CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF INTO THE WOOL
As I was putting together this website this past year, and moving over the old blog posts from my original Wordpress site, I realized that I started Into the Wool and published my first blog article in May of 2012. And it would appear that my choice of name was apt, as I’ve been working with wool through designing, writing and teaching ever since. So, 10 years and more than 100 published patterns later, I thought it might be nice to look back at what I’ve done with all that wool and especially, to take the opportunity to thank the many, many people without whom none of this would have been possible.
But first, indulge me in a brief retrospective. Here are just some of the designs that have been published in that time.
Up until my latest collections for Harrisville Designs, all of the pieces you see here were designed and sized by me, and knit by either me or my dear Mum. We were like a little factory. In recent years, I have finally found some sample knitters that I trust as much as my own flesh and blood, and some tech editors that I can depend on to grade the patterns in the manner I would want, and that has really given me the time and freedom to try more ambitious ideas. I’ve said it many times, but it truly takes a village to bring a pattern to life.
And now for the thank you’s.
Thank you…
to my dear friend Simone, who not only asked me to take a knitting class with her, thus changing my life irrevocably and forever, but who also encouraged me to start this blog, and has been my biggest cheering section ever since. Dearie, your influence cannot be underestimated.
to my family, Mum and Mr. Wool, who have helped and supported me in every imaginable way. And to Mr. Wool in particular, who has done most of the shopping, cooking and household duties on top of his own work for a solid decade so that I could devote myself to traditional crafts. Who picked me up and dropped me off from teaching events all over the country and who provided delicious food and libations to cheer me on as I worked many late nights. And who always says there’s room at home for one more fleece.
to Pearl and Zac and the whole team at Knitty City, my local yarn shop in NYC, and where I had my first job in the industry–– when I knew next to nothing about yarn and knitting. Thank you for your support, a thorough education, for getting me started teaching and for introducing me to the absolute best people in this community.
to the whole crew at Annie and Co, my other local shop (I’m so lucky to have TWO) who have also been a wonderfully supportive community and who provided a fabulous place to teach, a store full of gorgeous inspiration, and a haven of creativity and calm in this busy city.
to Michele Wang, who I first admired from afar and then met through Knitty City, who became my real-life friend and who told me to start publishing my designs. Who gave me yarn and advice and opportunities and above all, so much uproarious laughter. Mishi, I literally couldn’t have done this without you.
to Dana Fiddes and Bert Freed (“The Committee”) for being my staunchest supporters, my best sounding board and for providing endless love and laughter. I’m in awe of your talents and feel lucky every day to have you in my life.
to Lisa Myers of Fairmount Fibers (distributor of Manos del Uruguay) who gave me yarn when I was completely unknown and said “ let me know what you come up with”. And to her whole team and the Manos team in Uruguay who illustrate every day with their non-profit work that you can make beautiful things that also make the world and people’s lives a better place.
to Renee and Dawn, tech editors extraordinaire, who have patiently worked to make my work intelligible to knitters and to fit them perfectly. And for making my work the best that it can be.
to all of the designers who treated me like an equal even back when I had very little to show for myself: Michele Wang, Catherine Lowe, Julie Hoover, Olga Buraya-Kefelian, Kirsten Kapur, Norah Gaughan, Bristol Ivy, and Mary Jane Mucklestone. And who quickly became friends and colleagues. I sometimes pinch myself thinking how I have been welcomed by such an amazingly talented group of women.
to my dear friend, Connie, another tireless cheerleader who not only knits my patterns and sings their praises, but who shares tools and fabric and yarn, who solves problems, creates opportunities, and generates 10 ideas per minute if you ask for help. And who also feeds me like a visiting dignitary.
to Helen at Heavenly Fibers Belfast who was the first store owner to promote my patterns and who remains an incredible supporter to this day.
to my intrepid sample knitters, Sue and Katelynn, whose talents with textiles border on the occult. Thank you for bringing my ideas so beautifully to life.
To my models and muses: my work isn’t really done until it’s being worn. That’s what it’s meant for. And yet, after the incredible amount of work it takes to produce a pattern, the photography can sometimes seem like an unpleasant chore, so working with people who are truly the ambassadors of the pieces is a key part of the process.
to my incredible model/muse Carina, whose face you often see in my earliest patterns, for giving her time and talent to help me in such a material way when I was getting started. And for always striking the right balance between serious work and creative fun; you understand better than anyone that they are two sides of the same coin. You are my forever muse.
to my dear cousin, Rachel, whose gorgeous red hair and infectious smile you see under many of my hat patterns. You made a task into a delight and all I really remember is how much we laughed together.
to Jess, who is not only a fantastic model but who is also a fantastic knitter. It adds a whole new dimension to work with a model who truly understands the pieces and who excitedly shouts out “ I wanna knit this one too!” every time she tries on a new piece. You bring knitwear to life and your enthusiasm is contagious. I can’t thank you enough for the modeling, the test knitting, the endless text threads discussing all things yarn-related, and, of course, the unwavering friendship.
To Meghan Babin (and the team at Interweave) for publishing my first patterns and for being such a hugely supportive editor and friend. It is invaluable to have someone who not only understands the work, but who also shares the aesthetic. And who will talk about Anna Karenina for 100 hours. And who knows that and the end of the day, it’s just knitting.
To Norah Gaughan, Mary Jane Mucklestone and Emily Jones, who I got to call colleagues when I worked alongside them at Vogue Knitting magazine. I’m so proud of the work we did together. Dream Team.
To my spinnies, Johanna and Janelle, who let me indulge the traditional, homespun, history-loving, sheep and wool side of myself. Who keep me informed about what is actually going on in the world of knitting, spinning and weaving when I’m buried in work, and who never attend any get-together without a bag full of wool and knitting (and probably some books and a set of hand cards;-)
To Maggie Casey, my first spinning teacher, who understands that all of this fiber stuff is so much more than fun. Whose teaching style was a pleasure and an education and who is just downright lovely to be around. I hear your calm voice in my head often when I’m spinning and I like it there.
A very special thank you goes to Emily Jones, one of the single most talented people I have ever met in any field, and who I had the incredible good fortune to work with on the Day for Night Collection I did for Harrisville Designs (thanks to HD as well for bringing her on board). Having someone else believe in your work is already a huge boost, but having someone who really understands your work and has the vision to present it is something I hope every creative will one day get to experience because there is no better feeling in the world. Emily’s work on this collection, along with our incredible model Christina Behnke (another kindred spirit) and our extraordinary photographer, Stacy Keck, was more than a dream come true for me—because what they created is more than I could ever have imagined. One thing Emily understood about my designs right away is that they are as much about the unseen as the seen; these pieces are designed to feel a certain way on the body and the experience of knitting them is just as important as how they look. I feel as though she created an entire world for my pieces to exist in and found a way to express their inner, hidden qualities.
THANK YOU
And as a thank you to all of you who have been following along, buying and knitting my patterns, signing up for classes and retreats, and cheering me on online, I’m offering one of my earliest patterns, the Stratus Cowl, as a free download. This cowl is really just a stitch pattern, but even a super simple piece like this requires testing to get just the right match of yarn and gauge, just the right proportions and just the right cast-on and bind-off that mean that when you start the project for yourself, you can just focus on enjoying the yarn slipping through your fingers. Whether you find yourself in need of a bit of mindless knitting, a sumptuous gift, or a bit of luxury just for yourself, I hope this pattern will answer the call.
