LfogFB6BoIvhQH8Gs_GjlMzpfDd5VwuygUgMdX3NsyPiLdxjh-5C2wqhvRsmR3-xS_A/s400/LM4.jpg" width="221" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/blythes-snowy-day-cowl"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/blythes-snowy-day-cowl</span></span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/blythes-snowy-day-cowl"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></a>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Didot; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span><i>The
“Storyteller’s Gift Cowl” is so named as the knitter creates the gift
of a story to the recipient. Use the charts here or create some of your
own. Many here are versions of ones used in many of the hats in my
World Cultures Hat Series - motifs from around the world, many not meant
as knit motifs, but created from folk motifs. Knit a cowl using the
charts shown here or make up a new combination of charts. A blank chart
is included for personal use. When finished, wear it. When the right
time comes, find someone who can use the warmth of a hand knit hug.
Gift the cowl to that person, wrap it around his or her neck. It may
be someone you have never met, or someone you know quite well, someone
in need of your hand knit support. That person may choose to pass it on
in the future. One day you might receive one back... </i></span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></b><div style="color: black; font-family: Didot; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></b><div style="color: black; font-family: Didot; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span><i>The
first cowl I made to give away has a special story. A friend lost her
adult son in workplace accident. In the family’s grief, they did
courageous thing and donated his organs. Four people were saved. My
friend is the first recipient of a Storyteller’s Gift Cowl. All the
motifs are here: A trio of hearts, one healthy, one broken and one
large heart representing her son’s gift; a happy pup, Mingus, her son’s
favorite; music motifs representing his work and love of music; stars,
sun & moon, a connection to the song “Close Your Eyes”; the word
MOM (WOW upside down) she is both to me; an anchor for Hope; a flower
from a knit class we were to attend together in Vermont at the time of
her son’s passing.</i></span></span></b></div>
</div>
Robin http://www.blogger.com/profile/01240699910272614928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3440603490259597083.post-37283093619318382302018-11-09T06:30:00.000-05:002018-11-09T06:30:02.189-05:00Fitting - A Video Link<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've started another sewing project of a tissue weight knit top. I want to share a video series on fitting a simple knit top because it answers a question which is often attributed by knitters to the wrong cause. Some knitters have a problem with the neckline of sweaters sitting incorrectly and falling backwards. Often this is attributed to back neckline shaping. My sewing and pattern drafting classes always changed the shoulder seam and the centre point of the sleeve to add extra length over the fuller back arm. Most fitting improvements are tiny little adjustments that don't always make sense in the beginning. I was lucky enough to take classes with two teachers who were fantastic fitters, now you can learn a lot of these things online.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The details are in the third video,</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>Balancing Armholes and Shoulder Seams</i>. I recommend that you watch the whole series. Each video is quite short and you may find solutions for other issues. The blog it's hosted on is written by a very popular sewing teacher and pattern maker. Marcy Tilton.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The blog post is <a href="https://studio.marcytilton.com/blog/?post=video-custom-fitting-a-t-shirt-pattern">here</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>Robin http://www.blogger.com/profile/01240699910272614928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3440603490259597083.post-36339588009521384942018-11-02T06:30:00.000-04:002018-11-02T06:30:04.275-04:00The Creative Jolt I Needed<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think I must be craving a creative break from knitting. I did some jewellery making at the end of the summer as an attempt to get a creative jolt and quite enjoyed it. However, what I really wanted to do was some sewing. I'm becoming increasingly frustrated with the poor quality of everything available at retail. I also buy way less than I did when I had a full time job which means I want very specific things which are often not available. The other sign was I bought a few patterns and a piece of tweed for a jacket. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I mentioned the craving to sew to a friend and the next thing I knew she got me to go fabric shopping twice! On the first trip I bought upholstery fabric and recovered all of my living room throw cushions. I had searched for replacements in a few retail shops and the cost <b><i>IF</i></b> I had found something I liked was crazy. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the next trip I bought fabric for a dress and some notions to get me going. Oh but I needed some serger needles which required a trip to Toronto's fabric district on Queen St W. It turned out my serger needed a tune-up and my sweet husband took it to be repaired and picked it up once it was ready. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_5Yyu9wx6CkGODvmpnrlAVvZJst4hezwh7bOoB8WKRb5woXJyhXkW0sVsz18oDdxL0LB5cEUR92WylROAR4bAXL1b-LoDMTMCDADFtRrtq2BWkA-l20Sz_rKhze37mXxo0WBn5DGfY8/s1600/IMG_1346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_5Yyu9wx6CkGODvmpnrlAVvZJst4hezwh7bOoB8WKRb5woXJyhXkW0sVsz18oDdxL0LB5cEUR92WylROAR4bAXL1b-LoDMTMCDADFtRrtq2BWkA-l20Sz_rKhze37mXxo0WBn5DGfY8/s320/IMG_1346.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That trip for the needles lead to a few other purchases. I've now made a white faux fur vest, and a pink oversized knit top. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAnW5aOIeP9kqeCgTaL1sPjP9nBovwCgpR-0-sJ1AgyUN0Q7siCNn1_SVB0_Hus7907Cn-q-SMXqpy_pIX-TLbZnS64ZoGTYR_SR-JGbYCtfhyphenhyphenAROOZYMBTW6vW2YiVxThNYnTrgZuzA/s1600/IMG_1344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAnW5aOIeP9kqeCgTaL1sPjP9nBovwCgpR-0-sJ1AgyUN0Q7siCNn1_SVB0_Hus7907Cn-q-SMXqpy_pIX-TLbZnS64ZoGTYR_SR-JGbYCtfhyphenhyphenAROOZYMBTW6vW2YiVxThNYnTrgZuzA/s320/IMG_1344.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I completed them while I waited for my serger to come home. The vest is fully lined so no seam finishes were required. I did french seams on the top and finished the double turn hems by hand. I used a hand finished band on the neckline. The dress is almost done, I just have to complete the neckband and hems.