MAY 1ST, 2012
The first pattern in this mini-me collection of knits from Coastal Knits, by Alana Dakos and Hannah Fettig is now available! Hannah and Alana have downsized four of their patterns from their popular book, much to our delight. These patterns are pdf downloads and will also be available at your favorite LYS.
Little Oak is available today!
Make sure you check their blogs and the Coastal Kids site for when the other three patterns will become available.
APRIL 23RD, 2012
I know you’re all wondering where our Spring issue is, it’s on the way and is coming together beautifully and can’t wait to share it with you!
We are so excited about our upcoming year of designs that I thought I would share our submission calls with you all:
January 2013: We are honoring newborns for this issue. Get out those tiny needles and show us your best work. We would love to see items that would become beloved heirloom pieces as well as the perfect casual everyday items every baby needs. Onesies, diaper covers, bonnets, slippers, so many options! (Sizes preemies through 12 months) January 2013: Sketch & Swatch due September 10, 2012; Final Pattern due November 19, 2012
Ok. That was two questions. Have a great Monday!
APRIL 16TH, 2012
I am happy to bring you my interview with Carol Feller, knitwear designer and author of Contemporary Irish Knits. Her most recent pattern was published yesterday in Twist Collective, Corona.
Hi Carol, thank you for joining me. Why don’t you start by telling us how you got into crafting.
I have never really thought of myself as a particularly crafty person, although I have always loved art and particularly textiles. I first learned to knit when I was in school, but I didn’t really stick with it beyond childhood. When I finished school I spent a year in Art College, where I found myself drawn to textiles and working with fabrics and paper, but then went on to study engineering (I’m embarrassed to say I missed mathematics). Many years later, after a brief career as an engineer and later starting an online retail business, just after the birth of my fourth son, I began knitting again. I had just sold the business and fully intended to become a full time mum. Then, on an online parenting forum someone was talking about a new online yarn shop that had just opened. It made me eager to learn knitting again. They set me up with yarn, needles and a baby knits for beginners book and I was hooked immediately! I got so much satisfaction from being able to create these little garments out of nothing that I quickly became quite obsessive about it. It wasn’t long before I moved into designing my own knits. I found this very satisfying to both the artistic and engineering sides of my personality and I haven’t turned back since.
You are a beautiful knitwear designer, designing under the business name Stolen Stitches. You are also the author/designer of the book Contemporary Irish Knits. Tell us how this all came about.
When I started designing, I began submitting to magazines; both online magazines like Knitty.com and paper magazines such as Interweave Knits and Yarn Forward. I realized that if I was going to actually make a go of this business I had to have lots of different avenues open so I also set up a blog at StolenStitches.com and began self-publishing some of my designs, selling them through Ravelry.com and other web sites. The name “Stolen Stitches” actually came from my husband; we have four kids and life is so busy that every minute spent knitting/designing felt like it was ‘stolen’!
After a couple of years of publishing individual designs I really wanted to sink my teeth into a bigger, more cohesive project. Individual pattern releases often feel very isolated, without a larger picture/theme that they fit into. I had done a few patterns with Kristi Porter for her book ‘Knitting In the Sun’ which was published with Wiley, and when I contacted Wiley about the “Contemporary Irish Knits” idea they were really excited about the project. It was a great experience, involving lots of travel around the country for photo shoots and research, and I tried to involve the whole family. I didn’t want the book to disrupt family life too much so we had set up a nice long lead time with spaced out deadlines. It worked really well for me and I was never under severe time pressure.
Are you a work-at-home mom or do you have a work space out of the home? If you are a work-at-home mom, how do you juggle your work duties with your mom duties?
I do work from home, but I have a room in the house that is my office/studio and is just for me! I find it important to have my own space that is devoted to the job as it makes it much easier to switch on quickly when you go into that space.
All of my boys are at school now and the younger 3 finish at 2.30 so I have the mornings for computer and mental work – much easier to do in a quiet house. It is rare for me to actually knit during the day! I do almost all my knitting in the evening either watching TV, reading or talking. I also try to keep a simple project in the car to pick up if I waiting around but to be honest I seem to be so last minute I am rarely in a position to actually knit there! School holidays can be a little harder, I do try to get 2-3 hours work done early while they are all still relatively quiet, but I have to accept that I need a much smaller work load during holidays.
What inspires your creativity?
