Stana's Critters Etc.: Interview with a designer: Nailya Plaskey (Nailya)

Nov 30, 2018

Interview with a designer: Nailya Plaskey (Nailya)

In 2014 I did an interview with another designer and I loved that part of the Gift-a-long as it gave me an opportunity to learn something about another designers, their inspirations, and design process. I wanted to revisit the idea this year and I have few designer interviews as my blog posts line up for this year Gift-a-long. Enjoy, and happy knitting.

Here is the first designer interview:

Nailya Plaskey (Nailya) is a fellow designer participating in the Gift-a-long 2018.
I am happy that she was willing to participate and answer my questions.
I personally love the Big Stitch Beanie, photo bellow:

photo by Nailya

1. What inspires you to design?

I love the challenge of interpreting different images into a language of stitches. I feel powerful when knitting or crocheting, there's nothing I can't do or learn how to do when it comes to yarn. I want other people to feel the same when they knit or crochet from my patterns.

2. If you could knit/ crochet one thing - anything in the world what would that be?

I would knit or crochet something for a movie production.

photo by Nailya

3. Describe your ideal day as a designer, what would you do and what would you prefer not to do?

I would take a class in the morning, either on design or a new to me technique. Then I would spend the afternoon at a fiber festival spending time with old friends and meeting new people. In the evening I would be adding more rows to the exciting design I am working on.

4. How do you start a project, with yarn, pattern, idea or what?

I can work many ways. Either the yarn would be practically telling me what it wants to be, and I will start offering it different stitch patterns for consideration. Or I will have this image in my mind that I will think about if it will translate well to colorwork or textured stitches or cables or lace. Or it would be one of my three kids wanting a new hat with a pompom, and I would want for it to be truly new and unique and not like anyone else's hat.

photo by Nailya

5. What inspires you to pick up needles and start on the project?

I think they call this condition castonitis :).

6. What do you enjoy the most about the designing and what you dislike the most?

My favorite part of designing is when other people can recognize my idea. They: "Yes, I can see that!" Me: "Great! i wasn't the only one!". My least favorite part of designing is the amount of promotion a small indie designer has to do for more people to see his/her pattern. I am not very salesy, and marketing is hard for me.

photo by Nailya

7. Are there any particular techniques you find challenging or impossible to work with?

My challenge right now is grading garments for multiple sizes but I plan to tackle it next year!

8. What is on your needles now?

A second mitten for my daughter who lost one of a pair. A scrappy cardigan. Half a sock. 2 blankets. A shawl. I might be forgetting something.

photo by Nailya

9. Do you work on multiple projects at the same time or single project?

I have never committed to a single project. I do both knitting and crochet, so switching between them helps keep my hands healthy. I try to keep my focus on a main project, but others pop in queue depending on circumstances, like when I need something portable or something simple for working on when watching TV.

10. Is there is something else that you would like to share with the readers?

I am 38. I am married, and have 3 kids I homeschool. Traveling is something I love doing, and before I settled down in the US I have visited and lived in about 20 different countries. I also like hiking, gardening, and baking. Tea and dark chocolate are my favorite treats.