Q&A with Tanis Gray
When did you learn how to knit? Who were your earliest influences? Your first projects?
I learned to knit from my mother and my neighbor when I was an 8-year-old living in Boston. My parents also owned a house in New Hampshire, so my mother, a lapsed knitter, and I took classes at a yarn store in the mountains. I began learning as she was rediscovering knitting. My first project was a pair of mittens—the woman at the LYS put me on dpns almost immediately—which were my preferred project for years. I started learning how to knit Fair Isle sweaters when I was 11, and soon after I put those patterns into my mittens.
What is your design aesthetic? Are there specific flourishes, shapes, etc. that you try to bring into your knitted garments?
I like classic designs. Things that are trendy are fun and enjoyable, but if I’m going to spend time knitting something, I want to be sure I can wear it for years to come. Sometimes I’ll get inspired by a yarn and think it would be perfect for a certain project, and I also love going to museums and looking through books to get ideas—inspiration for interesting collars, cuffs and other details is everywhere, and there’s something to be said for modernizing a classic look. In my personal knitting, I like smaller projects because I got used to knitting on my commute, so quick knits (like ones from Knit Simple) are always ones I find myself doing. Hats are great because there’s so much you can do with the shape. If I have more time, though, I love sewing linings into projects like bags—anytime I can mix two crafts, that’s a good time to me.
What are your favorite yarns? Are there any textures/stitches you prefer to others?
Jade Sapphire named a yarn after me, which is an honor, because their yarn is top-of-the-line and I love working with it. Dream In Color, Malabrigo and Be Sweet are all ones I use regularly. I love hand-dyed yarn, especially Tilli Tomas and Artyarns. I don’t have any preference for bulky or fine, though—it depends on the project.
As far as stitches and textures go, I love star stitch. It’s textural and explosive-looking but still neat. Fair Isle and cables are my favorites, too—they allow you to build a pattern or texture rather than just knitting it. And, I’m a huge fan of picot hems.
Who are your favorite knitwear designers?
Connie Chang Chinchio and Jared Flood are two of my favorites—they’re friends of mine, and knowing them personally makes me able to appreciate and admire their work on a deeper level. I love reading blogs, so I enjoy designers who are active in the knitting blog community, especially Kirsten Kapur. So many of the designers I’ve met are just as nice as I’d hoped they’d be; they love nurturing their craft.
Can you give us a sneak peek of your upcoming designs for the Winter issues of Vogue Knitting and Knit Simple?
I have a three-quarter-sleeve cardigan in VK Winter 2009/10. It’s made out of Lorna’s Laces Green Line DK, which is a hand-dyed yarn I love. There’s a cute X-O cable pattern and a cool triangle motif on the raglan sleeves. All of the nice little touches really allow the sweater to show off the yarn. For Knit Simple Winter 2009, I knit a long, super-bulky scarf. When the wind whips down the streets, you can wrap this around and around to stay toasty. I also made a cute little pompom hat, which is a winter staple.
What would you say is the most frustrating part about knitting? What advice do you have to budding designers?
It’s very easy to get discouraged when you’re starting out as a designer, but you should know that the rejections aren’t personal. The garment you submitted to a publication may not have been right for the particular issue the editors were putting together at the time. Keep trying and be mindful of what’s happening in terms of fashion trends. Join Ravelry, look at blogs, magazines and catalogs. Don't stay in your comfort zone—learn new techniques and find fresh sources of inspiration.
Q&A with Tanis Gray
When did you learn how to knit? Who were your earliest influences? Your first projects?
I learned to knit from my mother and my neighbor when I was an 8-year-old living in Boston. My parents also owned a house in New Hampshire, so my mother, a lapsed knitter, and I took classes at a yarn store in the mountains. I began learning as she was rediscovering knitting. My first project was a pair of mittens—the woman at the LYS put me on dpns almost immediately—which were my preferred project for years. I started learning how to knit Fair Isle sweaters when I was 11, and soon after I put those patterns into my mittens.
What is your design aesthetic? Are there specific flourishes, shapes, etc. that you try to bring into your knitted garments?
I like classic designs. Things that are trendy are fun and enjoyable, but if I’m going to spend time knitting something, I want to be sure I can wear it for years to come. Sometimes I’ll get inspired by a yarn and think it would be perfect for a certain project, and I also love going to museums and looking through books to get ideas—inspiration for interesting collars, cuffs and other details is everywhere, and there’s something to be said for modernizing a classic look. In my personal knitting, I like smaller projects because I got used to knitting on my commute, so quick knits (like ones from Knit Simple) are always ones I find myself doing. Hats are great because there’s so much you can do with the shape. If I have more time, though, I love sewing linings into projects like bags—anytime I can mix two crafts, that’s a good time to me.
What are your favorite yarns? Are there any textures/stitches you prefer to others?
Jade Sapphire named a yarn after me, which is an honor, because their yarn is top-of-the-line and I love working with it. Dream In Color, Malabrigo and Be Sweet are all ones I use regularly. I love hand-dyed yarn, especially Tilli Tomas and Artyarns. I don’t have any preference for bulky or fine, though—it depends on the project.
As far as stitches and textures go, I love star stitch. It’s textural and explosive-looking but still neat. Fair Isle and cables are my favorites, too—they allow you to build a pattern or texture rather than just knitting it. And, I’m a huge fan of picot hems.
Who are your favorite knitwear designers?
Connie Chang Chinchio and Jared Flood are two of my favorites—they’re friends of mine, and knowing them personally makes me able to appreciate and admire their work on a deeper level. I love reading blogs, so I enjoy designers who are active in the knitting blog community, especially Kirsten Kapur. So many of the designers I’ve met are just as nice as I’d hoped they’d be; they love nurturing their craft.
Can you give us a sneak peek of your upcoming designs for the Winter issues of Vogue Knitting and Knit Simple?
I have a three-quarter-sleeve cardigan in VK Winter 2009/10. It’s made out of Lorna’s Laces Green Line DK, which is a hand-dyed yarn I love. There’s a cute X-O cable pattern and a cool triangle motif on the raglan sleeves. All of the nice little touches really allow the sweater to show off the yarn. For Knit Simple Winter 2009, I knit a long, super-bulky scarf. When the wind whips down the streets, you can wrap this around and around to stay toasty. I also made a cute little pompom hat, which is a winter staple.
What would you say is the most frustrating part about knitting? What advice do you have to budding designers?
It’s very easy to get discouraged when you’re starting out as a designer, but you should know that the rejections aren’t personal. The garment you submitted to a publication may not have been right for the particular issue the editors were putting together at the time. Keep trying and be mindful of what’s happening in terms of fashion trends. Join Ravelry, look at blogs, magazines and catalogs. Don't stay in your comfort zone—learn new techniques and find fresh sources of inspiration.