My inspiration comes from all sorts of different places. Sometimes it comes from materials – I pick up a yarn and it just feels so good to knit that I can’t stop, and keep experimenting with it until an idea takes shape. Other times I’ll get a mental image of a garment (or even just a cable or lace pattern) in my head, and the challenge is figuring out how to put all the pieces together to make it a reality. I think I get the most pleasure from designs that start as mental visions that are then worked through. It always feels amazing to take something that only existed in your head give it form with just your hands and two sticks!
What do you think has been your biggest struggle as a working mom?
Keeping the balance. When the boys are in need of extra time and attention and I’ve also got a pressing deadline, I wish I could just shut it off and toggle back and forth more easily. It gets harder the more established you are as the commitments get bigger and it feels like you have more to lose. (Also, I have to say that housework is one mighty big challenge!)
Carol's collection, Scrumptious Knits. Click on picture for more information.
What are your goals for yourself or your business for your future?
Again, to keep the balance. I want the business to grow, to keep challenging myself to design new things and to try new approaches (books, classes, etc.) but I don’t set too many fixed long-term goals for myself because flexibility in my family life is really, really important to me.
What other hobbies do you like to dabble in? What is your favorite way to relax?
I don’t really have any spare time – I wish I did! I am trying to make a bigger effort this year though to “be good” to myself. I’ve started exercising regularly again for the first time in many, many years and I’m also trying to read more. E-books are wonderful for knitters as you don’t have the problem of trying to keep the pages open while you knit!
Do you have any advice to give other women that are interested in starting their own small business?
First, be clear about what you want out of your business and what you want to put into it. There are only so many hours in a day! Second, start small but have a road map in your head of where you want to go. When you start small you can make plenty of mistakes and learn from them along the way without a lot of risk. Third, know yourself and your own talents and tastes. You have to accept that it is not possible to be good at everything and know how to get help with the areas that you either don’t like to do or find very difficult.
What is your favorite game to play with your kids?
One of the most popular games in our house has always been UNO. Everyone from my 13 year old down to the 5 year old enjoys it, and I can even play it while knitting!
Thank you Carol!
APRIL 5TH, 2012
I always have great intentions about writing these All Things Petite posts. I am sorry I don’t get around to writing more. Today I am focusing on some Petite Purls designer news.
APRIL 2ND, 2012
Today I have the joy of bringing you an interview with the lovely Jane Richmond. Jane is a popular knitwear designer. You can find her online here and also at her Etsy shop. We are so excited to be publishing one of her designs later this spring!
Hi Jane, thank you for joining us. Why don’t you start by telling us how you got into crafting.
I am such a hands-on person. It’s how I learn. I think it is part of my personality to be a crafter. My Mom is an incredible cook but crafty, not so much. She made sure we had every opportunity to get crafty with summer camps, art classes, and endless support for any interests we developed.
You are a wonderful knitwear designer. How did this come about?
My first design was the Mustard Scarf, it was the product of my first ever fibre festival and a lovely skein of locally spun yarn. I couldn’t find a pattern to suit it so I made up my own. That year I challenged myself to design every hand knit on my Christmas list, they were simple items but they are what launched me into knitwear design.
Are you a work-at-home mom or do you have a work space out of the home? If you are a work-at-home mom, how do you juggle your work duties with your mom duties?
I am a mother and I work from home but I wouldn’t consider myself a work-at-home Mom in that sense because my daughter is in school full time. I have endless admiration for Moms who are able to work from home with their kidlets around. I may love crunching numbers and pattern writing but I also need extreme focus to do it, I’m one of those people who can’t even read a book when there is background noise. Before Elsie was in school I was a work-at-home Mom and I always felt like my focus was divided between so many things during the day, and everything ended up blending together. I can’t multitask to save my life! Now that Elsie is a little older I find work and parenting are way more balanced, when I’m working I’m working and when she’s home I can focus 100% on my Mom duties.
What inspires your creativity?
I find everyday life is my biggest source of inspiration. I love people watching. Sometimes I wish I had a laptop so that I could work from a coffee shop downtown and just watch people walk by all day long. I’m sure there are a few pedestrians out there that have caught me staring. I should have a sign that reads, “I’m not checking you out, I just like what you’re wearing”.
Jane wearing her popular Oatmeal Pullover
What do you think has been your biggest struggle as a working mom?