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhVNA9GGbCuuB4R4GMFdD32xyBKNoaiAyp4BanrodAb5ws83bCaajl2pUS6ggH2mQxwBDAprQKQRkt19xEPTV6NxScehQKUo-tKsJ0kl8HlfZGrTol2cCvK6RqsrfOrObPBB8ynAJoeE/s1600/IMG_1343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhVNA9GGbCuuB4R4GMFdD32xyBKNoaiAyp4BanrodAb5ws83bCaajl2pUS6ggH2mQxwBDAprQKQRkt19xEPTV6NxScehQKUo-tKsJ0kl8HlfZGrTol2cCvK6RqsrfOrObPBB8ynAJoeE/s320/IMG_1343.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The top is to wear with these fabulous suede boots my husband gave me for Christmas 2017</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then Craftsy did a free week of classes and I went a little crazy watching and reminding my self of my forgotten skill set. I've dug up my old tailoring notes to review before I start that jacket. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are worried that this will become a sewing blog, don't be, I suspect this is just a lull in my knitting activity. I might share some sewing fitting resources to help knitters which I've done in the past and they are often my most viewed posts. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span>Robin http://www.blogger.com/profile/01240699910272614928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3440603490259597083.post-16903003715177523182018-09-28T06:30:00.000-04:002018-09-28T07:23:06.207-04:00Life Changes, an Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiJuJ1YuspOzRN1bAhB0cP_nNKtybVj0g-dkfo5gwSUXQChBYP92GOZiQWF6qR2ZH1UCJP-TK2jjCd5tIeUSnkyijwVjJcrrK9dzoV6H6Nl9ZkGxVk4YAo28URitj61BC8JLl2Eaj11ZM/s1600/IMG_1294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1445" data-original-width="1600" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiJuJ1YuspOzRN1bAhB0cP_nNKtybVj0g-dkfo5gwSUXQChBYP92GOZiQWF6qR2ZH1UCJP-TK2jjCd5tIeUSnkyijwVjJcrrK9dzoV6H6Nl9ZkGxVk4YAo28URitj61BC8JLl2Eaj11ZM/s400/IMG_1294.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Things are shifting here at Robin Hunter Designs. My husband retired six months ago so my daytime schedule has changed significantly. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In June I got fed up with the ongoing pain in my left wrist so I took a month long break from knitting. The pain completely disappeared during that month. I went back to knitting and it's bothering me again so I'm carefully monitoring how long I knit, doing my stretches and exercises and icing it whenever I feel any discomfort. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit07UZu2yoM8WqNF1LRxr2CYlNe2pAPtrq4RPoY_i_JR-a67xBEQq39v46f-Ws19yRTN6NwT3thAeCjPjr_gGzByBh1NIj6XYjXiCE2nIsH5snsh-iLY-ivRLjd9kQQ6pUTYeBSn6PMiY/s1600/IMG_1288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1464" data-original-width="1600" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit07UZu2yoM8WqNF1LRxr2CYlNe2pAPtrq4RPoY_i_JR-a67xBEQq39v46f-Ws19yRTN6NwT3thAeCjPjr_gGzByBh1NIj6XYjXiCE2nIsH5snsh-iLY-ivRLjd9kQQ6pUTYeBSn6PMiY/s400/IMG_1288.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm actively working on three new designs. I've finished a cardigan which has to be graded. I've got two shawls on the go right now. One is vortex shaped and the other is a shallow triangle. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm working towards a slower version of my previous life. Having my husband home is creating an environment which makes me want to slow down and stop rushing through life. This summer we spent time enjoying our balcony garden, reading, cooking and we had some fun watching Netflix. At the same time we've been getting more done at home. We finally replaced our front hall closet doors with mirrored sliders and we have new lighting fixtures in the kitchen. We've got a long list of home maintenance items to work our way through. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0GhoxD0IhUBHFh6XHmBmAHSIzTVQeE9LhqFt7ZP471PNpZi67JzgwsZat1LLKJUype3gg_0XuzKJsVcxVi-1xYAn6abt8g86hzU0-9zcPheCeim6rgIJfZHQMVybz8fFe8MpR0SnW-I/s1600/IMG_1296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0GhoxD0IhUBHFh6XHmBmAHSIzTVQeE9LhqFt7ZP471PNpZi67JzgwsZat1LLKJUype3gg_0XuzKJsVcxVi-1xYAn6abt8g86hzU0-9zcPheCeim6rgIJfZHQMVybz8fFe8MpR0SnW-I/s400/IMG_1296.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did a fair bit of jewellery making during the time I wasn't knitting and I got interested in sewing again. I've bought fabric for a dress and a jacket. Hubby is cleaning and oiling both my sewing machine and serger so I can get started. I'm trying to stay creative without putting so much stress on my wrist.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllxvTmTunhmdqA2ygZSXpMEb6yVktrtklxr9uT-9bXm-lkNdFhAlHFLfESl2JUtgTeto768igrWP5cmxt3wZrRw2CmDfbKo_50XQI7tzyKyJX2Bmj6D9HIAcgBeGGiOVApEUMtHGP5Jo/s1600/IMG_1276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1502" data-original-width="1600" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllxvTmTunhmdqA2ygZSXpMEb6yVktrtklxr9uT-9bXm-lkNdFhAlHFLfESl2JUtgTeto768igrWP5cmxt3wZrRw2CmDfbKo_50XQI7tzyKyJX2Bmj6D9HIAcgBeGGiOVApEUMtHGP5Jo/s400/IMG_1276.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week we're going out of town to see a play and enjoy dinner at one of our favourite restaurants. I expect life will continue to evolve in new ways as we get used to our new status of two retired people. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MejnEouxHOsxR1zkGGG5AON7MZlYyY1MgTevC6uFkZEbZVB5CwedqMhq4SGNR8Ca5mrmUNNQoSWbt5GhzTJLqVdj_ToGU7nv7sG6ebUyxba8vWpG7apYGk5OoN3xHSjph6iZ0N5JTcw/s1600/IMG_1273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1550" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MejnEouxHOsxR1zkGGG5AON7MZlYyY1MgTevC6uFkZEbZVB5CwedqMhq4SGNR8Ca5mrmUNNQoSWbt5GhzTJLqVdj_ToGU7nv7sG6ebUyxba8vWpG7apYGk5OoN3xHSjph6iZ0N5JTcw/s400/IMG_1273.jpg" width="386" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span>Robin http://www.blogger.com/profile/01240699910272614928noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3440603490259597083.post-90055104023207006992018-09-14T06:30:00.000-04:002018-09-14T06:30:04.124-04:00An Interview with...Sheila Toy Stromberg <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRVv98q7b27Kt5Y668csSOYFKZigCe8R7PzyGxnvzq0qPDvXknf6fc6GohC5H0BDaqFx1PhW-_MbSxicvYG0_fP2YPf2IZgTMjG-VN2Ben5iUlunNkptHtS1yLGk-w_tGwZtaQ0-o9Uc/s1600/polyphemus_043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1060" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRVv98q7b27Kt5Y668csSOYFKZigCe8R7PzyGxnvzq0qPDvXknf6fc6GohC5H0BDaqFx1PhW-_MbSxicvYG0_fP2YPf2IZgTMjG-VN2Ben5iUlunNkptHtS1yLGk-w_tGwZtaQ0-o9Uc/s400/polyphemus_043.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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.<br /> <br /> You can find</span></span></b><span class="gD" data-hovercard-id="taigahilliard@gmail.com" name="taiga hilliard"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></span><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sheila</span></b> </span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <a href="http://sheilatoystromberg.com/">here</a> and <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/designers/sheila-toy-stromberg">here</a> on Ravelry.</span></span></b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXTCDDyShUIMq6D5EunTQ_VXMhjCf59m6LsJgHik0-4OA9JyPTQjJ6qLXVMGV-uwIzNRRoYTDjHRNlDScoKDzLNnjp6mJPinPcp-mH9RHTGG6xyUEq_dVhr1F8ctnh2VHk32wxfBP1Jg/s1600/asotin_021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXTCDDyShUIMq6D5EunTQ_VXMhjCf59m6LsJgHik0-4OA9JyPTQjJ6qLXVMGV-uwIzNRRoYTDjHRNlDScoKDzLNnjp6mJPinPcp-mH9RHTGG6xyUEq_dVhr1F8ctnh2VHk32wxfBP1Jg/s400/asotin_021.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/asotin-cowl"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/asotin-cowl</span></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Where do you find inspiration?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oh
