Knit Eco Chic
Rise Up Profile
Designing
Lindsay, I love when these collections get released. I try not to really look at what anyone is doing so it is a surprise to me. I also really love talking to other designers about their process.
As Knit Eco Chic, tell me where a new design starts for you.
Q1: Under a Great Dane blanket while I mentally draw the design and figure out the concept 😉.
Well that is a perspective most of us will never have!
Do you have a preference of working with restrictions versus doing “whatever”?
Q2: I like to have a handful of design philosophies for each pattern – they help break tie breakers when I’m up in the air about what direction the piece should go. I establish annual Knit Eco Chic themes serve as one such design philosophy. If it doesn’t fit the theme, it gets bounced back to the ideas folder for another year.
And where do you start? Yarn? Stitch Pattern? Shape? Concept?
Q3: Concept, yarn and shape dance between 2nd and 3rd, and stitch pattern is the last one.
How do you decide which ideas to pursue and which to let sit?
Q4: Puddles picks 😉.
Puddles seems to be an important part of your team!
That photo is so wonderful!
More from Knit Eco Chic
Do you do collections or concept development?
Q5: I do! I just finished my first Knit Eco Chic pattern club – Moebi Knits. I explored the moebius cast on and pairing it with a variety of other techniques including double knitting, color work, and brioche. The design philosophy for Moebi Knits was “double” so there is a fun use of double in each pattern – from how you can wear the FO to how you can work the construction and so much in between.
What appeals to you about independent designing?
Q6: I fell into designing after several attempts at finding something that fits within my lifestyle restrictions. Both the knitting and designing are therapies for the damage to my brain my illness caused. Publishing became the next logical step.
Definitely a different route to designing. Both knitting and design are such good brain exercisers.
What role does color play in your work?
Q7: I leave color up to the dyers mostly. I found I was drawn heavily to blue yarns (and nothing else), so I let dyers surprise me with colors to help break out of my color box. It has been a fantastic journey of color discovery!
I’m never really wedded to a color either, although I will always choose what I like if it is left to me. I have such trouble choosing blue!
More personal . . .
What besides knitting and your family do you love?
Q8: Jesus 😊.
As a non-practicing christian I forget the role that plays for others.
How do you remain creative?
Q9: Fresh air – lots of lots of fresh air. Back country skiing through the woods with Puddles is our favorite!
What is next for you and Knit Eco Chic — besides leaving the house?! I realize that “leaving the house” is a little different for you than for most of us.
Q10: Maine! I’m so looking forward to seeing my property for the first time and setting up our home and my non-profit.
Can you briefly describe your Rise Up design?
As I considered leaving the mountains last year (the move was covid delayed), the collection was just beginning. I longed to create a design memorial of my time here. The group selected stitch patterns worked perfectly in the design God blessed me with. From a close up view of the mountain textures to a wide angle view of the mountain range. These features are captured in a cowl knit out of a highly textured plant dyed cotton and linen yarn.
Thanks for the chat Lindsay! Rise Up!
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