designer of the month

In Oktober 2010 I started a series of interviews, where I asked knitwear designers from around the world questions about their design process, the yarns they use and how the designs come to life. By publishing these interviews, I've learned so much, and I hope you have too.

But now it's time for a break. I didn't plan one, but the signs gave me enough feedback to notice it's time for a break: I had a designer lined up for January, she had even agreed to participate, but never answered the questions and won't answer my mails. The one I had planned for February never answered me, and the third said she has no time at the moment. Pretty clear signs, don't you think!

So Designer of the month series is going on a break for a while. To make up for the loss I'm planning on making more of WorstedKnitt's Pattern shows and perhaps I'll have a new idea or two for the future!

This month I'm presenting a designer with really founded experience and history in knitwear design, Tina Whitmore.

Raised in both England and the USA, founder and lead designer, Tina Whitmore, draws from over 20 years of design and 6 years of professional teaching experience to create original patterns and corresponding knitting and crochet kits. She writes patterns for all levels of knitters and crocheters, with an emphasis on intermediate level patterns.
Her unique color sense and creative inspiration come from an extensive background and degrees in both fine arts and textile design, as well as a lifetime of global travel and an appreciation of diverse cultures and history. Knitwhits/Freia Fibers is based just outside of San Francisco in Emeryville, California.

It's time for this month's designer interview! While I sometimes interview designers I haven't knitted anything from yet, this month's designer made the Argyle Cabled Beret pattern which I knitted (and loved). I really like her other designs too, they're so usable but all with that "little twist"!

Without further ado, I want to present Cassie Castillo to you all fine readers of worsted-knitt.net :)

Cassie Castillo is a knitwear designer from sunny Southern California. She is a designer by day and mad crafter at night. Along with knitting, she enjoys spinning, weaving, crocheting, sewing and dyeing. You can visit her blog at http://www.azaleaandrosebudfiberworks.blogspot.com/

So, let's get started!

Exactly - to the date! - one year ago I posted the first designer of the month interview with Katie Ferry. During this year I've interviewed a lot of talented knitwear designers (and one crochet designer!). It's been such a pleasure, and I hope you've enjoyed it too!

My first "contact" with this month's designer was Pauline, a brilliant bonnet pattern for adult women. I still haven't knit one, but like the pattern very much nonetheless. Another current favourite of mine from this designer is the Entrechat - don't you just adore it?

The designer behind the hat is no other than Kristen Hanley Cardozo who, according to her own words, is dangerous with pointy sticks. She lurks stealthily in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family and a collection of yarn and patterns that threatens to take over the house. You can read about her adventures and mishaps at Knitting Kninja. So, here we go:

Ok, now for something completely different. You may know I don't crochet, at least very, very seldom. Anyhow, many of the visitors that find their way to worsted-knitt.net via a search machine, are actually looking for "crochet pencil case pattern"! Why is that? Quite simple: in a fundraising action for Sudan in 2008 I coordinated, the crochet designer Donna Childs designed a pencil case pattern in crochet and allowed me to host it on worsted-knitt.net. So there's definitely a link between crochet and worsted-knitt.net. Perhaps it's time for another one?

A few months back I got a mail from StephCat , a knitwear designer who had seen my Designer of the Month series and wondered if she could participate.

Although I was not familiar with her work before, one look at her work convinced me that this is a great designer to interview - just look at the gorgeous Beachcomber vest for example!

Oops, look how far June is already! Time for the Designer of the Month post. This time I interviewed the talented Alexis Winslow, who lives in Brooklyn, NY and works as a printed textile designer for children's bedding. You can catch up with her on her blog, knitdarling.com, where she writes, and video blogs about all her knitting adventures.

Did you notice, by the way, that the Designer of March, Allyson Dykhuizen is wearing one of Alexis' designs - the Bergen street cardigan?

Ok, let's start!

It's Designer of the Month time again! This time I interviewed a designer whose work I adore - it's so wearable and sexy! Even if your gauge is off and the sweater ends up a huge hip hop piece, it's still pretty (see my Corona here).

I first learned about this month's designer a good while ago when I was looking into vegan knitters. I found this interesting blog, and after noticing the person behind it had a Finnish last name, I was intrigued! It turned out her husband is of Finnish origin! But let her tell more about herself:

Kala Hotakainen is a craft designer who has patterns published with Crystal Palace yarns and also many patterns published on her own that are available on Ravelry and Etsy.

Kala designs with 100% vegan yarns and craft materials since she's been a happy vegan for almost a decade. Keep up with her crafty adventures on her blog, Vegancraftastic.

So, now on to the interview!