An Interview with...Jenny Wiebe

 

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

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

You can find Jenny here and here on Ravelry.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/orleans-5

Where do you find inspiration?
I don't find inspiration in any one place. For my children's garments, I've often not been able to find exactly what I'm looking for and so create it instead, but other times I see a store bought sweater and think, "I could knit that, but even better." I've been known to walk up to complete strangers and ask if I can take a close-up picture of a specific part of their sweater or hat, just so I can get a stitch pattern, or shaping technique. It's a little creepy, but I've not had anyone say no yet!

What is your favourite knitting technique? 
I really love learning new techniques. Even when I think I've found my favourite bind off/short rows/colorwork technique, I love to try new ones. I peruse You Tube nightly to see what techniques I haven't tried and would like to incorporate into my future projects.

Do you look at other designers’ work or are you afraid that you will be influenced by their designs? 
I don't think there's anything wrong with being inspired by others. I'm flattered when people use my designs and make it their own. I like to think that my designs are completely unique, but know they aren't, they are just my take on what's surely been done before. My favourite Elizabeth Zimmermann quote is "But unvented - ahh! One un-vents something; one unearths it; one digs it up, one runs it down in whatever recesses of the eternal consciousness it has gone to ground. I very much doubt if anything is really new when one works in the prehistoric medium of wool with needles. The products of science and technology may be new, and some of them are quite horrid, but knitting? In knitting there are ancient possibilities; the earth is enriched with the dust of the millions of knitters who have held wool and needles since the beginning of sheep. Seamless sweaters and one-row buttonholes; knitted hems and phoney seams - it is unthinkable that these have, in mankind's history, remained undiscovered and unknitted. One likes to believe that there is memory in the fingers; memory undeveloped, but still alive.”

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

How many sample/test knitters do you have working for you or do you do it all yourself? 
I usually knit 2 of each of my patterns before I have it tech edited, and then test knitted. Depending on the project, I like to get 2-3 testers in each size. That's easy for my child garments, but not often realistic in my adult clothing that goes up to 4x.

Did you do a formal business plan? 
No. I kind of fell into designing, and have just grown my business organically from my first pattern 5 years ago.

Do you use a tech editor? 

Yes, every pattern hits a tech editor before it goes to testing. Sometimes it goes back to a tech editor afterward as well!

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

How do you maintain your life/work balance? 
Designing knitwear is fun, and is definitely my creative outlet, but I am first an foremost a mom. There is no balance. If knitting is getting in the way of mothering and homeschooling and life, it gets put down until I have more time. This means that many of the ideas in my head never come to fruition, and that some things get put off for months. One day, when my kids don't need me as much, maybe that will change, but for now, my family takes first priority in every instance.

How do you deal with criticism? 

I've been lucky enough to not have had too much criticism. Knitters are, for the most part, absolutely wonderful. Even when I've published patterns with blaring errors, I usually get polite emails asking for help with that part of the pattern. I appreciate those emails, because I can quickly correct the errors and update the pattern. I don't take much personally, so I think even if I did get a less than polite response to my work, it wouldn't keep me up at night.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/jasper-12

How long did it take for you to be able to support yourself? I'm not quite there yet! I've had a few real 'hits', and those have helped my pattern sales be more consistent, but really, consistency is key in being able to count on a steady income.

What’s next for you? 
I've got plans to create a bulky collection, all from local yarn. I'd really like to knit a few more shawls and try my hand at designing one. I also have a whole pile of kids sweaters that just need to be photographed so that they can be tested and released. Life is busy, what can I say!?

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-duketer---stocking-cap

Let's see what's not in the Top Ten

I don't have any new interviews to share with you since a lot of professional knitters take time off in August. Instead I'm giving you some links to "oldies but goodies"; interviews which don't fall into the popular post list on the side panel of the blog but still get lots of interest from readers. 

I'm pretty convinced by the lack of movement on those posts that being in the sidebar means they stay in the sidebar. 

I've also added some photos of their newer designs as a bit of an update.

An Interview with...Cirilia Rose 

 

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

An Interview with...Hilary Smith Callis

 

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

An Interview with... Helene Rush

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/old-shale-shawl-6

 

An Interview with...Ambah O'brien

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

You can find Ambah here and here on Ravelry.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/yemaya-shawl

Where do you find inspiration?

Everywhere! In the yarn itself, colour, nature, fashion, art, my home, other knitters. Instagram serves me up a daily dose of inspiration too - I am a visual person and love looking at everything.