my gosh, where <i>don’t</i> I find
inspiration would be a shorter list! I am trained as a traditional artist
(painting, drawing, printmaking, the works) so really I just see the whole
world around me as inspiration. I see a shape or texture or color and it gets
my wheels turning. Other times, it’s the yarn itself sitting in my hand that
inspires me and drives the design. I view my designs exactly how I paint; the
work is a composition that must be balanced, have a focal point, and something
unique about it. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
feel like I’ve succeeded in a design if I can make a garment do what I dreamed
up but sometimes the knitting goes differently than I plan. I try to just roll
with it and let the yarn be what it wants to be. I try not to be too forceful
with the design process because, just as with painting, the work will tell you
want it needs to be. You can fight it and end up with something mediocre or you
can embrace the material you’re working with and let it shine. (Easier said
than done!)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0A5dMzZ0bvggcyR3WewGR1b5D1h7XjK6QWGMI8-GECYHgHVbjgsL9Qo16oNl_kghZrxfO8PTDrWSChHI7yvflLA7xy-Bh-AGnFtJ-IuoHYo3wzz08qAao77iV86BTky2ljE9M1UYfQg/s1600/Deerborn_Chunky__33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0A5dMzZ0bvggcyR3WewGR1b5D1h7XjK6QWGMI8-GECYHgHVbjgsL9Qo16oNl_kghZrxfO8PTDrWSChHI7yvflLA7xy-Bh-AGnFtJ-IuoHYo3wzz08qAao77iV86BTky2ljE9M1UYfQg/s400/Deerborn_Chunky__33.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/chunky-deerborn-beanie">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/chunky-deerborn-beanie</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>What is your favourite knitting technique?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Right
now, I enjoy designing lace the most but I’m a sucker for a nice cable as well.
I really like focusing on one technique or garment type at a time and falling
down the rabbit hole. The more I focus on one thing for an extended period of
time, the higher the learning curve and the more I am able to understand and
manipulate that technique to do just want I want. I find that mastery really
enjoyable!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Do you look at other designers’ work or are you afraid that you
will be influenced by their designs?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
definitely like to see what’s going on in the design world but I try not to fixate
on it too much because it begins to impact my originality. But just as with art
(and really everything in life), I don’t think you can come into a conversation
without knowing what has been said before you and what is being said right now.
It doesn’t mean we all have to agree or be doing the same thing, but seeing
other people’s work can inspire you and spark ideas that you couldn’t have come
to on your own. There is nothing wrong with being inspired by other people’s
work, but inspiration and duplication are two different things. I always try to
come from a place of originality or bringing a new twist on something instead
of stealing. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLNsDweoL3-N-uz0Q4PmlPr7U0Qn-3TAO0gtC2X47f1tXCAhxLCneyBdpPX14tnbWH3I7PhJEAaQ1DjN8WMz-HQdGEA0C3p-1fNq62xBPocW11Z6YN5mrat9X0x1lh9GZxRBCFljmjP8/s1600/nettle_tee_242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLNsDweoL3-N-uz0Q4PmlPr7U0Qn-3TAO0gtC2X47f1tXCAhxLCneyBdpPX14tnbWH3I7PhJEAaQ1DjN8WMz-HQdGEA0C3p-1fNq62xBPocW11Z6YN5mrat9X0x1lh9GZxRBCFljmjP8/s400/nettle_tee_242.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/nettle-tee">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/nettle-tee</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>How many sample/test knitters do you have working for you or do
you do it all yourself?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Presently,
my samples are always done by my own hand. I never want to become so detached
from my design process that I’m not knitting every day. I also write all my
patterns myself, do all the sizing/math, marketing/promotional, photography,
and almost always model my own garments. It’s kind of exhausting sometimes but
my designs are 100% me and that feels good. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Right
now, I have a handful of perpetual test knitters on my roster and I usually
open all my designs up to a couple new testers! I strive to have every single
size of every single pattern tested so I know how to correct the sizing before
the pattern is released to the public. I absolutely couldn’t produce the volume
of sizes I do without my amazing testers! I always post a call for testers on
my Facebook page, so look there for future tests! <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtkTsTSyRVCAanMsehELfUlST0ofD8z56u-ZfjlW7vyL9JicOmBO3J-efkjwQWmQYAI_NAZ9MJ-A5Nb9KNctwt2EDrv97LkYGS50dWTQ7-wq0RQOUYuGVAydlvGS4FNWvjNJKGTN4y-To/s1600/seedskadee+pullover_090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtkTsTSyRVCAanMsehELfUlST0ofD8z56u-ZfjlW7vyL9JicOmBO3J-efkjwQWmQYAI_NAZ9MJ-A5Nb9KNctwt2EDrv97LkYGS50dWTQ7-wq0RQOUYuGVAydlvGS4FNWvjNJKGTN4y-To/s400/seedskadee+pullover_090.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coming soon!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Did you do a formal business plan?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
don’t really have a formal business plan but I do set annual goals of what I
want to focus on each year and then a monthly goal of how to achieve my annual
goal. I think setting goals is the most effective way for me to do what I want
to do. I don’t always achieve every monthly goal I set but just having those
goals makes me reach higher than I would have without them. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To
be entirely honest, I never planned any of what my life has turned out to be at
the current point (but I mean that in a good way!). I sort of just started
putting patterns out because knitting and crocheting completes something inside
me and I was making up all these designs anyways so I figured I should share
them with the world. Then I was met with unexpected success and I thought I
would give it a real go and I’m so glad I did! I think that I’ve been able to
keep my business casual for the most part and it works well for the artist
