To receive the newsletter each month, get a Patternfish account or, if you already have one, login and subscribe.
Newsletter - June 2011
Welcome!
Welcome to the inaugural issue of the monthly Patternfish Newsletter. We're launching it to provide a personal and engaging venue for Patternfish, our customers, our designers and our publishers to meet.
We personally find ourselves in a fragmented on-line world where keeping up with what interests us, even about a single topic, requires multiple searches. With Patternfish, information is available on Facebook, Twitter, on our blog, on each newly published design, and on our Ravelry group. We are not abandoning any of those sources, but will bring together, in one place, much of that and more.
You are receiving the first issue of this newsletter because you are a Patterfish member, a Patternfish publisher, or a Patternfish designer. All new Patternfish members will be automatically included. If you decide you do not want to receive it, simply click the unsubscribe button below, and you will be removed from our list. If you think a friend or colleague would like to receive it, you can forward it to them here. We will also be offering the newsletter to our Twitter, Ravelry and Facebook friends.
If you have any suggestions, comments, or questions email Gayle, Patternfish's Ambassador at newsletter.editor@patternfish.com
In this issue ...From the Prime Minister's Desk
Julia Grunau, Patternfish's initiator, driving force and Prime Minister, will have a continuing presence in our newsletter, speaking about landmark designs and how some publishers and designers came to be associated with Patternfish. Julia begins by celebrating Classic Elite Yarn's 500th design. Classic Elite Yarns - 500th pattern Classic Elite designs came about with Patternfish because I used to rep them for distributor S.R. Kertzer (now just 'Kertzer') in Canada. That means I sold their yarns and patterns to Metro Toronto yarn stores from March 1996 through about 2003. When you start repping a company, you get their backlog work as well as all their new stuff. I had scores, hundreds of their amazing patterns to show and sell to stores. I'd been knitting seriously since the mid-eighties and was absolutely agog at their whole pattern library-- they'd had Kristin Nicholas, Norah Gaughan, Deborah Newton, Linda Pratt, Susan Mills, Michele Rose Orne, Kathy Zimmerman, and many other luminaries working for them on a full-time and freelance basis for many years, and you can imagine how remarkable that was to absorb. I'd also taken a bit of art history in university and, if you cared about knitting at all, you could really see that this-- the Classic Elite historical collection, and the work of Vogue Knitting and Knitter's magazine at the time-- was the beginning of something epic. And I mean to use that exact word. It was epic, in a Greek sense, in this particular knitting niche. It was like the beginning of a golden age. There was all this fierce talent just waiting for people to pick up on it. Lily Chin at Knitter's was doing incredible work too. Incidentally, it was the marvellous Kristin Nicholas (working with Pat Chew, who oversaw the flowering of CEY in the eighties and nineties) who insisted that the CEY designers get written credit for their work, and thereby made it possible for designers to be recognized for themselves in our industry. JCA Crafts and others eventually followed suit. Everyone in handknitting-- designers in particular-- owes her a debt of gratitude. Anyway, I loved the back catalogue, the contemporary Classic Elite pattern catalogue, and when I left Kertzer I eventually threw out the (magnificent) yarn shade cards from years past (that was really hard), but kept all the sample patterns. I would look over them occasionally like pages of a novel. When I started to develop the idea for Patternfish, around 2004 - 2005, I approached Betsy Perry at Classic Elite about listing their patterns with us. I told her I would just start scanning the patterns I already had and that her company wouldn't have to do any work at all-- just collect royalty cheques! Betsy was encouraging but careful. I thought she liked me and the Patternfish idea, but wasn't sure about whether or not people would pay for patterns on the Internet-- their back catalogue in particular. I said, of course they would-- with iconic patterns like this:
-- who wouldn't? Do people pay less for a Damien Hirst because it's not fresh? These patterns, and others of similar impact, changed the knitting world. Really, truly, altered it forever. Classic Elite's designers were the first serious force to show the world where handknit designs could really go-- they literally changed the knitting world, altered people's perceptions of what was possible with knitting. You can still see the influence today-- like Nicholas's combining fair isle and colourwork with cables, for example-- in ready-to-wear as well as handknitting. Eventually Betsy gave permission to list the patterns I had saved from my Kertzer days. She had appreciated it when I asked formal permission to list Classic Elite's work-- "Not everybody has," I remember her saying with a smile. We went live with many of them in June 2008. Not long afterwards, Betsy had someone raid their warehouse and send up a 26-pound box from Massachusetts to Toronto, and we had access to just about everything in their history but their most recent work. Some of those patterns I had never seen. It was wonderful. I almost wept with happiness, and scanned them for months. Classic Elite had also had an incredible eye for models, and chose some fantastic ones over the years-- including a dewy 17-year-old Uma Thurman in five patterns! Classic Elite was probably the biggest name to start with us from Day 1, and when we went live, their patterns were probably the core of our offerings. They gave us huge credibility when we began with none: everyone knew who they were, and how good their judgment was, and how talented their designers were and are. Their provenance is singular. Classic Elite Yarns trusted us from the very beginning, and we still have a unique, wonderful relationship. We in our turn incorporated a lot of errata into their older patterns, so it looked more seamless, and we freshened up and brightened their charts whenever we could. Patternfish could not be where we are today without the longstanding faith and support of Classic Elite Yarns, and the ongoing active involvement of Betsy Perry and her team. |