What is your favourite knitting technique? 

I find it hard to go past Garter Stitch, my chicken soup of knitting, after that I really enjoy working with lace stitches and colour.

How did you determine your size range?

I like to provide options for versatility and to cater to as many as I can. I find myself predominantly designing Shawls and admittedly personal preference comes into play - I love a big, cosy wrap to snuggle into.

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

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

I love looking at other designers work, there are so many clever, talented designers out there and I love it when I have a little gasp of "wow" when I see something special. I'm not fearful of being influenced by other designers, I do try to keep my designs fresh and give them my own flavour. Looking at other designers work keeps me inspired to work hard on my own designs, to do my best work.

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

I like to offer clear, concise patterns that are accessible and enjoyable to all levels of knitters, and am available to assist those who need support. I trust that knitters will be drawn to the patterns/designers they resonate with. Whatever works for the individual knitter is fine by me. 

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

I knit all of my samples, begging my Honey to help has not paid off yet, he is resistant to my suggestions he learn to knit. Most of my designs are worked out on the needles, so I'd find it a bit tricky to work with sample knitters.

I have many wonderful knitters who join in my Ravelry group for test knits. The patterns have been well Tech Edited by this stage, and knit by me, so usually a test knit is smooth knitting - occasionally a wrinkle or two to iron out. The test knits are usually fun, more like a KAL. I am very grateful for the support and input of the lovely knitters who join in, it is one of my favourite parts of designing, hanging out with with them while they knit the design in their colour/yarn choice and add their own flavour to it. I find this process very inspiring.

 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lamina-wrap

Did you do a formal business plan?

Errr, not really. I do plan to though.

Do you have a mentor?

I have had mentors, your question has me realizing that no, I don't have one right now and would like to find a new one (any mentors out there?). I find myself mentoring a bit these days too. 

Do you have a business model that you have emulated?

No, there is lots of trial and error. I do like to inform myself and attend live and online seminars, read material, chat to other designers, business owners and have been running my own businesses for my whole working life. I really enjoy this aspect of my work.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/annisa-wrap

Do you use a tech editor?

Yes, absolutely. 

How do you maintain your life/work balance?

I don't do that particularly well, I am a bit of a workaholic. Working from home does give me flexibility as a parent and I do appreciate that. It can also be tricky to keep the work/home boundaries clear. I am working on improving this aspect of myself. Meanwhile, I love my work!

How do you deal with criticism?

I appreciate honest, constructive criticism. Feedback is always important. I check in with myself and try to be honest about my reaction, not defensive. There is always more to learn and I am open to that. Sometimes the feedback is valid but not necessarily relevant to the way I have decided to work, I am not going to please everyone and that is OK too. It can be a rattling experience at times, luckily I have a great sounding board in my partner and he offers me excellent advice in these times.

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

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

Gosh, where to begin! It all depends on the type of person as there are so many ways to approach this; self publish, work for publications, both! It takes lots of focus, determination and work. There are so many resources to assist a new designer, absorb all the fantastic information out there, work on designs that excite you and be persistent. 

What’s next for you?

I plan to keep working on the designs I am excited by, with the yarn that inspires me. 

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

An Interview with...Anne B. Hanssen

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/kilians-sweater

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

You can find Anne here and here on Ravelry.

Where do you find inspiration?

I am obsessed with beauty in the tiny details that surrounds us, and I often think about the words of Keats: "Beauty is a joy forever".  I find beauty everywhere I go, and as I walk and run a lot in the forest and along the seaside I take great pleasure in scrutinizing leaves, birds, waves, flowers, skies.....  When I am in town, or traveling, I look a lot at buildings, pavements, doors, and also enjoy looking at what people are wearing, and how they wear it.  Sometimes I can freeze to the ground, looking at a garment - and I do my best not to annoy anyone by staring too much:))

All the beautiful things that I see come together in a (for me unknown) way, often combined with old memories. A color can lead me to think about a detail of a dress seen ages ago. My fascination for the A-line shape which I use a lot (Bahar, Love is everywhere, Udakua, Flirt etc.) I can trace back to my aunts tunic-like dresses worn in the 70ties. My inspiration always comes unexpectedly - and often at night.  I must sketch it down immediately, if not it will be gone the next morning.  All of my ideas doesn't turn into garments, as by now I have far more ideas than time to realize them.

