An Interview with...Megan Nodecker

 

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

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 Megan here and here on Ravelry. 

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

Where do you find inspiration? 

I get my inspiration from a combination of knitting, fashion and photography. I pour over stitch patterns and fondle yarn with abandon, I love people watching and always have a notebook handy if I see an interesting detail or shape, and I have Pinterest boards, saved links and a desktop full of photos that are always growing and sparking new ideas.

What is your favourite knitting technique?

This changes with every new design, but if I could only choose one thing to focus on for the rest of time it would be lace. I just love how easy it is to manipulate. You can create something very soft, light and delicate like a summer shawl but change certain elements like yarn weight or gauge and it becomes something entirely different, full of strength and texture.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rhomboid-hat

 

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

Absolutely! I think it is very important to not just look at others’ work, but to knit it as well. That is the best way to learn new techniques and skills and ultimately grow as a knitter and designer. I think it is a good thing to be influenced by others work, just as I would want someone to be influenced by mine. I, in no way, am talking about copying someone else’s designs but sometimes I’ll see something interesting and think about how it could be used in different applications.

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

I do all of the samples myself, but I do have an amazing team of test knitters in my Ravelry group to make sure every pattern is the best it can be before getting published. I also have a sister who is a graphic designer and she does all of the pattern layouts and web design. 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ferny-mittens-and-gloves

Did you do a formal business plan?

I did not, but I do have a list of goals (long and short term) that I am always adding to.

Do you have a mentor?

I don’t have a mentor but I do have a lot of knitting designers that I look up to.  

Do you use a tech editor?

For outside publications and larger projects, yes. For smaller things like accessories with only two or three sizes, no. I’m a bit of a math geek so for smaller things it’s usually the formatting and grammar I need a second set of eyes for, and my testers take care of that.

How do you maintain your life/work balance?

I don’t? No, but this is something that I am constantly working on. I find as a stay at home/ work at home mom it’s very hard to draw those lines. If I’m really into a project I have to make sure I don’t throw myself too hard into it and neglect things like my husband and my daughter and my house!

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

How do you deal with criticism?

It depends. If someone offers constructive criticism I don’t take offense… anymore. When I first started working with test knitters I tended to take things personally but once I realized that people were really just trying to help, it got a lot easier. I also learned that just because someone suggests something doesn’t mean you have to do it! For criticism that is not constructive and just plain mean (because even in our wonderful little knitting community, it does happen from time to time!) I just ignore it and move on.  

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

To keep at it and know that it is not something that’s going to happen overnight and to be open to new opportunities.

What’s next for you?

More and better. 

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

New Pattern - Ruth Kettering Wrap, the Stashbusters

Here's the photos of the stashbuster versions of this pattern. This is a great pattern to use up leftover yarn. All the ends can be finished off by weaving them into the picots which is an easy and very tidy way of weaving them in. As I worked on each one I grouped yarns in colour mixes. I picked one colour for the start and end and combined various weights together. 

This one has three colours, but four different yarns. The blue is Great Big Sea by Handmaiden Fine Yarn. The red is Knitpicks Wool of the Andes. There are two black yarns one is Knitca wosted weight and the other was some partial balls that I no longer remember what they were. 

This one has three colours and five different yarns. The variegated is Wellington Fibres, the label is long gone but I think it's an aran or worsted weight. The darkest green is Indiecita Alpaca 4-Ply Worsted. The other green and both the mauve's are Shelridge fingering weight. 

This one has so many yarns from partial balls I can't tell you how many are in there. I put in any thing I had which was black, grey or red. After I grouped them all together I did remove one grey because it looked too much bluer than the others. Weights are in the range of fingering to worsted. I have multiple fibres, wools, cottons and rayon and probably a few others.

You can read the first post on this pattern here.


BTW, it's very helpful for me if my readers go to the Ravelry page for my patterns and click on add to favorites or add to queue. It means more knitters see my patterns and they don't get lost at the bottom of the list when Ravellers do searches for specific project types. 

New Pattern - The Halesworth Wrap

I've published this one on Ravelry, Love Knitting and it should be up on Patternfish soon. The yarn is absolutely wonderful to work with, incredibly soft and drapey. It really has to be touched to fully appreciate it's qualities. It takes 2 skeins Prism Petite Madison Layers yarn and 2 skeins Prism Petite Madison yarn. The yarn is 75% Merino, 15% Cashmere, 10% Silk. The colours in the sample are Ebony and Sapphire. Signature Yarns has the yarn and pattern available. 

BTW, it's very helpful for me if my readers go to the Ravelry page for my patterns and click on add to favorites or add to queue. It means more knitters see my patterns and they don't get lost at the bottom of the list when Ravellers do searches for specific project types.

 

At our last design meeting Patrick and I picked out colourways in two additional yarns which will be going out to sample knitters. 

He gave me lots of photos to share, so here's more for you to see. 

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

New Pattern - The Ruth Kettering Wrap

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ruth-kettering-wrap

I published a new pattern yesterday. It's the Ruth Kettering Wrap. This design came out of two requirements. The first is my ongoing issues with De Quervain's tenosynovitis. It is almost gone however, I'm finding cables and tight gauge knitting aggravates it. The other requirement has been the desire to downsize my stash. 

I've already knit three more versions of this wrap. It was a fabulous TV knitting and carry around project. My husband is still working on the photos of the stash buster versions of this pattern. I'll add them as projects to Ravelry as soon as they are ready. 

It's worked by starting from one narrow point. The stitches increase on one side and decrease at a much slower rate on the opposite edge. This method creates a shallow asymmetrical triangle with one extra-long point to wrap around your neck or pin into place. 

