Meet the Designer: Angela Tong

Over the last month or two we've been introducing you to Stitch Sprouts designers who participated in the pattern book project that features three of our most popular yarns - For Better or Worsted, Cricket, and Squishy. Today's spotlight is on Angela Tong.

How do you encourage a novice to take up knitting?

I tell them all it takes is to learn 1 stitch and you can begin knitting. I recently taught my 6 year old how to knit and she was hooked immediately. She was so proud of herself and announced "I am a knitter!"

What's your favorite LYS?

I don't have one favorite LYS. Every yarn store carries different types of yarn so it's great to have so many choices. I try to visit as many as I can.

Favorite Anzula colorway?

Oh I could never choose a favorite color. I love the variety of colors that Anzula dyes.

Tell us about your project in the booklet! 

The Ginto Shawl is knit with 2 skeins of Squishy. I wanted to design a large shawl with a Faroese-style center panel for the spine of the shawl. Although this is a large shawl, it can fit a variety of sizes depending on how it is worn or styled around your neck. Another neat thing about the shawl is that it can be easily sized down or up. The knitter won't have to do any math. The modification is noted in the Notes section of the pattern.

The Tekstur Hat and Cowl was designed with beginner knitters in mind. Each project takes only 1 skein of For Better or Worsted. It's simple but has an interesting stitch pattern which creates a beautiful textured knit fabric.

Do you teach classes? Where?

I teach at yarn stores in NJ and I also teach online. I am the instructor for the Rigid Heddle Weaving Class on Craftsy.com. Recently, I filmed 2 videos for Interweave called Structures of Shawls which is available as a DVD or video download and Pin-Loom Designs which is a video download. Both available through InterweaveStore.com.

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You can catch up with Angela on her blog, Facebook page, and Twitter.

Thank you to Angela for the interview! You can get your Stitch Sprouts pattern booklets right now on Ravelry, or soon at your LYS.

Meet the Designer: Ruth Garcia-Alcantud of Rock + Purl

If you haven't heard yet, we are so excited about the booklets coming out from Stitch Sprouts that feature 3 of our most popular yarns - For Better or Worsted, Cricket, and Squishy! Over the next few weeks we will be introducing you to some of the designers who contributed to the booklets. Today's spotlight is on Ruth Garcia-Alcantud of Rock + Purl. 

Ruth wearing Clementine, knit in Squishy, shown in Seaside and Poppy.

What drew you to designing?

A very misshapen sweater following a pattern that I didn't write! I had just taken up knitting again in my early 20s and I realized I could apply my math and dressmaking knowledge to my advantage - from there on, modifications to existing patterns happened first, then designing my own once I had created a “vision” of sorts for my brand.

How do you encourage a novice to take up knitting?

Don’t be afraid! Everyone learns differently - whether it’s from a book, looking at someone else’s hands (maybe YouTube?) or even just hearing what your hands are supposed to do. Find out your learning method and follow through. I believe all teachers should be encouraging and nurturing, not scaremongers that tell you what you’re doing wrong; so if you find yourself not entirely loving whoever is teaching you, move on to someone better!

Ruth wearing Mediterranean, in Mermaid, shown in Cornflower. (As Mermaid is discontinued, try it in Meridian or Milky Way!) 

What's your favorite LYS?

I make a point of doing a bit of yarn tourism when I travel. Since I’m from Spain and visit family there occasionally, and my husband is from England, we have become regulars at some shops in those places! I am somewhat new to the Bay Area, and have found Knitterly in Petaluma, CA, to be an exquisite shop. 

My heart will also have a soft spot for Churchmouse in Bainbridge Island, WA - I had just started designing and the staff were very encouraging and sweet!

Favorite Anzula colorway? Line?

That’s just like asking which one of these cakes you want to try first! ALL OF THEM! I guess my fave fave line is Squishy, or maybe FBOW? Colorway? The brighter the better! Gimme all of them!

Maighdean Mhara, knit in Mermaid, shown in Seaside. (Again, if you don't have any Mermaid squirreled away, try it in Meridian or Milky Way!) 

Do you have other patterns available in our yarns?

Clementine, Mediterranean, Maighdean Mhara, and Rockpool. And there’ll be more to come since I’ve 3 sweater lots waiting to be worked up!

Tell us about your projects in the booklets!

Alexa, knit in Cricket, shown in Poppy.

Alexa is an idea that had been floating on my head for a while - a slight positive ease garment with an A-line body, turned-up hems for stability and beauty, and a diagonal lace panel. It’s worked top-down (which is a true departure from my usual seamed pieces!) in one piece to the armholes, and the lace can be expanded as far as you wish!

