Designer of the Month Interview: Anna Wilkinson

For those of you in the loop, you already know of the Designer of the Month for April is Anna Wilkinson. And here is a bit of a more in depth look at the glamorous gal herself.

Ginger Twist Studio: Thanks again Anna for taking part in the Designer of the Month programme at Ginger Twist Studio. Now for a few questions. How did you start knitting? Who taught you and what was your first project?

Anna Wilkinson: I don’t remember the exact age that I first picked up a pair of knitting needles and started to try, but I think the age I felt comfortable knitting was around 6 or 7. My mother taught me and always encouraged me with balls of fun yarn and patterns. I remember making a lot of scarves and mittens for friends and I have a distant memory of a foul brown/beige shapeless jumper in a thicky furry yarn....


GTS: And going from that, how did you turn into a designer? Would you consider this something you do for fun, or is it part of your career? Does it link up to your ‘day job?’

AW: I always really liked making things and I’m very fortunate that my brothers and I were always encouraged to be creative by our parents so it was never a huge decision to study knitwear or to try and make it my career, it just happened really. I went to college to study fashion, leaving quite an academic school, and then went on to Winchester School of Art to study textiles and I then specialised in knitwear after my first year. I do consider knitwear a huge part of my career now. I work freelance in a few different areas but am lucky that knitting has become central to my working life but it is also something that I do for fun. I feel very fortunate to be able to work every day doing something that I really love. 


GTS: It seems to me, particularly with you book Learn to Knit, Love to Knit, you take inspiration from vintage styles. Do you have a favourite time period with respect to fashion? And how would you classify your personal style?

AW: I love looking to vintage garments for inspiration as they often feature really lovely unique details that are so hard to find in modern fashion. Vintage hand made knitwear in particular often seems much more considered and carefully made. It’s hard to be too specific about a particular time frame....I think anything from the 30’s to the 60’s/70’s is likely to have me as a fan...I’m quite enjoying 70’s collars at the moment and big Pucci style paisleys...but I will always love 40’s/50’s silhouettes and neat shapes. 


GTS: I know it is probably like choosing between children, but do you have a piece or 2 that you are super proud of designing and/or knitting?

AW: It is quite difficult to say...From my book I would say that the college-style cardi and the slip stitch cape were possibly my favourites...though ask me next month and my answer could be different! I think these two stand out as two garments in my book that took a while to write the patterns for and then actually construct so they were labours of love. 


GTS: Any skills/techniques left to learn on your knitting or crafting bucket list?

AW: Yes! Hundreds! I would love to be a much more technical knitter. I often start making up my designs one way and a fellow knitter will point out a much simpler way with a technique I’ve never tried before! But for this year I think I’d really like to get better at knitting socks! 


GTS: I notice you have a penchant for bright and fun colours. Do you have any other desiger trademarks?

AW: I’m not sure...I think I’m definitely attracted to neat and simple garment shapes but like to make the actual fabric interesting with colours or textures...And I do like to have fun when designing and making. A pattern has to be exciting enough to compel someone to really want to buy yarn and make it. I love to feel excited by something that I’m designing. 


GTS: Would you like to publish more pattern books? What is your next step in the crafting world?

AW: Well I’m extremely excited to say that I have just begun work on my second book... It’s in very early stages at the moment so I shan’t divulge too much now! I’ve also been working on some other knitting patterns that will be available online shortly. 


GTS: Any random tips for all the knitters and budding designers out there?

AW: Always write down/sketch ideas and have fun. You can knit anything you have in your head (within reason...). The possibilities are endless!

The Choosing of the Yarn

Knowing what yarn to choose for a particular project can be a bit tricky, but it can be done. You don't always have to purchase the exact same yarn used in a project, Why not put your own spin on a  pattern? Just bear in mind, there are several things to consider when substituting a different yarn: weight, yardage, fibre content, and colour. Hint hint: Ravelry is great for finding out what weight a yarn is classed as, if it does not specify on the label.

I love the Shawl Collar Cardigan by Anna Wilkinson (as modelled by Joan). Alpaca was used for the original design that I presently have displayed in the shop, but anything in a dk weight will do.  Now alpaca has a significant amount of drape, but I thought this cardi would really suit a yarn with a bit more structure. Enter Brigantia Luxury Double Knit. And don't forget the buttons!

What yarn and colours would you choose?

Designer of the Month: Anna Wilkinson

The month of April sees a new Designer of the Month at GTS Headquarters. Put your hands together for the amazing Anna Wilkinson. I must admit that I was immediately drawn to her designs, as many of them have a vintage feel (crop that jumper!) with fun & funky colours. 