It’s an easy knit, suitable for any knitter who is comfortable working simple shaping. The stripes are worked in a reversible textural stitch. All rows but one in the pattern repeat are worked as all knit stitches. The pattern provides a straightforward three colour version, as well as enough detail to use it as a base for a stash busting version. The picot stitch on all edges allows for easy finishing, providing a place to bury ends when working with multiple colours. 

When using the pattern as a stash buster, multiple yarn weights can be combined. Choose the needle size recommended for the heaviest weight yarn. Striping patterns can be worked randomly to accommodate unequal yardages of different colours. Each stripe requires approximately four times the width of the work. The cast off edge requires approximately seven times the width of the work.

BTW, it's very helpful for me if my readers go to the Ravelry page for my patterns and click on add to favorites or add to queue. It means more knitters see my patterns and they don't get lost at the bottom of the list when Ravellers do searches for specific project types. 

LandMade

 

http://www.licketyspitfibrefarm.ca/

I recently attended LandMade, an event at a small Toronto hotel. 

Here are the details they posted in a local Ravelry group:

“The Upper Canada Fibreshed is bringing farm-fresh yarn, roving and fleece to the urban maker.

LandMade hosts local fibre farmers to the Gladstone Hotel, giving urban knitters, spinners, crocheters, weavers, felters, makers and artists the chance to discover fleeces, rovings and yarns direct from the farm. Eight farms that raise sheep, alpacas and mohair will be available to talk all things fibre, and to provide locally and sustainably raised materials to the natural fibre enthusiast."

https://www.facebook.com/events/723183224511333/?active_t...;

It was a tiny show, with only eight vendors but the turnout was amazing. We arrived about 30 minutes after the start and at that point could barely get through the room it was so crowded. The best comparison I could make is to a farm show. I'm sure the spinners in the room must have been pleased with the amount of fleece and roving they saw. Everything available was in the natural colours. I purchased a skein of the yarn in the photo at the top. I would have liked another one in black but I was standing beside someone who purchased the last two black skeins as I chose mine. The yarn is fabulously soft and silky to the touch. 

I ended up seeing lots of knitters I know, both local and some from the smaller towns surrounding Toronto. The audience was very different from a retail show where you see lots of novice knitters. This type of event works better for those of us less dependent on patterns. The yarn labels tend to be limited in their information. The skein I purchased is labeled as Type: fine, Yardage: 268, Needle size: 2.5 - 3.25. No gauge is listed on the label. If you follow the U.S. Craft Council yarn weight system that would put it as a 1 superfine or 2 fine weight. That's in the fingering to sport range. I think it might be a little off as 103 grams should have more yardage in that weight. However as with all yarns only swatching will answer my questions. I do have some black alpaca in my stash which is a light fingering weight so I'll try some comparison and combination swatching to see if I can put them together.

 

An Interview with...Jenny Faifel

 

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

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. She can be found on Instagram as @sweaterfreakknits

Where do you find inspiration?

I find it everywhere but two sources really jump out: fashion mags and shows and my own love for math and geometry. There is a also a huge factor of wearability - first and foremost the knitted garment or accessory has to be wearable. I generally do not design what I wouldn't wear myself.

What is your favourite knitting technique?

I have two! Kitchener grafting and knitting on the bias.

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

We all are influenced by other designers' work. I think in today's knitting community where everyone is out on display, it's hard to not notice what others are doing. But every single designer, myself included, always puts their own layer onto an existing idea and so on so forth. It's all part of the creative process!

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

I knit my own samples and then I generally have 6-10 test knitters depending on the test. I feel that testing is an absolute must because it really gives me the opportunity to see whether my pattern is knittable or not. I do the rest myself!

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hot-oatmeal

Did you do a formal business plan?

No, not really. I just knit what I feel like knitting and sometimes it works out!

Do you have a mentor?

I have two close knitting friends that are also designers and we all mentor each other and bounce off ideas. It's actually one of the best part of it all!

Do you have a business model that you have emulated?

No. I do what feels right, but that doesn't quite qualify as a business model, does it?  

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/holiday-swag

Do you use a tech editor?

Sometimes.

How do you maintain your life/work balance?

Family comes first. I have a 4 year old that is that awesome stage where they learn a ton and that obviously takes priority especially because I have a day job. Knitting is my part time gig - I am a software developer during the day and have no intention of leaving this path for various reasons. I like to have options! I try to approach this endeavor organically where I don't have a strict list of what to do. Because this is a part time gig, I have quite a bit of flexibility as far as how much effort and time I am putting into it at any given time. Some days I will just knit things for myself and some days it's all about design and deadlines. I always have a project with me or sometimes two! That way I am able to complete them faster. But yes, it is a constant struggle to juggle it all but I wouldn't change anything about it - I like being busy!

How do you deal with criticism?

I like constructive criticism rather than serving the purpose of a punching bag for someone who had a bad day. Most people are very nice and understanding, but there is this little percent that just wants to get under your skin. Lucky for me, it hasn't happened much.

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

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

I am nowhere near being able to do that but that was never the goal to begin with anyway!

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

Review the real reasons you're doing it for, whether it's a side income, being able to fully support yourself or just to be recognized and go from there. Your approach will depend on this. If I wanted to support myself, my path would have been very different!

What’s next for you?

I recently started a podcast called TricitiesKnit with my friend who also knits and designs and it has been a great fun! We run KALs, giveaways, and so on and I love interacting with people who knit! (You can get more info here.)

As far as knitting goes, I am making this a year of a sweater! We are currently running a KnitCity Sweater KAL in our group and anyone can join! KnitCity is our local fiber and yarn fest and we love it!

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tweedy-fog