As always it was my pleasure to interview another participating GAL designer. Here is the interview with Alison Makin (KnitsandWords)
I have to admit, I am not a sock knitter, but I would love to try her Flexuous sock pattern.
 |
| photo by Alison |
1. What inspires you to
design?
Quite simply, I love to create. Being able to take yarn and needles and turn it into something useful is wonderful.
I learnt to knit as an
adult while sitting in a textile design studio, so I was surrounded by
creativity. I was spending hours there most days and the studio artist offered
to teach me to knit, amongst other things. I never looked back. Knitting basic
items soon became knitting more complicated things, I took on test knitting and
editing and then I decided I wanted to create my own designs- so I did.
2. If you could knit one thing - anything in the world what would that be?
I actually purchased a
kit earlier this year for a colourwork vest- it was a gift to myself on my 40th
birthday. It is something I haven’t attempted before and I really want to do
something to challenge myself in a different direction. Besides, steeks sound
scary so I need to do them so I can prove to myself I can.
 |
| photo by Alison |
3. Describe your ideal day as a designer, what would you do and what would you prefer not to do?
My ideal day as a
designer... I actually sat down one day and typed this up, so I could reflect
on it occasionally. I have no idea where that is now, so I’ll start again.
I would wake early and
take our dog (Tess) for a walk, come home, cook breakfast and get ready for the
day. Check in briefly with email and Ravelry (I usually have a test running
there). Do any tech editing work for the day so that is done early while my
brain is fresh. Take a break to do a bit of knitting and have lunch. After
lunch I would do some pattern writing and more knitting. Do social media
check-ins, etc and be finished for the day. More knitting after dinner, though.
Photographs are probably
my least favourite part of the whole process and I know that is an area I need
to spend more time on.
I usually start with a
stitch pattern and then think about how I can modify it so that it works for
multiple sock sizes. Because I really have a thing for symmetry, I generally
have to chart a slightly different stitch pattern for every size. This means I don’t
go too much further until I work out how to modify it for every size as my goal
is maintain the essence of the design across all sizes. After that I have to
work out how all of the elements will flow- that means choosing ribbing and
heel patterns that allow the pattern to transition smoothly. The next part is
choosing the yarn that I think will work best with stitch pattern. I usually
write the pattern before I start knitting so I can make notes on the pattern as
I go, but I have been a bit lax with that lately and it does make me feel less
organised.
I do start with the
yarn occasionally, but that is pretty rare. I generally take that approach if I
am working with a dyer and they have a specific colourway in mind.
Once I designed with a
person in mind. She’s Got a Way was designed for my Mother in Law on our way
home from her funeral and was named for one of the songs we played at the
service.
 |
| photo by Alison |
5. What inspires you to
pick up needles and start on the project?
I want to see how the
design comes together, to make sure that the vision in my head and on paper
will actually work.
6. What do you enjoy the most about the designing and what you dislike the most?
The part I enjoy most is
seeing other people knit my designs! That someone has spent so many hours of
their time working on my design and is so proud that they want to share it with
everyone makes me happy.
My dislike is probably
the nerves when I release a new pattern and I worry that no one is going to
like it.
Not yet, but when I
learnt to knit I wasn’t told anything was difficult- “It’s all just knits and
purls”. My first project was a cowl (that I had to graft), my second project
was a full-length coat and I was knitting socks within a few months of learning
to knit.
That doesn’t mean I
have done everything I want to, but I also know that I can find the
instructions and learn. I used to be absolutely terrified of cables (goodness
knows why, I just had this idea in my head), but found lace easy. I knew
someone else who loved cables but was scared by lace. That was when I realised
that I could learn anything I wanted.
 |
| photo by Alison |
8. What is on your
needles now?
Two sock designs (one is
in white, so it stays at home), and two GAL projects. One of those is El Unico,
a shawl pattern, and the other is Flattery Bay, a sleeveless tank. Oh, and I
also have a sweater that just needs the collar finished... and I’m positive
that I have a couple of shawls stuffed in bags somewhere. And a sock project
for my husband. And I just remembered the colourwork socks for me. Maybe I
should stop thinking about the extra projects.
9. Do you work on multiple projects at the same time or single project?
Always lots. I think you
worked that out from my previous answer! I like to have different things to
work on for different moods and places. Sometimes a project isn’t at a point
where I can easily take it places with me, but I need something in my bag for
those moments of waiting. For instance, I have spent lots of time in waiting
rooms over the last couple of weeks and I really needed something small I could
work on easily and put down at a moment’s notice.
 |
| photo by Alison |
Where to find Alison Makin:
Alison (Knits and Words) on Instagram
No comments:
Post a Comment