Keeping regular hours. Having a home office means you can be really flexible about when you work, a little too flexible. I have learned to discipline myself to work during work hours, save social networking and blog reading for my lunch break, and schedule everything else outside of my work hours.
What are your goals for yourself or your business for your future?
I would love to jet off to Stitches, TNNA, Rhinebeck or some other huge industry event. I read about them online and live vicariously through bloggers that are able to attend. There isn’t one single event that is close enough for me to easily drop in on so my fingers are crossed that attending some of these events will be in my future.
What other hobbies do you like to dabble in? What is your favorite way to relax?
I plant a vegetable garden every year. I find it so rewarding and being in the garden is so relaxing for me.
Do you have any advice to give other women that are interested in starting their own small business?
You really can’t go wrong doing something you love and if the money isn’t there right off the bat do what you can until it is… work a day job, build your business on the side. I think that the best thing I did for my business was give it time to grow without smothering it with expectations that it would pay the bills right away.
What is your favorite game to play with your daughter?
Elsie and I both adore puzzles. We get in the zone when we do them.
Thank you Jane!
APRIL 2ND, 2012
Signature Needle Arts has been one of our annual sponsors from early on. We feel very fortunate to have such a lovely company who offers beautifully crafted, luxurious needles.
I’d like to focus today on Signature Needle Arts’ single pointed needles.
Hand-crafted, hand-polished and the perfect fit for any knitter’s hand, a Signature Needle is at first a luxury — and then a necessity. No other needle makes a more perfect, uniform stitch, which is why it’s the true hobbyist’s choice.
When choosing a Signature Needle, you can create a truly custom needle, perfect for your needs. You get to choose the needle size, length, cap for the top of the needle (in teardrop, bell and spiral shapes), and point (in blunt, middy and their famous stiletto).
Signature Needle Arts was generous enough to offer one of our readers/tweeters a pair of their single pointed needles when we ran our Knitting Herstory blog post. I thought it would be appropriate to announce the winner of that giveaway on this post!
And the winner’s tweet was:
“@momof4munchkins: I would love to see @susanbanderson as a #renmom on@petitepurls #knittingherstory“
Congratulations Linsay! Contact me at infoATpetitepurlsDOTcom to find out more about your prize!
Thank you Signature Needle Arts for being such wonderful supporters of Petite Purls.
MARCH 25TH, 2012
O-wool is a wonderful yarn company, focusing on natural yarns and dyes and all-around natural process of creating beautiful yarns.
O-wool recently released a number of lovely baby blanket patterns using their yarns. (Click on the images to get a direct link to the pattern)
Wood Sorrel Baby Blanket using Balance
Ambrotype Baby Blanket using Balance
Rhodopea Baby Blanket using Balance Bulky
Kodachrome Baby Blanket using Balance Bulky
Both Balance and Balance Bulky are 50% certified organic merino and 50% certified organic cotton and come in the most beautiful array of colors. I have used Balance quite recently and it’s really a dream to knit with. I hope to use more in the future.
MARCH 19TH, 2012
I am so happy to bring you today’s interview with Gudrun Johnston. I have been a fan of Gudrun’s design work for quite some time now and it was nice to get to know a little bit more about her. You can find Gudrun at The Shetland Trader
Thank you Gudrun for joining us. Why don’t you start by telling us how you got into crafting.
I don’t think I was overly crafty as a young child. However I was surrounded by knitwear at an early age as my mother ran a successful knitwear business in Shetland. I certainly enjoyed some arts and crafts as a teen and did learn to knit then too but I wouldn’t say that these were my passions at the point in my life. It wasn’t really until about 7 years ago when I moved to Massachusetts with my family that I took up knitting again. My daughter who was about 5 at the time lost a treasured blanket during the move and after strolling past a yarn shop it suddenly dawned on me that I could knit her something to replace it. I haven’t stopped knitting since!
You are an independent knitwear designer, under the name of The Shetland Trader. You have had many designs published in multiple publications, and you have recently self-published your first pattern collection. Tell us how this all came to be.
When I first got back into knitting it didn’t take long for me to have the desire to tweak patterns to suit my needs and to then come up with designs myself. On a whim I decided to submit one of my designs to Knitty.com and it was accepted. I would say that was the real starting point of my career as an independent designer. I had a lot of help from Knitty’s technical editor while writing up that pattern and that gave me a lot of confidence to do it again! I also think that the timing of my entry into knitwear design was very fortunate. The internet was really starting to play a big part in connecting knitters and what with the launch of Ravelry, reaching a wider audience became that much easier. I would not be where I am with my designing if weren’t for Ravelry and all the other designers/knitters that I have met through the internet.
