I got to interview Lilia Vanini; Liliacraftparty on Ravelry for the GAL.
You as a designer questions:
What is your design process?
it’s simple, inspiration plus color plus surface, and with surface I mean if I choose to work a texture or a lace, brioche, cables, etc. The next step is to choose which garment I am going to knit or crochet, and most important of all! swatch, swatch, swatch, I have had bad experiences for not swatching before starting work, it is better to swatch not only to observe the gauge, but also It is necessary to see how the color will work with the design. After that comes what I like to do most, knit or crochet the garment and at the same time go writing the pattern, for me it is the best and safest way to get a good result. At the same time another very important factor is photography which can give more work than the same pattern sometimes After that pattern ready for the tech editor and then the test knitting process begins. Once the test knit is over, the pattern is ready to be published.
What influences your style?
The shape of people´s body, I believe that a designer must make and create garments that are good for people, in this case for women, by this I mean, not all of us have a perfect figure, or we are short of stature, chubby, thin, tall, medium, short or tall neck and so to infinity, then I try to create garments that favor the silhouette of women, we all want to feel beautiful, comfortable, chic and sexy, why not?
What about designing and producing patterns are you most adept at, what parts are you most fond of, and what parts are challenging? (Pattern Grading, the last week of editing, coming up with a name for a project, self promotion?)
Most adept: definitely knitting or crochet the garment, I think I can do it with my eyes closed and I enjoy every stitch I do. I love to create interesting stitches and bring to life a new garment, scarf, cowl, bag, headband, etc.
Most fond of: choosing the yarn weight, love to see how an stitch can change using fingering or worsted weight yarn, is fascinating!
Most challenging: pattern grading, is a very delicate part of the designing process, I have my own method and thanks to the countless tests, KALs and CAls, I have realized that it works perfectly, but it is still difficult for me
What do you find most important in photography?
Photography can be another important challenge for a designer, photography not only has to present the garment, it has to convey the soul and heart of the designer and to achieve this it is best to establish a good designer-camera communication, I am the first in knowing that sometimes it is so difficult!, at the same time I think that a good photograph is essential in these times and that we must continue learning every day, trying and improving. One of my greatest achievements this year was hiring a professional photographer and taking the photo shoot in my beloved Venice, Italy for my Venice Cardigan! I was very happy to do this!
You as a Giftalong designer:
What have you learned from the promotion?
Giftalong is the proof that when we join forces we can do many good things, the opportunity offered by this event is incredible, this is the third year that I participate and sales not only with the coupon but in general is increasing every year. Networking is a key to the success of a designer and GAL gives the opportunity to expand it
You as someone who likes to make things questions:
What is your usual process on a fiber project, for instance, do you start with a yarn, a cute pattern, a need you’ve noticed, something exciting you saw in a movie you want to copy, or a technique you want to learn – then what do you do next and then what?
If I want to do something I definitely start with a pattern that I liked, a stitch or technique that I want to learn, unfortunately I don’t have so much time to knit or crochet other patterns since my entire time goes not only in the creation of my patterns, I’ve also started on my hand dyed yarn, which I adore and with which I have so many projects for 2020.
Does anything intimidate you in knitting or crochet?
I am intimidated by the sleeves of a sweater! they have to be perfect and for that you have to study the techniques of the great masters and learn, when you get to master this part of the garment, it means that you are a serious designer.
When you want to learn something, do you look it up in a book, on U-tube, or seek a real person to teach you?
I use books and U-tube and also and I am also lucky to spend the summers in Peru where the tradition of knitting is one of the most beautiful and valued, I have a teacher who teaches me new techniques and especially the finishing of the garment, every year I go learn something new that of course I apply on my designs and patterns.
Any repetitive motion disorders due to knitting or crochet? How do you deal with them?
Oh! No!! None of that, rather we should talk about the benefits of doing repetitive work, many do not know that it lowers blood pressure and allows you to relax emotionally by forgetting many of the problems of daily life. Also through repetition somehow it creates a connection with the universe, remember that prayer is done in a repetitive and relaxed way, I have always believed that knitting is somehow a form of prayer.
What makes you buy a pattern (lovely photo, the story of the project, it looks do-able, it looks slightly challenging…)
I think what makes me buy a pattern is that the knitting or crochet stitch appeals to me and that it is something that will fit me well, definitely the photo has the most weight in the final decision.
Thank you very much for having me in this interview, I really appreciate it very much
Lilia Vanini / Liliacraftparty
Thank you, Lilia!