What is your favorite knitting technique?
Even if I master quite a few techniques by now I am still in favor of the first technique that I (and most knitters I believe) learned: the garter stitch.  I often return to it, to make full garments (my cardigan Cardamum), a shawl (The Zebra Ruffle scarf) or use it for a tiny detail somewhere. I like garter edges as well, and often choose to use them in favor of a ribbed edge.  I also enjoy the stockinette stitch and moss stitch (seed stitch) a lot.  These techniques always knit up beautifully, and I like the rhythm and meditation using them.  And used together it might be turned into Guernsey patterns, which I love.

How did you determine your size ranging?

I do not use a standard size ranging when creating a garment.  The pattern repeat is the single most important factor I have to deal with when deciding the size ranging.  Thereafter I think a lot about how a design will look at different people. I try to make the size ranging as wide as possible, going from 30" to 50" or above.  This is however not always possible.  And to my shame I must admit that the first designs I wrote down only included a few sizes.

I am a 34" myself, and I always make the sample in my own size (as I enjoy wearing my own designs a lot:)).  In the beginning I found it hard to work out many sizes, nowadays I have more experience and am happy to offer a much wider range.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/kilians-sweater

Do you look at the work of other designers?

From time to time I take a look.  I admire the work of many designers, and have a handful of favorites.  Especially those who use techniques which are very elaborate, combined with a great shape and choice of colors.  In my opinion some of the well-known designers are artists as well as they have the ability of working out a great shape. I never look at their work for inspiration really, it is more pure admiration. 

How many samplers/tester do you have working for you, or do you do all by yourself?

When I start up a design I work everything out by myself, from the sketch, through the knitting process, to the pattern-writing  (most often those 3 elements are going on at the same time:)).  If I have the time I have been asking for testers.  Sometimes I have had the pleasure of working with the same tester on several occasions.The test-knits have been extremely valuable for me!  It takes a lot of time, but it has been great in so many ways: finding out that the design works for all the sizes, getting feed-back on how to improve the pattern, spell checking.....  I have met so many nice people, all my testers have been very pleasant to work with and I cannot thank them enough for sharing their time and their knowledge with me.  I wish I had the time to test everything I make, but the process requires daily contact with several testers during a months time or more.  Hopefully I will have more time in the future:))

Do you have a mentor?

No, I do not have a knitting mentor.  I do get a lot of input from one of my sisters who is an experienced knitter, and I enjoy the feeling of sharing and discussing with someone very close.  And my daughter has been my mentor when it comes to everything computer-related!  Honestly I do not know how I could have made it without her help:)).

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/guernsey-in-pink

How do you maintain your life/work balance?

This is rather simple really: when I go to my "real" work in the morning, the knitting world stops existing. And it is also the other way around: when I come home I do not give my work one single thought: and I can dream, get inspired, sketch, knit and write patterns as much as I like (which is a lot:)).  A normal day for me includes knitting in the morning while eating my breakfast, and some knitting late at night before going to bed.  When I travel I always bring my knitting along - I would feel completely lost without it!  I try to figure out every opportunity I can get to knit a couple of rows.  My daughter is always late whenever we go anywhere: I sit in the car knitting and waiting for her!                                           

How do you deal with criticism?        
I believe that if you are prepared to meet admiration you should be prepared to meet criticism as well.  But by criticism I mean the fair kind of criticism that is put in a decent way.  At Ravelry I have found lots of appreciation, and it really, really warms my heart and makes my day.  If people contact me to point out errors I try to deal with it straight away.  This is very valuable information for me, and I am happy to receive it. On a few occasions I have met unexpected criticism that has been put in a more harmful way.  I try to deal with it professionally, but I must admit that I can be hurt as well.

How long did it take before you were able to support yourself?

For me designing and knitting is much more than about money.  I will never be able to support myself upon the designing, and I am perfectly happy that I can manage to buy the wool that I need and a chocolate bar from the income:)).The true value is the joy I have from working the design from sketch to pattern, to meet appreciation, to see my pattern made up by other people.  The designing gives me a challenge and suits my personality: I can find the peacefulness of the handicraft, the challenge of calculating and the joy of getting more experience through the process.  

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

What's next for you?