Limetta, knit in For Better or Worsted, shown in Seaside and Avocado.

Limetta is a hooded vest with a twist. It features Stockinette and Cables for texture, while relying on dressmaking techniques for the pocket placements and the zipper insertion. The I-cords on the body edges reflect the intarsia stripe edging on the hood… and with pompoms on the hood cords, there’s not a lot you can’t like about this!

Favorite TV show to watch or music to listen to while knitting?

I binge watch shows - I recently revisited The Killing, and am now going through The Good Wife. Music… I tend to listen to music when I’m doing desk work mostly! Right now, Spotify is playing the “Peace” playlist (you can find it under the Mood section). It’s a lot of instrumental, easy listening, calm music!

Rockpool, knit in Milky Way, shown in Slate.

What's the most overlooked aspect of designing or knitting a finished piece?

The finishing. 

I understand knitters want to WEAR THIS NOW. But when you think you’ve spent hours and hours knitting a piece, why would you diss the finishing aspect so much? In a couple of hours you can seam up a sweater with sleeves - they offer better stability, the piece won’t roll around your body and the seams create a better figure. 

And weaving in ends! Change skeins at the edges of a piece to weave them in after seaming, along the seam line - instant invisibility! If you’re working in the round, don’t always change on the same spot! Alternate where your skeins end and use duplicate stitching to make those ends seamlessly disappear.

Do you teach classes? Where?

Right now I’m teaching drop-in 2 hour help sessions at K2tog in Albany, CA. I am lined up to teach throughout the 3 days of Vogue Knitting Live in Pasadena in April 2015! If you’re going, I’d love to see you in my classes/lectures, or even catch up for a selfie along the halls!

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You can keep up with Ruth online on her website, blog, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and in her Ravelry group!  

Thank you to Ruth for the interview! You can get your booklets right now on Ravelry, or soon at your LYS. Watch for more interviews coming soon with some of the other Stitch Sprouts designers who created pieces for the booklets!

Anzula pattern booklets from Stitch Sprouts!

If you follow us on Facebook, we shared a special announcement over the weekend about a collaboration with Stitch Sprouts. The fabulous people at Stitch Sprouts have released three pattern booklets that focus on three of our most popular lines. Click the photo collages below (that I totally swiped from Heather's blog post about the project) to head directly to the Ravelry page for each booklet. 

For Better or Worsted patterns by Angela Tong, Ruth Garcia-Alcantud, Katherine Vaughan, and Corrina Ferguson.

Cricket patterns by Mindy Wilkes, Sivia Harding, Ruth Garcia-Alcantud, Faina Goberstein, and Barbara Benson.

Squishy patterns by Angela Tong, Heather Zoppetti, Katherine Vaughan, Corrina Ferguson, and Barbara Benson.

Later in the month, we'll share interviews with some of the designers who worked on the project, many of whom already have amazing patterns available in our yarns! Today we want to share a little about the founder of Stitch Sprouts, Heather Zoppetti! I'll let her tell you a little more about Stitch Sprouts and about this project.

What inspired you to start Stitch Sprouts?

From the beginning Stitch Sprouts was about helping the industry grow. First we started helping designers with things related to designing. We offered services such as technical editing, charting, and schematics. From there, pattern distribution was a natural step. We help designers sell their work to yarn shops around the country, and even internationally. Our goal is to help yarn store owners sell yarn by providing excellent pattern support.

What characteristics are shared by the designers you work with?

We only accept those designers who demonstrate the highest quality work and professionalism. To that end, all the designers we distribute are making beautiful patterns. We feel that each person we carry has a style or look that will appeal to the yarn shop owners and customers.

Tell us about the Anzula booklet project, in a nutshell!

Everyone knows, patterns sell yarn. Many of our designers have worked or are working with Anzula to make fantastic patterns. So, we thought why not start a collaborative project and make some pamphlets. Anzula keeps a busy schedule of trunk shows across the country, many in shops that don’t yet carry our patterns. By publishing these pattern booklets we help both Anzula and the yarn shop sell yarn while getting more exposure for us and our designers.

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The For Better or Worsted, Cricket, and Squishy booklets are available right now on Ravelry, and will be in your LYS soon! 

You can find out more about Stitch Sprouts on their website, blog, Twitter, and Facebook. Read more about Heather in part two of our interview, which will be posted soon. She talks about the most overlooked aspect of knitwear design and how to encourage new knitters!