inside my heart. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8z4xEf2mJVs4Yz-k9rnr6R4HylYDrr0HOMdmgf5gvNwyuRlfbDe9mvmRdLdGqxdrCcGRILmHgIrjjRI6R9CqK9inFoVO9ZL7zmpPvTeytIsLnl-UeKdgl8qjIELp6UdTuYhWd60gIgq4/s1600/sweet+briar20180621_074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8z4xEf2mJVs4Yz-k9rnr6R4HylYDrr0HOMdmgf5gvNwyuRlfbDe9mvmRdLdGqxdrCcGRILmHgIrjjRI6R9CqK9inFoVO9ZL7zmpPvTeytIsLnl-UeKdgl8qjIELp6UdTuYhWd60gIgq4/s400/sweet+briar20180621_074.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sweet-briar-shawl">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sweet-briar-shawl</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Do you have a mentor?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’ve been really blessed to come into my own as a designer in an
area rich with local designers, dyers, and local yarn shops. My favorite yarn
shop, the shop I learned to knit in, recently closed and it was a big loss to
me. The owner, Verla Younker (her shop was called Unraveled Sheep), really
actually started me designing. She would give me design assignments and help me
when I was stuck. She put me in contact with some amazing local designers who
always patiently worked with me and helped me. Locals from my shop who helped
me get started and still inspire me were Verla, Amy Tucker, Mary Triplett, Marian Ju-Scozzare, Katy Carroll, Carolyn
Greenwood, and Miriam Felton. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think it’s
really important for designers, makers, and humans to be around their people.
You know, the people that share your crazy passions, that encourage you to keep
doing what makes you happy, and make you laugh. Go to your local yarn shop! My
new shop is The Wool Cabin and it’s a great and encouraging place I can bring
my design and crazy ideas and have fun with friends old and new.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoqh2BLYJ7Ujs7nVE7Czv9Z17rPgvIEBYiuOjUEExerMIeve-R5BT7kSTn2GWmPKHunGMCuZ13D4pPCtDN_aIJ_WJPQkH3jAs0w8fMVsNrvLX46zQWOkPI8vb7O7-XJM-Hkpq-zb0cHZU/s1600/tashirojima_bigs_028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoqh2BLYJ7Ujs7nVE7Czv9Z17rPgvIEBYiuOjUEExerMIeve-R5BT7kSTn2GWmPKHunGMCuZ13D4pPCtDN_aIJ_WJPQkH3jAs0w8fMVsNrvLX46zQWOkPI8vb7O7-XJM-Hkpq-zb0cHZU/s400/tashirojima_bigs_028.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tashirojima-haori-for-bigs">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tashirojima-haori-for-bigs</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Do you have a business model that you have emulated?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yikes,
not really! I just follow wherever my heart, yarn, and interest leads me. I
seek out collaboration opportunities with dyers and yarn companies that I like.
If I like working with them, I do it again. So I guess my business model is “fly
by the seat of my pants and it will magically work out or maybe it won’t and I’ll
be fine either way”.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Do you use a tech editor?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It
depends on the pattern and what I’m planning to use it for. If it’s a free
pattern, the cost of teching it is not something I can recover, so I typically
don’t run it through tech. If it’s a pattern with a lot of directions, sizes,
and elements, I do like to have my tech editor (Min Jung) look it over. She is
a math wizard and is <i>so</i> detail
oriented. It helps my patterns so much! Otherwise, I have a few good testers
who give me tech edits and look things over for me. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>How do you maintain your life/work balance?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Honestly,
the balance is hard sometimes. I have 3 small children and 3 small businesses
so life gets a little overwhelming sometimes. My husband and I are also foster
parents and during a foster case the balance is even harder. We just adopted a
foster placement this summer and I didn’t put out a pattern for months (which
is contrary to one of my monthly goals!). But you know what? I didn’t even let
it bother me because other things needed to be my focus at that time. I really
just try to remember that everything has it’s time and season and nothing is
going to last forever. Having little kids in my home is not going to be
forever. It makes it a little easier to let stuff go sometimes and sometimes I
do have to push my work off for the more important things in life. It does help
me to have deadlines and monthly goals but being realistic that sometimes those
things are going to have to slide is pretty important in my life right now. I
do occasionally start to feel guilty that I haven’t completed a design or put
out anything new in a while and then I need to remind myself of what my number
one priority is, which is my family. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s
hard when the thing that re-energizes you (which for me is producing art and
designs) is something that needs to be neglected for the time being. And if I’m
being entirely honest, putting out work feels a lot more instantly rewarding
than being in the trenches raising kids. It feels good to be appreciated for something
I designed, worked so hard on, and used my brain to create but I know that if I
check out on my kids now that I’ll regret it later. Isn’t the tightrope walk of
parenthood just beautiful? I feel guilty sometimes if I don’t put something out
and I feel guilty sometimes if I’m working instead of being entirely focused on
my kids! It’s hard to let all that go and just try to exist and do the best job
I can.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
do have a rough daily schedule in place and that helps me do the thing I need
to do until the time for that is over and then move to the next thing. I make
sure to keep my 2 hours at the end of most days for actually knitting and not
just writing patterns. I need that mental break and reconnection with the
making process and it helps recharge me for tomorrow. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbCycypkwEfdB3JM3oGRVkfzPHYchMzmsX1DjEN83Sipr-K9EUcBAg68bY3mpgkOasPoB36vQNSiVXXKhNan3ReS3bqSTgGEwgiudGR85z1WZIMNgu76DlAjwRkgHhcJlp9iRlMoGOHI/s1600/Thorin_089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbCycypkwEfdB3JM3oGRVkfzPHYchMzmsX1DjEN83Sipr-K9EUcBAg68bY3mpgkOasPoB36vQNSiVXXKhNan3ReS3bqSTgGEwgiudGR85z1WZIMNgu76DlAjwRkgHhcJlp9iRlMoGOHI/s400/Thorin_089.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/thorin-gauntlets">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/thorin-gauntlets</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>How do you deal with criticism?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well
a degree in painting certainly beat all the personal-ness out of criticism for
me! Getting critiqued daily on something that your entire soul is in was a lot
harder than someone not liking a hat I designed. So I think of criticism in the
following way:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1.
