EPISODE TWENTY TWO :: Brandi Harper of purlBknit - The "Happy Hustle" of working in Fibre + Notes on Ethnicity in Craft

December 27, 2016 by Ani Lee in Podcast

The Close Knit podcast showcases artists, designers, and makers from all over the world who work with fibre in its many forms. Knitters, spinners, sewers, textile artists - all will be celebrated on the Close Knit podcast.

In episode 22 of the Close Knit Podcast, I spoke to Brandi Harper of purlBknit. Brandi is a knitter and lover of natural fibers who lives in Brooklyn. We cover the usual podcast topics, but Brandi and I took a little bit of a different angle with this podcast episode. It occurred to me recently that my podcast guests, whilst varied in their craft forms, mainly have come from a similar ethnic background. I want to use the podcast as a way to hold space for people of all backgrounds, and especially voices that are not typically heard from in the craft community.

I loved getting to hear Brandi's thoughts on the topics that are not usually vocalised in this community - and I'm going to leave it at that and let this podcast episode speak for itself - I'd highly recommend giving it a listen!

Brandi's biggest bit of advice:

"find people on youtube that you really connect with in terms of their teaching style, their video aesthetic.

Rent books from the library, buying books can get super expensive and you don’t know that the book will answer the questions you have. if you can use natural fibers, if you can use wool."

People/ Things we mentioned in the podcast:

Purl soho
verypinkknits
karen templar - she gives away so much knowledge, she’s talented, always creating new work
stephen west

Find Brandi: website | instagram

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Until next time!

Ani

EPISODE FOURTEEN:: Jacinta of Plump and Co - Finding Your Way as a Tactile Person, and The Roller Coaster of Starting a Business

August 15, 2016 by Ani Lee in Podcast

In Episode Fourteen of the Close Knit Podcast, I speak to Jacinta of Plump and Co. Jacinta is a knitter who developed Plump and Co, a company that sells beautifully giant, felted yarn made in New Zealand. Growing up in New Zealand and studying textiles there, Jacinta became enamored with all of the incredible fibre around her and the community she lived in, so she sought to make a product that really celebrated her community. We talk about her love of all things tactile, how she began her business, and the roller coaster that running your own small business can be.

Jacinta tells me about how she made the move from the corporate world to making felted yarn - and how after university she was always being drawn back to textiles, even when her work life took her elsewhere. We discuss how the majority of folks in her graduating textiles class didn't end up in textile jobs, but many have gone on to start their own amazing projects like a favourite of Jacinta's - The Neighbourhood Studio.

And my personal favourite part of this conversation, when Jacinta opens up about the realities of running a small business, and how it has not all been easy. She tells us about her journey from working on a project at uni to realising she wanted to make felted wool on a larger scale but also keeping it local to NZ. She wanted to share it with her community, to be able to get all different generations of knitters involved. She explains how she went from working a corporate job doing plump and co on the side to working on Plump and Co full time with the financial help of her husband. Now, she's hired a friend to help her with her business and she talks about how important that has been in her journey.

Jacinta's biggest bit of advice?

"stop talking about it, and go do it. "

People/ Things we mentioned in the podcast:

Nikki Gabriel - jacinta's biggest inspiration, hugely talented knitwear designer
Forever Farmhouse - lovely friend of Jacinta, talented knitter, lovely lady
Little Loom - lovely and kind weaver friend Julie from NSW
Wool Days - incredible new Australian merino yarn with a beautiful aesthetic and message

Find Jacinta: instagram | website | facebook

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EPISODE THIRTEEN :: Rhiannon Owens - The Next Step - Finding and Celebrating Sustainability in Craft

August 01, 2016 by Ani Lee in Podcast

In this Episode of the Close Knit Podcast, I chat to Rhi Owens of The Next Step. Rhi is a versatile crafter who knits, sews, crochets, and more. She's a prolific knitwear designer of clothes for women and children. We talk about Rhi's love of natural fibres and dyes, and how her family lineage of crafters has influence how and why she crafts. As a sewist, Rhi uses the process to create garments that truly fit her, and we discuss how empowering that relationship can be. I cannot recommend Rhi's blog highly enough for resources for sustainable and ethical fibres, as well as some really inspiring blog interviews.

Rhi tells us about how empowering she finds making her own clothes - having the ability to make shapes that are for your own body and fit you perfectly - and what impact it's had on her own relationship to her body.