In two weeks time I will have my summer holidays:))  Meaning lots of knitting on the tiny island "Asmaloy" in the southern part of Norway, and also a visit to a small wool mill in the southwest of Sweden.  I am working on a couple of new designs that I hopefully will be able to present in the early autumn.  At one point or another I will have to decide how I will proceed in my designing and also in promoting it.  Design and knitting are joy and pleasure to me, and I would like to keep it that way.  I think that feeling would be lost a bit if I start thinking about it too much from a business point of view. In many ways I am still that little girl making up wardrobes for her dolls, and I would like to hold on to that feeling.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/buckwheat-blossom-pullover

Five years ago...

 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sheepish-cushion

I have some interviews promised but I didn't get one in in time for today's post. I looked back at my old posts and found that I've published around 350 interviews to date. Most of them are indexed here. Go down to the bottom of the page for the list.

I'm going to link to an old post today.  Five years ago I interviewed Jodie Lucas. 

I love the photo at the top of her interview. 

I looked to see if she is still active and the answer is yes, those amazing sheep pillows were published in May 2016. 

So of course now I'm curious about some of the even older interviews. Are the interviewee's still in the knitting industry? I may do a little investigation and let you know later.

An Interview with...Annie Rowden

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tales-from-the-isle-of-purbeck---mkal

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

You can find Annie here and here on Ravelry.

Where do you find inspiration?

It comes from all sorts of places. Often just the raw need for a particular garment or accessory to be in my closet, or sometimes a particular stitch pattern calls me to explore it, but I’d say for the large part it will be the yarn that guides the journey of what it wants to become. One of my most favourite patterns of last year was actually quite a stressful time as I was trying to force the yarn into a design that wasn’t quite working, but, on a deadline, I kept pushing until I was almost at the bind off, only to rip it out completely and start afresh. The final Stories from Snoqualmie Shawl, full of cables and garter stitch, was exactly where that yarn wanted to be.

 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/stories-from-snoqualmie-valley---mkal

What is your favourite knitting technique?
This is a tough one! I go through phases of exploring techniques as new designs challenge them. But I have to say that getting to know different ways to cast-on and bind-off is particularly fun for me! It’s incredible how the different techniques can add so much to your final garment. 

How did you determine your size range?
Like many things in knitting I’m still learning this as I go. My first ever cardigan design I published had 12 sizes, in the hopes of offering a size for everyone, and also the challenge of grading all those numbers! Not perhaps necessary, but I learned a ton. I write children’s patterns with my good friend Ashley Yousling under the name Little Woolens, and we began writing patterns 0-4yrs, only to learn that knitters wanted at least up to size 10-12yrs. So using our wonderful customers as a guide that is the range we now focus on. Of course stitch patterns and pattern repeats often influence how many sizes are possible, but I like to write up a wide range to make the pattern accessible for everyone. Similarly for accessories, hats, mitts etc, if more than one size is possible, I’ll write them up.

Do you look at other designers’ work or are you afraid that you will be influenced by their designs?
Yes, I think this can be a worry for many designers, however I’d say that I am more so inspired and encouraged when looking at other peoples work than fear I might be influenced. I trust that my work is from my own creative spirit and that at the end of the day what we each produce, if designed from the the honest creativity we all have, then the outcome will be unique and your own. I really enjoy working alongside other designers and seeing what they’re up to - like I said, its a great source of inspiration for me!

How do you feel about the so called controversy of “dumbing down” patterns for knitters?
I think this is a totally personal issue for the designer. You could say it’s a business decision. I feel although I write patterns whichever way I want to, I can definitely recognize that there are some designs which folks are perhaps hesitant to cast on because of the complexity. However, when a knitter conquers those fears of a more complex pattern and ends up with a finished project that they previously thought they couldn’t master, its the best feeling ever!! My designs are such a reflection of where I’m at in life - if I’m longing for simple knitting then I’ll design a comfortable pattern, but then at times when I’m looking for a challenge who knows what I’ll conjure up!!

How many sample/test knitters do you have working for you or do you do it all yourself?
I do most work all by myself, and only hire sample knitters when I my schedule doesn’t allow for all the deadlines to be met. Sample knitting is still something I’m still exploring, and I miss being able to do all the knitting myself, but sample knitters are a great tool and I hope that I build more confidence in leaving the knitting part to others!