Are they right? Is there some error/problem/issue with the design that I failed
to see before publishing? </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
immediately go investigate the issue and see if they are right and there’s an
error or if they are incorrect. If they’re right, I go correct it. Problem
solved and I don’t think about the criticism again. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2.
Are they wrong? Is it a matter of personal taste/style? Are they just having a
bad day and taking it out on me? </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If
this is the case and there is no issue, I either respond as nicely as I am able
to at the time or ignore them if the criticism needs no reply. I know this will
surprise you, but people are not always polite when they email me. So, sometimes
I do need to walk away from the issue for a couple days because I know if I
respond immediately I will be curt. I try not to get personal because, of
course, it isn’t personal. They don’t even know me so it can’t be personal. So
I just acknowledge to myself that it was their problem, not mine, and move
forward. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>How long did it take for you to be able to support yourself?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well,
I suppose this is a difficult question for me because this is not my only
revenue. I don’t know if I could fully support all my family’s needs if I only
focused on designing and did that for the majority of my day. I design more on
the side.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
measure my success in designing by my original goal when I started publishing
patterns: can I support all my desired yarn purchases with my designs? I really
started selling patterns to enable myself to buy whatever yarn I wanted
whenever I wanted to, no matter how crazy expensive the yarn was. I was able to
do that within the first year of selling patterns. This year I’m focusing on
publishing print patterns for sale in local yarn shops and by private yarn
vendors. I do make a good amount of excess money currently and I believe print
patterns will be even more lucrative! </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSaNEIl4csUQcUTSDO14vO-Y2-ITOadB4bw-TSpXRJcc9Pn82-Sp-LMs4LEPOryI36VQrYhDy7rF1DWR0LarZXWwO5oBK8WArw7n8d32I9K4q43wceVRMqpn8I-R5-lfDb4qAA9MZoyI/s1600/yakima+cowl_024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSaNEIl4csUQcUTSDO14vO-Y2-ITOadB4bw-TSpXRJcc9Pn82-Sp-LMs4LEPOryI36VQrYhDy7rF1DWR0LarZXWwO5oBK8WArw7n8d32I9K4q43wceVRMqpn8I-R5-lfDb4qAA9MZoyI/s400/yakima+cowl_024.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/yakima-cowl">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/yakima-cowl</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>What advice would you give someone who wants to pursue a career in
knitting?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
would tell them to go for it! Give it a shot for a predetermined amount of time
and see what happens. Start with what you are able to do at the moment and see
where it leads you. And don’t be fearful about claiming this moment to try it.
Be bold. Brazenly tell people you’re a designer. You might feel a little like a
fraud at first and that’s OK. The secret is we all feel a little like a fraud
for a long time before we start believing it ourselves (and that goes for every
designer, artist, and maker that has ever existed so you’re in good company). </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
would also recommend that you do everything you can to support and build up
other people in the fiber arts world. We all need each other. We need to have a
support group. Promote other designers, it’s not hurting you at all. Seek out
collaborations. Talk to people. Tell them how much you love what they’re
making! They need to hear that. Be supportive as much as you can and this
community will hold you. There is room for you because you have something
unique to say. You have something to contribute that no one has thought of
before. We want you here!</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>What’s next for you?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
Hopefully world domination? Just kidding, I don’t need the stress.
I’m hoping to continue to make relevant new work! I am going to get my patterns
in more shops in print form and one day get a book published (that’s a goal for
another year, but I do want to do that down the line). I want to continue to
make designs that are sized for a variety of body shapes and sizes because
everyone deserves pretty designs that are fun to knit. I want to seek out more
collaborations with new dyers because working with glorious yarn keeps my work
energized. </span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUmKuzlwxnH5nF9ZXo7RWc1ZJlvfkF20G1hRBohDTPWKw8dYlUqadzaE1_e0UAFgbSPW5CZhFc3XD93CVuriih_TCsovCTvOl-8-L7OIIUxmAjRDq771fifPShgHwgNX3_Ad_yMHuhRG4/s1600/kennewick_087%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUmKuzlwxnH5nF9ZXo7RWc1ZJlvfkF20G1hRBohDTPWKw8dYlUqadzaE1_e0UAFgbSPW5CZhFc3XD93CVuriih_TCsovCTvOl-8-L7OIIUxmAjRDq771fifPShgHwgNX3_Ad_yMHuhRG4/s400/kennewick_087%25281%2529.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/kennewick-colorblocked-mitts"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/kennewick-colorblocked-mitts</span></span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Robin http://www.blogger.com/profile/01240699910272614928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3440603490259597083.post-80720918355600967572018-08-31T06:27:00.000-04:002018-08-31T06:27:03.008-04:00An Interview with...Paola Albergamo<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfx9xrBLioFY1Lj-PQP5iPEo6P4qPkg44zqDE1wznxZvKdTd0mTYUj345FzPSOWTpEdrp1JJdKH4NCFHPPs-AX0IvfrQwtHtOuMLF8t-kqzLgbMJwT2UvkRGJd2Fz8eg4JC-BHFqEfeBA/s1600/graffiti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1590" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfx9xrBLioFY1Lj-PQP5iPEo6P4qPkg44zqDE1wznxZvKdTd0mTYUj345FzPSOWTpEdrp1JJdKH4NCFHPPs-AX0IvfrQwtHtOuMLF8t-kqzLgbMJwT2UvkRGJd2Fz8eg4JC-BHFqEfeBA/s400/graffiti.jpg" width="396" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Graffiti (<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/graffiti-9&source=gmail&ust=1534933109619000&usg=AFQjCNFoj9M3jgbjpD4Sxf9mGAW7AE3Vsw" href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/graffiti-9" target="_blank">https://www.ravelry.com/<wbr></wbr>patterns/library/graffiti-9</a>)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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.<br /> <br /> You can find</span></span></b><span class="gD" data-hovercard-id="paolalber@gmail.com" name="Paola Albergamo"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Paola</b></span></span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/designers/paola-albergamo">here</a> on Ravelry.</span></span></b><br />
<br /><div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
</div>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo01KpJOeZ8Zu5nKI47kBHiUO7xTgwLfgxvJiB3eGwHjY313bRfC5zl4g5tT7FQbjoR6Rqk9XfPv93WIhwxq0zWhhVAhkK30E_MlSXIDTCqFT3Haskv2FmUZSgKy-dUjMbZL5oFIlIU6Q/s1600/antinebbia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1600" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo01KpJOeZ8Zu5nKI47kBHiUO7xTgwLfgxvJiB3eGwHjY313bRfC5zl4g5tT7FQbjoR6Rqk9XfPv93WIhwxq0zWhhVAhkK30E_MlSXIDTCqFT3Haskv2FmUZSgKy-dUjMbZL5oFIlIU6Q/s400/antinebbia.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Antinebbia (</span><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/antinebbia&source=gmail&ust=1534933109619000&usg=AFQjCNGqjD-NPd6hzmEeqUjKipR1xGlX8w" href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/antinebbia" target="_blank">https://www.ravelry.com/<wbr></wbr>patterns/library/antinebbia</a>)</span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Where
do you find inspiration?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
have two main sources of inspiration, depending <span style="color: black;">on
whether</span>
I'm working on an accessory or on a garment. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In
