Stephannie Tallent saw my call on Raverly and volunteered. Her website is www.sunsetcat.com, she is StephCat on Ravelry, Twitter & Craftsy, and she works as the
Tech Editor at Knitcircus Magazine.
Circulars or pins?
Circulars. I have some DPNs I keep around mostly for doing I-cord. I don’t think I have any straight needles otherwise.
DPN or magic loop?
Magic loop.
English or Continental?
English. I’ve tried stranding using both hands, but ended up being more comfortable using the pick up & drop method, lol.
Socks or Sweaters?
Both, but more sweaters than socks.
Crochet too?
Just a little. Mostly for trim.
Garments or things that don’t have to fit anyone in particular?
Garments.
Short Answer Questions (skip any that aren’t fun!)
What is your usual design process?
I really like designing around a theme. I’ll get an idea and think about it for a bit. If I stay excited about it, I start collecting images etc for mood boards, thinking about specific patterns, selecting a color palette, and then start investigating different yarn options. For my collections, I try to get a good mix of techniques and projects.
Does anything intimidate you in knitting or crochet?
Is it cocky to say not really? I’ve always been what I consider a ‘brave knitter’. That doesn’t mean my first attempts at something won’t be bad – it’s just that I’m willing to try something, and keep at it til I do get better. My stranding, for example, is finally as the point I’m not embarrassed to have it photographed! But it took some practice, with different techniques, to see what worked best for me for getting even tension and so on.
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 tend to go for books first, then tutorials and videos.
Do you usually finish things? If not, does it bother you?
Since I’m now knitting as part of designing, if I don’t finish a particular design, it’s because it’s not working for me for whatever reason. At that point, it needs to be let go, so I can put my efforts towards other designs.
I do have some WIPs from before I started designing. A couple I’ll eventually finish. I have a top down version of St Brigid WIP, but I want to redo the shaping, so though the body’s finished, I’ll be frogging it back to where I started decreasing for the waist. I have some socks I’ve started that I’ll probably just frog.
Frogging doesn’t bother me. In fact, sometimes it’s cathartic. I guess having UFOs does bother me!
What are your crafting ambitions?
Work-wise: My first book is coming out really soon (California Revival Knits, from Cooperative Press). I’m at work on the second already, with a goal of getting it done in time for Summer 2013 TNNA.
I’d like to start teaching nationally – I’m really excited about a mini class for indie designers that I’m teaching at Madrona this year. I’ve been developing a variety of classes, some technique based, others for indie designers.
You can see or hear more interviews with her at Knit Picks Podcast
Knit Circus Podcast
Ready, Set, Knit podcast
Knit Picks
A sneak peak at the California Revivals book
How to become a professional Knitter – Robin Hunts Designs
Want to be interviewed? Download the questions here and mail them back to me with your answers to christine at christineguestdesigns dot com
Thank you!
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