 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/morning-mist-3

Did you do a formal business plan?
No! Haha! How my design work started and has grown has been very organic. I’ve gone with the flow, so to speak. In my ‘other life’ I am a dairy farmer and mother which also has it’s ebbs and flows, and my knitting has to fit in with it. Having said that, this year I do have a few short term and long term goals which will hopefully keep me on somewhat of a path! What is more important to me is staying true to what I enjoy and believe in. I strive to support local and domestic fibers, or organic fibers, and natural dyes. I can only cram so much knitting into my life and from a farmer stand point I love to work with yarns that I know exactly where they came from, and hopefully support the hard work of fellow farmers/growers/mills/dyers. We are in a wonderful time in the industry where this interest is growing and there are so many transparent yarns to choose and learn from. I encourage everyone to be mindful, and question where the yarn you are knitting with came from!!

Do you have a mentor?

I’m a self taught knitter, so initially I would say that I don’t really have a mentor. However realistically, even though she doesn’t know it, Susan B Anderson was my first mentor! I learned to knit from her Itty Bitty Hat book. I found it at the library while living in Finland! Other great teachers and authors have been Elizabeth Zimmerman, Barbara Walker, Shirley Paden and June Hemmons Hiatt. Out of the pages my biggest influences are close friends Ashley Yousling and Andrea Mowry, but everyone I seem to come into contact with in this wonderful knitting world can have an influence on my work. It’s amazing and so, so wonderful that even someone who might consider themselves a ‘beginner’ may have a technique I haven’t come across before, or a way of looking at a problem I hadn’t thought of.

Do you have a business model that you have emulated?
Only that I must have fun, and stay true to myself and keep in line with what I love and respect. As much as I want to be successful, I don’t want to do it at the expense of cramming in too much work, stressing over deadlines, or working with companies that I don’t align with. Sometimes it’s tough to see others with what seems like all the knitting time in the world. Not only do I know that social media can extremely suggestive, but I know that my journey is my own and I shouldn’t and can't compare myself to others. I try to keep in touch with my truest dreams and desires, and I’m very conscious of avoiding the feeling of being expected to ‘perform’ and crank out patterns.

Do you use a tech editor?

Yes! I couldn’t do what I do without my wonderful tech editors. In a way they are also my mentors! I learn something new from them every pattern we work on. They are also a great sounding board, if I have an issue I just can’t get my head around, they brain storm with me and often bring something to the table I hadn’t thought about. Its very easy to be ‘too close’ to a design! 

How do you maintain your life/work balance?
Oh, the ongoing challenge! I’m lucky that my life is very flexible and I can find pockets in most days to spend on my design work. However there are seasons of the year where the farm work is heavy and I long to be with my needles, and vice versa. Knowing that these phases come and go is what makes those ‘unbalanced’ times easier. Learning to say “no” has been a big turning corner in my design work in helping to maintain a balance - my two year old will only be little once! 

 

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

 

How do you deal with criticism?
We are very lucky that knitters are some of the most supportive and encouraging group of people!! But everyone once in a while I’ll come across a negative tone. I learned a long time ago that you cannot please everyone, as much as I might try, and knitting is a very personal thing, and if a customer isn’t jiving with one of my patterns I’m not going to get offended or get upset about it. It’s also pretty entertaining to recognize that the stronger worded messages or emails often come after a knitter has struggled with a particular part of a pattern and in their frustration (oh don’t we know what frustration well!) sent a hasty email. And then the remarkable difference in tone the following messages have, once we have worked out the problem and they’re happily back on their way!

What advice would you give someone who wants to pursue a career in knitting?
Follow your dreams, remain open to all opportunities and who knows what might come round the corner! Don’t compare yourself to others, but focus on making sure that you are enjoying your OWN journey. Also, ask for help, fellow designs and knitters are often extremely open in helping and guiding you along your way! They are a great resource in learning about things that might be a mystery to you! There really is room for everyone in this industry!!! 

What’s next for you?
Anything and everything!!! I always have a few designs going, and more specifically I’m working on a collection with an amazing yarn that I’m really excited about. I’d like to teach more and am looking to pursue that! Other than that, I like to, as Mary Oliver so perfectly puts it, “Keep room in your heart for the unimaginable.” 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bracken-7

An Interview with...Heidi Kirrmaier

 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vitamin-d

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

You can find Heidi here on Ravelry.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/walking-on-the-moon

Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration in almost anything I look at, sometimes in unexpected places. I have a tendency see lines and geometric patterns in many things, from buildings, landscapes and artwork, to clothing I see people wearing or in fashion magazines. My designs are often centred around one particular shaping element and I don’t typically add much embellishment beyond what is required to incorporate that element and construct the remainder of garment around it.