Designer of the Month: Robin Hunter Like many other designers, Robin Hunter combined a lifelong love of textiles and fibre arts with a corporate career before happily retiring to provide Patternfish and the rest of the knitting world with her designs. A quick look through her patterns shows to what extent Hunter challenges herself. Shawls, socks, hats, and scarves in configurations at once unique and wearable are her trademark. We wait with anticipation for each of her new designs. We interviewed Hunter to find out about her designing history and views of the knitting world. What inspires you? What are you passionate about? I look at everything for inspiration, art, theatre, fashion and the outdoors. I love bright strong colours. I live in a condo with a huge terrace and I garden in pots. The colours of the flowers are often an influence on the colours of yarn I choose. I've been passionate about fashion, clothes and the arts all of my life. Which design is your customers' favourite? The two biggest sellers are the Prudence Crowley vest and the Evelyn Howard scarf. I'm working hard on growing my portfolio so my best sellers will change as I add patterns. I was very pleased that these two turned out to be popular as I feel strongly that they are true to my design aesthetic even though they are very different. Which designers do you admire? Interviews I've done with many fabulous designers on my blog have widened my knowledge of just how many talented designers there are. I've found admirable qualities in them all so it's really hard to narrow down to just one or two. I especially admire those who push the envelope by developing new techniques or those who take an existing technique and raise the standard. I've taken a lot of classes in the past with wonderful knitters like Sally Melville, Debbie New, Lily Chin, Annie Modesitt and Maureen Mason-Jamieson so I will give them all credit for inspiring me. Describe your perfect day. I get up at 6 AM with my husband, play with my cats and then snuggle into the corner of the couch to drink a great cup of coffee and read. I do a few quick household chores, some mornings I exercise and then I start working. Generally I work on the computer from 10 AM to 3 PM, blogging at http://knittingrobin.blogspot.com/ , pattern writing, and developing course materials and lectures. I start knitting at 3 PM, either working on samples or swatching. Some days I spend time reading about knitting in the big three magazines or in books but I usually knit until 8. In what ways do you spend your time that would surprise people? I doubt that I do anything very surprising, no bizarre or peculiar behaviours that I can think of and that I'm willing to share. However I'm a voracious reader. I read blogs, books (both fiction and non- fiction) and I'm a ballet and theatre fan. I don't drive which always shocks non-urban types; however, I live within sight of a subway station in Toronto and I walk a lot which is great for both my weight and my happiness level. I also like peanut butter and bacon sandwiches. What is your favourite knitting technique? I'm a knitting generalist who skips from one technique to another. My interests lie in a good fit that flatters the wearer and adding details that make my work stand out as different. I have a fair bit of experience in pattern drafting and I'm very frustrated with the simplistic form that many existing knitting patterns take. There are a lot of small details that would make a big difference to the end result so I try to work out how I can best incorporate these into my patterns. When did you start knitting? Who taught you? I started knitting in my teens and designing in my twenties. I'm not sure who taught me to knit as I have no recollection of learning. My mother and both of my grandmothers knit so it may have been one or all of them. What's your design process? I approach design from several different directions but essentially I like to have design parameters. It can be the yarn itself, a silhouette that I've seen and want to adapt, a stitch pattern or a request from someone. The Pinwheel cardigan was an adaptation from a lace linen hat that I was asked to knit for a class. I was asked for a vest pattern for a magazine submission and that lead to 2 completely different designs, the Prudence Crowley vest and a more conservative design that will be published next Fall. When did you start designing and what was the first design that you created? Which is the first that you sold? I no longer recall my first design since I have been designing for myself since the late 70's. I started by using patterns and adapting them. I was always the kind of knitter that liked a pattern but thought it would look better with a different neckline or another modification so I would change it up in some way. I'm self publishing and the very first pattern I sold was at a shop I worked at. Karen Dinner, the owner of the shop, encouraged me to publish more widely and put me in touch with Julia Grunau of Patternfish. The Patternfish business model worked for me because I don't want to give up my own copyright and the thought of running my own website didn't appeal to me. Which is your favourite design? I love them all, they are my babies! I wear everything that I knit but I do end up with some favourites, the pieces I feel are the most flattering on me. My friend Mary Pat often models my designs in our Guild's fashion shows. When I see the designs without the influence of my own figure concerns, I love them even more. Where have your designs appeared? Currently my patterns are available exclusively on Patternfish. I plan to expand into wholesale in the next year or so. Hopefully, shops will be interested in my patterns