accessories, I am mostly inspired by contemporary abstract art. This
is particularly true when we speak about shawl<span style="color: black;">s</span>,
which I imagine as wearable paintings made with yarn. I love
seeing color, harmony and shapes in pictures, painting<span style="color: black;">s</span>,
street art <span style="color: black;">and</span>
graffiti<span style="color: black;">,</span><span style="color: red;">
</span>and
I try to convey this kind of inspiration in my patterns.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When
I'm working on garments, I'm interested in wearability for<span style="color: black;">
</span><span style="color: black;">-</span>
I confess! <span style="color: black;">-</span>
my body shape. I have a sewing background, and I love
translating sewing model making into knitting<span style="color: black;">:</span>
it <span style="color: black;">poses</span>
a lot of geometric/math problems that I like to solve, it's like
playing with puzzles!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In
both cases, I love unconventional and unusual constructions, bright
colors and strong contrasts. </span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
am by no means a minimalist, I want my creations to be noticed,
because they are different from anything you can buy in a shop.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>What
is your favourite knitting technique?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When
following others' designs, I love every technique. Cable, lace,
colorwork, you name it!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When
designing I'd say that short rows, modular knitting, and brioche (not
necessarily in this order) are the techniques that I use more often
and that I feel more natural to me. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-gKAkpE70gUTiTGsgMIiriGiT-qFA0x_ayRh13xqHfXOsYxv7sBn3zpXeNA4J2e-LT5yKCc3CdXgAABjZ5ydmKdHq6aYu0ueWBbZ-I1a8WO3bG3LE8WFzQ7mgmlQMC81ru3rSDi6UDo/s1600/gocce.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1479" data-original-width="1600" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-gKAkpE70gUTiTGsgMIiriGiT-qFA0x_ayRh13xqHfXOsYxv7sBn3zpXeNA4J2e-LT5yKCc3CdXgAABjZ5ydmKdHq6aYu0ueWBbZ-I1a8WO3bG3LE8WFzQ7mgmlQMC81ru3rSDi6UDo/s400/gocce.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Gocce (<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gocce&source=gmail&ust=1534933109619000&usg=AFQjCNHI3vST-CmIuIEs0YT4MGHPMR-nJg" href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gocce" target="_blank">https://www.ravelry.com/<wbr></wbr>patterns/library/gocce</a>)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Do
you look at other designers’ work or are you afraid that you will
be influenced by their designs?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
think that <span style="color: black;">it</span>
is simply impossible not to look at other designers' work!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
try to follow what's going on in the knitting world, with the
intention <span style="color: black;">of</span><span style="color: red;">
</span><span style="color: black;">exclud</span><span style="color: black;">ing</span>
the <span style="color: black;">ideas</span>
that have been already "used" by others.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>How
many sample/test knitters do you have working for you or do you do it
all yourself?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
knit my samples myself, because I like the process and because I
often change my mind on some details (and yes, sometimes on the
entire construction!) while knitting. I know that this is slowing
down my productivity, but I enjoy this freedom so much!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
use as many test knitters I can<span style="color: red;">,</span>
to be sure that my patterns are correct. I know many say that a tech
editor is enough, but I am a former software developer and I cannot
even think that an algorithm (a knitting pattern can surely be
interpreted as an algorithm) can work if not thoroughly tested. And I
love testing! It is like a mini-KAL.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7UVRTv-AmEM3k3LKITvm2HevO7rkRueRv2fJF-2ENLcM89qXxDJ0sU6PrqAVdIXWVUm1bGFfXgrJ9mPD-jjM-FjUyq4-JqaBkQbh4UqjaKWZhyphenhyphen5kGzI2LEO1hzk8teKMqg_bgSskkW0A/s1600/Nereid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1532" data-original-width="1600" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7UVRTv-AmEM3k3LKITvm2HevO7rkRueRv2fJF-2ENLcM89qXxDJ0sU6PrqAVdIXWVUm1bGFfXgrJ9mPD-jjM-FjUyq4-JqaBkQbh4UqjaKWZhyphenhyphen5kGzI2LEO1hzk8teKMqg_bgSskkW0A/s400/Nereid.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Nereid (<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/nereid-4&source=gmail&ust=1534933109619000&usg=AFQjCNGOfQk7oQofwnX5F-hMOJe0MkCYzg" href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/nereid-4" target="_blank">https://www.ravelry.com/<wbr></wbr>patterns/library/nereid-4</a>)</span></span></div>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Do
you have a mentor?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No,
unfortunately.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Did
you do a formal business plan?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No,
nothing formal. I started designing while still working as a
programmer and didn't take it too seriously<span style="color: black;">.</span><span style="color: black;">
</span><span style="color: black;">T</span>hen
I lost my job and simply continued working as a designer. </span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
studied about this industry and have plans, but nothing formal.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Do
you have a business model that you have emulated?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No,
I don't. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA60jqufiECixumR_Eiq3WPgrs7Uk6jOOoaKweu3tIi6XPWKo7le-iy1swqZGYouy4MDyHeKaqPbQ4ip9b5p9vym8Jb8g-K7NGtxYPH8Maa2L1z5kMq7SlvUBWBdV7sAgJWJ8QC0YmYJw/s1600/rhythmical+lines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1018" data-original-width="1600" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA60jqufiECixumR_Eiq3WPgrs7Uk6jOOoaKweu3tIi6XPWKo7le-iy1swqZGYouy4MDyHeKaqPbQ4ip9b5p9vym8Jb8g-K7NGtxYPH8Maa2L1z5kMq7SlvUBWBdV7sAgJWJ8QC0YmYJw/s400/rhythmical+lines.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Rhythmical Lines (<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rhythmical-lines&source=gmail&ust=1534933109619000&usg=AFQjCNH9EOIohNgqnEhlQSPUGX_QFxc28A" href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rhythmical-lines" target="_blank">https://www.ravelry.com/<wbr></wbr>patterns/library/rhythmical-<wbr></wbr>lines</a>)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Do
you use a tech editor?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yes,
but I'm still searching for a stable work relationship. </span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: transparent;">I
don't know if I am expecting too much from a TE, but I feel that I've
not found the one who can understand my pattern<span style="color: black;">s</span>
and correct <span style="color: black;">them</span>
without actually knitting <span style="color: black;">them</span>
as a test knitter does.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>How
do you maintain your life/work balance?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well,
my life is very simple: I don't have kids and work from home. And
still have problems!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm
probably very bad at this, and I cannot share any clever thought. On
the contrary, I'm looking for advice!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>How
do you deal with criticism?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="m_-8265294028084207644__GoBack"></a><span style="color: black;">I
think that criticism</span>
is growth. Even the meanest criticism is a feedback and as such it
can help you understand what others want/expect from your patterns.