What is your favourite knitting technique?
Because my designs often involve non-conventional, seamless construction, a provisional cast-on is a very useful technique for me.

How did you determine your size range?
My patterns generally cover a standard range from XS to XXL, with no more than about 3 inches between sizes. Sometimes a design will have inherent increments that dictate the possible sizing. Either way, I try to include about 8 sizes so that the majority of knitters will find a suitable size, minimizing the need for customization. Nevertheless, I do encourage knitters to make adjustments if they feel they need to in order to achieve a fit they prefer.

Do you look at other designers’ work or are you afraid that you will be influenced by their designs?
I think it is important to be aware of what is going on in one’s industry, but I don’t fear being influenced by others’ designs. As it is, I have more ideas than I will ever be able to produce!
 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/elbow-river

How do you feel about the so called controversy of “dumbing down” patterns for knitters?
Every designer has to decide where to strike the balance between how much detail to include in the pattern, and keeping the instructions concise. Ideally every knitter would have the same level of knowledge and skills, but this is not the case, making it difficult to determine the right balance. While I personally do not believe patterns should be expected to repeat instructions for common techniques that can be found elsewhere, if a little extra information can easily be included to provide clarity then I think there’s no reason not to include it. If a special or unusual technique used in the design, then it is reasonable to include the details for that or at least provide a reference or link to find more information about it. In the end though, a pattern is just a pattern and should not be expected to be a comprehensive knitting manual!

How many sample/test knitters do you have working for you or do you do it all yourself?
I knit samples myself, but I always have my patterns test knit by others. There are a variety of knitters who do this for me, most of them volunteers.

Did you do a formal business plan?
I don’t have a formal business plan, primarily because designing is my second occupation. I have a fairly demanding full time job in a completely different industry. This means I have a limited amount of time to dedicate to designing, so I basically create designs as they come to me and take time I need to complete the patterning process. So far, this has generally resulted in releasing a new pattern every few months for the past 5 years or so.

Do you have a mentor?
My evolution into designing happened rather organically via Ravelry. I started by posting projects, many of which I had designed myself. Others took interest and asked if I’d write up the patterns, so I slowly started doing that and my business grew from there. As such, I haven’t had a mentor, but I’ve learned a lot by going through the relatively public process on Ravelry and receiving open feedback from many knitters.
 

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

Do you have a business model that you have emulated?
My business model is quite simple; it amounts to having clarity around what my focus should be, at least for the foreseeable future. There are a lot of different activities that can be undertaken in the field of knitting (for example: retailing, teaching, tech editing, sample knitting, photography, yarn production / dyeing, etc.), each of which requires a somewhat different skill set. For me, I have no doubt that my strengths lie in the technical and aesthetic aspects of design. Given the limited hours I have, it makes most sense for me to focus on the creation of new designs and pattern production.

Do you use a tech editor?
No, I do all the math, and triple (and quadruple!) checking of all the numbers and pattern components myself. For confirmation, I rely on my test knitters to point out if they discover any inconsistencies or errors.

How do you maintain your life/work balance with both a full time job and a part time knitting design business?
Actually, designing itself provides me with balance. My day job involves a lot of responsibilities and can be stressful at times, so I thrive on knowing I get to immerse myself in a very different world to counterbalance that. Both the creative and mathematical aspects of designing energize me, as does being connected with a community of crafters who regularly put a smile on my face when I see their creations. I do take my designing business very seriously though; I work hard to ensure my patterns are of high quality and that I am available to answer questions should the need arise.

How do you deal with criticism?
I take all feedback into consideration. There are many ways of approaching the various elements of designing - including the visual lay-out of a pattern, the pattern writing style, and the actual design - and it is natural that people will have different preferences. I try to accommodate those where I reasonably can, but I know it is not possible to please everyone all the time.

What advice would you give someone who wants to pursue a career in knitting?
Decide what your strengths are, and focus on those. For example, if you love knitting and think therefore you want to open a yarn shop, you need to realize that this will not mean you will be spending a lot of time knitting, but rather you will be hiring staff, buying inventory, and doing accounting (or hiring staff to do accounting!) You may very well have several skills, but be sure to be deliberate about how to effectively apply them, and recognize you may need help if you start your own business. Be realistic about the time commitment and expenses it will take to be successful. Lastly, once you have a career in knitting, it is no longer a hobby!

What’s next for you?
More good designs and satisfied knitters, I hope!

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