As interest for my patterns built up I devoted more and more time to designing, and was thus able to get established. Although it has been nice to be published by other venues I generally prefer to self publish as this obviously allows me to have greater control over the whole process. Deciding to do an entire collection of patterns as a printed book was an idea I’d had in the back of my mind for a while. However I do admit to feeling a little overwhelmed at the prospect! It was seeing other designers be successful at their own self published ventures that encouraged me to go for it. Ysolda Teague was a big influence and enormous support to me when putting together my book.
Are you a work-at-home mom or do you have a work space out of the home? If you are a work-at-home mom, how do you juggle your work duties with your mom duties?
Currently I do work from home and I find that it’s increasingly challenging to balance work and home life in the same space. It’s hard to switch off from the household chores when you’re right there looking at what needs doing! Generally I try and do as much work as I can during the school day and then devote more time to the kids needs when they get home. However I am seriously considering finding a space outside of the house to use for work.
What inspires your creativity?
I think I find inspiration from all sorts of contexts when it comes to designing. Sometimes the impetus for a particular design it comes from a certain colour of yarn or stitch pattern, or the need for a particular garment that will go with clothing I already own. I certainly feel inspired by seeing other people’s creations too, whether they be knitted or sewn. I’m constantly surprised by the myriad of results that come about from the pairing of yarn and needles!
What do you think has been your biggest struggle as a working mom?
I think the biggest struggle for me is just the balancing aspect of playing these two roles.
What are your goals for yourself or your business for your future?
As I mentioned above I hope to move my work space to outside of the home and I suppose I think this is going to allow me to be more productive and even more professional. I’m currently working on another collection of patterns to come out in the Fall and have ideas for more to come after that.
What other hobbies do you like to dabble in? What is your favorite way to relax?
I love to sing! Music has always been a huge part of my life and I even trained as a classical singer for a while after I left High School. More recently I was singing as a back up singer in a friend’s band and that was a lot of fun! I attempt to sew now and again but I’m pretty intimidated by sewing machines! Favorite way to relax would just be having good friends over for some food and singing!
Do you have any advice to give other women that are interested in starting their own small business?
I suppose the main thing I’d say is just to treat it as professionally as you can from the beginning.
What is your favorite game to play with your kids?
One of our current favorites is a game called Loups Garous. Basically it involves being a werewolf and secretly killing off the innocent townsfolk!
This has been great. Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I just want to say I am incredibly grateful to all those knitters out there who buy my patterns!
MARCH 18TH, 2012
Sweet Georgia Yarns an artisan yarn company that makes exquisite and luxurious hand-dyed yarns for knitting and fibers for spinning. Felicia Lo is the owner of Sweet Georgia Yarns and what a talented dyer she is. Her colors are gorgeous and the yarns are to die for (no pun intended….really…..). We feel very honored to have Sweet Georgia Yarns support of Petite Purls and are excited that Felicia’s yarn will be featured in one of our upcoming designs in our Spring 2012 issue!
I am so very lucky to have Fancy Tiger as my absolute favorite LYS. Fancy Tiger is mainly a brick and mortar shop, just recently moved to a bigger and more amazing space just down the street from their former shop. If you are ever in Denver, run, don’t walk to 59 Broadway. You can thank me later 
Fancy Tiger also has an Etsy shop full of their cute needle felting and hand sewing kits. They now also carry their own knitting and sewing patterns, including this awesome cowl, this great sweater, and this cute market tote.
I always get a kick out of visiting Cheezombie’s Etsy shop. Her toys are so much fun to look at and to knit! A few that are catching my eye right now are the crochet Garden Slug, knitted Showoff Seal, and just in time for Easter: Chickies. All of Cheezombie’s patterns are cute, quirky and fun.
Another great shop full of knitted toys is The Byrd’s Nest. Very often, Julie, the owner and designer for The Byrd’s Nest finds inspiration from drawings that her neighborhood kids have given her. New to the shop is the Fibonacci Bunny. It is a cute, whimsical toy that makes use of the Fibonacci Sequence for the stripes. I can see the bunny in black and white for an infant. Perfect! You can find patterns for accessories and blankets on the site as well.