And it is always a good occasion to have contacts with your public! </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0udOZDYuIVyU0vaUKKeIflD993gnovUJoT7uEJeCDTE9PG1vNeKtqBUAKsseL-DhVrPhYoMDFopleytbDSr_dsrl0PS4wuXeTBwCouT93NrgsU19JiTsNaWDlgRuw_ybMeo3Dg2oGUM/s1600/the+prism+effect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1389" data-original-width="1600" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0udOZDYuIVyU0vaUKKeIflD993gnovUJoT7uEJeCDTE9PG1vNeKtqBUAKsseL-DhVrPhYoMDFopleytbDSr_dsrl0PS4wuXeTBwCouT93NrgsU19JiTsNaWDlgRuw_ybMeo3Dg2oGUM/s400/the+prism+effect.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">The Prism Effect (<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-prism-effect&source=gmail&ust=1534933109619000&usg=AFQjCNEBzMTEdP6wl2B7t5KtqH-r8z5Y3w" href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-prism-effect" target="_blank">https://www.ravelry.com/<wbr></wbr>patterns/library/the-prism-<wbr></wbr>effect</a>)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>How
long did it take for you to be able to support yourself?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well,
I'm not sure I'm there yet. I knew from the beginning that this can
take time, I'm not disappointed. I love the work that I'm doing and
I'm slowly but continuously growing, what else could I ask for?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>What
advice would you give someone who wants to pursue a career in
knitting?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Patience,
<span style="color: black;">and
a lot of</span>
work. Success never comes overnight and pattern writing is much more
complex than many knitters think. Turning a passion into a career is
not easy, sometimes it will feel like a "normal job". So my
advice is to find your own personal happy routine, to bring the joy
even in the dullest part of this work. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDMRU5-huzxRsFEaTHMgBo5kUejE-_wcwkE39PNRH859bw80KeUfoM6t5v2yPTbErbGRx-bEnfDyV1J3WeOQUCUWMcQEdKiwY_tC1sWxnyHqtiEpkgxNcRa9dM0_vYlUNV7e5dA3HMl8/s1600/vanishing+point.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1556" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDMRU5-huzxRsFEaTHMgBo5kUejE-_wcwkE39PNRH859bw80KeUfoM6t5v2yPTbErbGRx-bEnfDyV1J3WeOQUCUWMcQEdKiwY_tC1sWxnyHqtiEpkgxNcRa9dM0_vYlUNV7e5dA3HMl8/s400/vanishing+point.jpg" width="388" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Vanishing Point (will be published in September)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>What’s
next for you?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last
year I worked mainly for third party publications, and it was really
satisfying and fun: I learned a lot about pattern writing and I had
the possibility to stretch my creativity in many ways. Now I want to
focus on self-publishing, because I have many personal ideas that I
know are not suitable for magazine publishing. I'd love to
participate in collective events, <span style="color: black;">such
as</span>
the GAL or the Happiness Make-A-Long, because they are fun<span style="color: black;">!</span>
I really enjoy them as a wonderful occasion to work with other
talented designers and make friends, and, finally, they work very
well for me!</span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhyphenhyphenAxhPohluBTPm8FIWKA4FIyGVAtnvI9xiMoeY9gtd4Jacm-1TblkK0p27vSZBm4DE5dcYbTrFl4Lwf94f9oyMrYOclIU24eLxSyZWv3ty7vqcMrQdsfRlB_swGq0uTm96e0jkDJC2U/s1600/reptile+skin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="1600" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhyphenhyphenAxhPohluBTPm8FIWKA4FIyGVAtnvI9xiMoeY9gtd4Jacm-1TblkK0p27vSZBm4DE5dcYbTrFl4Lwf94f9oyMrYOclIU24eLxSyZWv3ty7vqcMrQdsfRlB_swGq0uTm96e0jkDJC2U/s400/reptile+skin.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Reptile Skin (<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/reptile-skin&source=gmail&ust=1534933109619000&usg=AFQjCNHR8bwNWldxMfveJM0njw6GYHcT6w" href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/reptile-skin" target="_blank">https://www.ravelry.com/<wbr></wbr>patterns/library/reptile-skin</a>)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div lang="uz-Cyrl-UZ" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br /></div>
Robin http://www.blogger.com/profile/01240699910272614928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3440603490259597083.post-39259272618204485102018-08-24T06:30:00.000-04:002018-08-24T06:30:05.273-04:00August Reboot Series - A List of Knitting Calculators <div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg051Q2oaFYFuqFRBqgzRg25wFRbZ_wyzFm21MF4MrRyV7DMTkM9M2L3npc9H05jmv_i4OreOkdyymKe-hD7w9qyNkFtqwqa1R486mDnsMutHEAFdJMW6f9pbLV5BwfFtY4-v5LxmDeopM/s1600/Blogcalculator.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg051Q2oaFYFuqFRBqgzRg25wFRbZ_wyzFm21MF4MrRyV7DMTkM9M2L3npc9H05jmv_i4OreOkdyymKe-hD7w9qyNkFtqwqa1R486mDnsMutHEAFdJMW6f9pbLV5BwfFtY4-v5LxmDeopM/s400/Blogcalculator.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This
month I'm going to be doing some re-posting of older blog posts with occasional updates. I
hope to have all new interviews every Friday but many Pros take the
month of August off and in past years I haven't always been able to get
enough interviews back to fill all the August dates. (As predicted I
sent out a much higher number than usual of interview invitations but I
don't yet have a new one to post.) </span></b></span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sometimes
we just want to knit something simple and can get intimidated by the
math. Have you heard of knitting calculators? Some knitters call them
generators. Many wonderful people on the Internet have set these up free
for you to use. These are very handy things to know about.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's
a list of the ones I'm familiar with. If you have some great ones