as well as my lectures and classes. I also will have a design in the magazine A Needle Pulling Thread next fall. I dislike working to deadlines as so much of my corporate career involved very tight timelines. At this point I haven't submitted to any magazines mainly for that reason. Do you teach/do you like it? I love teaching! I find students very inspiring. They push me in directions that I wouldn't have thought to go on my own. I find the challenge of giving back very stimulating to my own process. At one level knitting is just yarn and 2 sticks and at another it's a complex layered web that has still has many hidden jewels left for me to discover. Where do you think the knitting/crocheting/fibre world will be in 10 years/why? I think it will remain very much a niche market and sub-culture as it is today. The Internet has changed things forever. We are now all connected in a way that is allowing our culture to flourish. In the past there were highs and lows and we thought the knitting traditions might die, but I now have confidence that knitting will live on and evolve. Do you look at other designers' work? I look at everything and I usually have one of two reactions. "Wow, why didn't I think of that" or "That would be better if you changed something". How do you deal with criticism? I like constructive criticism; it truly allows me to grow because it gives me a direction to focus on. That's helpful and I can learn from it. So far I've been lucky; people have been really encouraging and kind. What advice would you give someone who wants to pursue a career in knitting design? You have to be prepared to work long hours and have an alternative income source to get started. It's a creative pursuit for me. The market is changing right now as we go from a marketplace run by the traditional publishing world to an ever evolving model of self publishing. I think that if you are serious and focused there is potential for a fulfilling career but probably not one that will make you wealthy. How do you maintain your life/work balance? That is turning out to be harder than I thought it would be. I seem to be working all the time. The good news is that I love it, it's not like working for someone else and to be honest it doesn't really feel like work.
|
Our Newest Designers and Publishers
In May, we welcomed 9 new designers.
|
Joy Gerhardt of Joyuna recently moved to London, England and found exciting architecture that inspires her knit designs. Her first pattern is a highly structured feminine fingerless mitt called Russell Square after the London hotel of the same name.
|
|
Marlene Sigel of Mkaryl Design is an accomplished knitting teacher and designer with lots of knitting gigs to her credit. Her first pattern with us is her charming Garden Blossom Tank, a pretty summer top appropriately embellished with blossom stitch. |
|
Melissa Hahn of Caston4U debuts with with awe inspiring lace, her Harvest Shawl. Melissa is clearly a student of the shawl repertoire as you'll see from her full collection at Patternfish. |
|
Carolina Gorgora of WildFire Knits begins with the body-conscious Adalida Cardigan with a shaped button band that cozies up to the back of the neck. Sleek and cozy? How does she do that? |
|
Helen Rose of NEED has designed Marguerite, a knit-from-the-top-down modern tee for babies.Hey, Helen, where's the adult version? |
|
Eileen Casey of Eileen Casey Designs debuts with something really different, her Tilted Heart Top. It looks complex but Casey generously offers two ways to execute the striped heart amidst the striped body. |
|
Stephanie Wylie's first Patternfish design is a cardi named Matilda, designed especially for American Girl dolls. This cute little top down knit number, inspired by a French postcard, will fit 18" dolls. |
|
Mary Ann Stephens, clearly a master of traditional knitting patterns, debuts with her Amaryllis Mitts. Stephens describes these as "a unique combination of Norwegian, Fair Isle and Latvian influences, plus a few of my own quirky ideas". |
|
Sylvie Damey of ChezPlum debuts with the aptly named Roselette Top, a cute crocheted top for newborns to 6 years old. Damie provides the same instructions for all sizes; just change the yarn weight and hook size. Clever! |
Independence Day and Canada Day Patterns
If you're looking to knit a little something for Independence Day or Canada Day, then Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer is your woman! Here's a beaded American flag, stars and stripes Patriotic Socks, and Lace Maple Leaf Socks. All are fast knits, although you could easily increase the size of the flag to whatever proportions suit you.
|
|
|
From the Ambassador's Desk
Until Julia emailed me asking if I would like to be Patternfish's rep at Ravelry, I was just an enthusiastic fan of Patternfish. After I met the Patternfish folks, Prime Minister Julia, Chancellor Shannon and Minister of Technology Phil, I wanted to be part of the team. The only remaining question was what would my title be? I arrived at the meeting with a title in mind, Ambassador, someone who would go forth on missions representing the entity of Patternfish. And so it was.
Julia tells the story of the adaptation of the Patternfish titles in her blog here.
Some knitting is for wearing; some knitting is for learning. I've just come across a book that explores this deeply held belief of mine which applies to much in life beyond knitting, but knitting, too! It's Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error by Kathyrn Schultz.
A quote: "Of all the things we are wrong about, error might well top the list ... We are wrong about what it means to be wrong. Far from being a sign of intellectual inferiority, the capacity to err is crucial to human cognition. Far from being a moral flaw, it is inextricable from some of our most humane and honourable qualities: empathy, optimism, imagination, conviction and courage. And far from being a mark of indifference or intolerance, wrongness is a vital part of how we learn and change. Thanks to error, we can revise our understanding of ourselves, and amend our ideas about the world."