Anna had a knitting book published in 2012: Learn to Knit, Love to Knit. This book is now being stocked at Ginger Twist Studio. Come in for a look at all her amazing samples and a flip through. There are so many lovely things she has sent me (all from the book). They shall be rotated round the shop throughout the month. Here is Joan sporting another school girl rendition. This seems to be one of her favourite fashion themes as of late. 

Wouldn't the College-Style Cardi look great in these 2 colourways? Mmmmmmm. 
 

The new 4ply by West Yorkshire Spinners

Spill the Beans: Indie Burgh Yarn Crawl

I have admittedly been behaving a bit coy and cryptic over social media channels as of late, but I do love a good secret. And what good is a secret if other's can't be yearning to know what it is?! Now it is time to spill the beans! This year shall be the first year of an official yarn crawl for Edinburgh. It has been deemed:

  

And all the villagers rejoiced!! It's about high time Edinburgh had this event under its belt.  So mark your calendars for Saturday 21 June, 2014. There will be more information to come on obtaining your Yarn Passport, joining a group, the after-party and more. But for now, here are the shops that are taking part. We are a trio of fantastic ladies (I dare anyone to contradict!).

Jess (me) at Ginger Twist Studio

Cathy at Kathy's Knits

Mei at Be Inspired Fibres

Here is a photo that was taken by Cathy's kind husband during a photo shoot for the Edinburgh Evening News. Watch this space, and you can also keep up to date with the Indie Burgh Yarn Crawl by liking the Facebook page, and join the Ravelry group.

Cathy and I with quite a haul!

Forget- Me-Not

Earlier this morning I was busy wrestling with blocking wires and pins in order to block my Simmer Dim by Gudrun Johnston, and Song of the Sea by Louise Zass-Banghan. And I am now just about to run to shop, so pictures will come later. Anyhoo, it just struck me that I was so busy plotting yesterday that I forgot to do the regular blog post! Oh my! 

So this is all I will update you on for the moment. And I hope to update you all with some exciting Edinburgh related news very soon. 

*Hint: Yes, yarn is involved.

Steeking: Lucas and the Singing Bowl

GTS has its first guest blogger, the one and only Lucas. Imagine we are all sitting round the campfire and Lucas has a flash light which he is shining up at his face from below (which puts ones nostrils all aglow). This is the tale of the spooky Steeking! (dramatic pause for effect) MWAHAHAHAHAHA! Okay, take it away Lucas.

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Steeking (definition): an eight-letter word that strikes fear into the hearts of knitters everywhere, usually followed by the shocked reaction “You want to do what?!” You heard me right; I’m going to cut a big hole in my knitting.

Steeking is a technique whereby front openings, armholes or necklines are cut out of a piece of knitting after the body is already finished. Steeking allows you to knit garments completely in the round; by not having to work a wrong side the knitting process is faster, results in a more consistent tension especially when doing colourwork, and you have far fewer ends to weave in when you’re done. 

Photo by Lucas

Photo by Lucas

These all sound like great benefits at the beginning of a project – it’s amazing how quickly the bravado fades when the scissors come out.

Photo by Lucas

Photo by Lucas

D-day for me was last Monday. After six months of working on my Dale of Norway “Berge” jumper the garment-pieces were assembled, the scissors were new and sparkling, and the amazing Town Mouse Knitters were gathered around ready to toast my success or pick me up if disaster struck. 

 















But the knitting gods were pleased with us all that night (maybe it was Cyria’s virtuosic talent with the Tibetan singing bowl?) and the scissors cut true. With the new armholes installed I mopped my forehead, took a quick gulp of stout, and just carried on where I left off – with this big hurdle now cleared the finish line finally came into view.

Steeking is totally scary but it isn’t magic. By getting advice from your friends, learning from resources in print and on-line, and having someone there to keep your nerves calm and your scissor-hand steady, you can do anything. A well-tuned singing bowl doesn’t hurt either.

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If you would like to keep an eye on Lucas' progress, check out his Ravelry project page...rumour is the jumper has been finished.

My So-Called Obsession with Neon Green

Let us chat about my subconscious desire to in-cooperate this shade of Lime by Navia into every possible project until there is none left. This one 50 gram ball of worsted weight magic has made it into:

Voar (lovely knitted work compliments of K.M. Bedigan)

Torshavn

My interpretation of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Wristwarmers with Contrast Rib by Anna Wilkinson

And now here it is again in the form of a coffee cozy. Meet the Expercolator, warmer and keeper of the coffee.

Free pattern on Ravelry

This was what finished off the remains of my Navia Trio stash. And now here is what remains:

I also may or may not have recently procurred a lil' neon green notebook.

And I shall leave you with a wee shout out about workshops. The Magic Loop Workshop with Clare is full up for this month, but there are spaces in next April's class. Early bird gets the worm, if that bird wants to learn to get by without double-pointed needles!