please share in the comments and I'll add them to the list. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">How Much Shawl Have I Knitted So Far?</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://theraineysisters.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/how-much-shawl.pdf"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://theraineysisters.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/how-much-shawl.pdf</span></span></span></span></a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hat Calculator </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.earthguild.com/products/knitcroc/marypat/hatcalc.htm">http://www.earthguild.com/products/knitcroc/marypat/hatcalc.htm</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Increase Calculator</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thedietdiary.com/knittingfiend/tools/IncreaseEvenlySpace.html"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://www.thedietdiary.com/knittingfiend/tools/IncreaseEvenlySpace.html </span></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sleeve Increase Calculator</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thedietdiary.com/knittingfiend/tools/MagicFormulaSleeve.html"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.thedietdiary.com/knittingfiend/tools/MagicFormulaSleeve.html</span></span></span></span></a></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Decrease Calculator </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thedietdiary.com/knittingfiend/tools/EvenlySpace.html"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.thedietdiary.com/knittingfiend/tools/EvenlySpace.html</span></span></a></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Glove </span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Calculator</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.thedietdiary.com/knittingfiend/mitten/HKGloves.html">http://www.thedietdiary.com/knittingfiend/mitten/HKGloves.html </a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Random Stripes</span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.biscuitsandjam.com/stripe_maker.php"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.biscuitsandjam.com/stripe_maker.php</span></span></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Planned Pooling</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://plannedpooling.com/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://plannedpooling.com/ </span></span></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sock Calculator</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.violetgreen.co.uk/shop/free-sock-knitting-pattern-calculator/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://www.violetgreen.co.uk/shop/free-sock-knitting-pattern-calculator/</span></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Raglan </span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sweater Calculator </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.knittingfool.com/SweaterPatterns/TopDownRaglanPullover.aspx"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://www.knittingfool.com/SweaterPatterns/TopDownRaglanPullover.aspx </span></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yarn Required </span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Calculator </span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://knitable.net/YardageCalc.asp"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> http://knitable.net/YardageCalc.asp</span></span></a></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Waist-Shaping Calculator</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.interweave.com/Waist-Shaping-Calculator/Curvy-Waist-Shaping.asp">http://www.interweave.com/Waist-Shaping-Calculator/Curvy-Waist-Shaping.asp</a></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Armscye calculator </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://frenchroastdesign.com/armscye/">http://frenchroastdesign.com/armscye/</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Buttonhole Spacing Calculator</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://knitable.net/ButtonholeCalc.asp">http://knitable.net/ButtonholeCalc.asp</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fair Isle Chart Maker </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://fairisledesign.com/">http://fairisledesign.com/ </a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Knitting Time Calculator</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdg96dDXD0X9F7fGm3NIfVisyGLzNSqxp9wVJEl4N-DofQpsQ/viewform?formkey=dGw2di04am5ram1KajhmYW5kaWdZc1E6MQ"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdg96dDXD0X9F7fGm3NIfVisyGLzNSqxp9wVJEl4N-DofQpsQ/viewform?formkey=dGw2di04am5ram1KajhmYW5kaWdZc1E6MQ</span></span></a></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">OK - I was just checking to see if you are paying attention with that one! </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Robin http://www.blogger.com/profile/01240699910272614928noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3440603490259597083.post-67502269919720066652018-08-17T06:30:00.000-04:002018-08-17T06:30:17.072-04:00August Reboot Series - Problem Solving in Knitting Patterns <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvpWYw5x7_0sb6WLc_4nGy4BtWBAcYCLuEixWTxQt2QW8kNv-m3HIRYRW9XojaObsd8BLMGEkhIwW8waIcovL-pSlI7wDlvKT2kDyfXKCaLF-O3acV_vdBSSn_U77TnOtuLGRY4oev8qI/s1600/blogsummer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="487" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvpWYw5x7_0sb6WLc_4nGy4BtWBAcYCLuEixWTxQt2QW8kNv-m3HIRYRW9XojaObsd8BLMGEkhIwW8waIcovL-pSlI7wDlvKT2kDyfXKCaLF-O3acV_vdBSSn_U77TnOtuLGRY4oev8qI/s400/blogsummer.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This
month I'm going to be doing some re-posting of older blog posts. Some
like this one will have updates included as when I reread I often
realize I've learned something new since the original post went up. I
hope to have all new interviews every Friday but many Pros take the
month of August off and in past years I haven't always been able to get
enough interviews back to fill all the August dates. (As predicted I
sent out a much higher number than usual of interview invitations but I
don't yet have a new one to post.) </span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span>Don't name the problem!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span>I know it sounds counter intuitive, but really, don't label a problem that you are trying to solve.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span>I
spent a lot of time helping knitters with problems when knitting from
patterns when I worked in my LYS. I quickly learned not to listen to
them when they told me what the problem was. Whenever I did it slowed
down the process of resolution because often they were wrong! That's why
they couldn't figure it out for themselves. Naming the problem stopped
them from looking at other details, and that was often where the error
in the work was. I had a number of situations where the knitter said the
problem was in a specific section of the instructions. Often when I
went back to the beginning of the pattern and checked the work I found
the error earlier on. By naming the problem the knitter stopped looking
in the right place so they were completely unable to determine what was
really going wrong. BTW, these were accomplished, smart knitters that
just focused on the wrong thing for too long and that is why they needed
assistance.</span></span></span><br />
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Robin http://www.blogger.com/profile/01240699910272614928noreply@blogger.com0