She is really excited about the slow fashion movement and minimalism in craft and how it is gaining momentum. This interest led Rhi to start The Next Step - a directory of fibres and fabrics that are ethically and sustainably made, with price points listed to make it easy for folk to find the fibres that suit their needs.

Her grandmother is an artist and crafter throughout her life, and she taught her daughters who taught their children (rhi included). All of her aunites are creative and work with fibre in some way, she always made her own stuff. Her mother always said to her, "you can make that yourself" and that's become something of a family mantra.

Rhi mainly sews and knits - though she sews not for the love of the process, but the love of the finished product, and for knitting its both the process and the final outcome. She buys op shopped sheets to make dresses for herself and her daughter.

Rhi's biggest bit of advice?

"Buy quality, because when you've got a supply that is really special to you... you really want to do a good job with that so you will put in the extra effort and Google the tutorials that you need, and make sure that you do a really good job with it.... The other this is to surround yourself with as many people who make as possible, whether that's online or in real life, that will be really inspiring, and will get you through those tough beginner times"

"and with knitting using natural fibres because they hide a multitude of sins"

People/ Things we mentioned in the podcast:

Knit FM Podcast - Pam Allen and Hannah Fetig's Podcast in which they discuss tons of cool stuff related to knitting, but we referenced the episode about linen fibres.
Andy Sutherland - Agatha Cardigan - Rhi's first knitting project (!!)
Danielle - lunarknits - taught Ani about the magic of blocking
fav blog - the craft sessions, Felicia has excellent practical advice for making quality but also making lots of kids' clothes. Rhi loves the stash less project and her simple sewing posts. Definitely read her post on slow fashion.
Seamwork Podcast - craft as healing, and making clothes that fit your body
Pomcast from the makers of PomPom Mag
Natural Dyers: Gregoria Fibers and Fern Fiber
LollyMolly Sweets - Rhi's aunite who dyes and handspins

Find Rhi: instagram | website

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EPISODE TEN :: Lizzy Mendinsky of Above the Canopy - Fibre Arts in Cultures around the World and Beanie-Ribbing Turned Necklace

July 04, 2016 by Ani Lee in Podcast

Lizzy and I talk about how she sources her materials and the challenges shes faced in trying to find materials that she feels impact the world in a positive way. She gravitates toward natural fibres and natural dyes, and tries to primarily source these fibres for her label. She's found great folks along the way who are empowering local communities in economically-depressed area - and has incorporated their yarns into her business.

For Lizzy, knitting came into her life one Christmas when her auntie taught her - she then went on to sew throughout her youth and happened upon knitting again as an adult. She tells the story of how the beginning of a beanie actually birthed the concept for Above the Canopy.

In addition to working on Above the Canopy, Lizzy had a full time job doing graphic design -another passion of hers, and only recently has she turned her attention full time to Above the Canopy.

Lizzy's biggest bit of advice?

"stick with it.... You just have to persist with it, and once you get it it is so therapeutic. So you just have to persist through it"

People/ Things we mentioned in the podcast:

Queen Babs - Jane - the woman who comes up on most podcast episodes because she is a gem. Lizzy admires her work, her strength, her grace. You can't not fall in love with Jane!

Find Lizzy: instagram | facebook | website

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Until next time!

Ani

EPISODE SEVEN :: Gina Rockenwagner of Poppy and Pima - Serendipitous Job Offers, Knitwear Design and Improvisational Quilting as a Creative Outlet

June 13, 2016 by Ani Lee in Podcast

Gina with the women who work for Poppy and Pima

This week's episode has a special gift- a 25% discount to Caitlin Hunter's Pattern Shop - Boyland Knitworks. Caitlin lives on a farmstead in rural Oregon with her husband, 3 little boys and a pile of assorted animals. When she’s not herding animals (or children) she’s designing beautiful knitting patterns and embracing slow fashion through her use of sustainable fibres and naturally dyed wool. Caitlin’s patterns cover everything from simple drapey jumpers to lace worked shawls and lovely fair isle beanies. To get 25% off all of Caitlin’s knitting patterns, check out her ravelry shop and enter CLOSEKNIT at checkout. A big thank you to Caitlin for offering this special gift to podcast listeners.

In this episode, I speak to Gina Rockenwagner - owner of Poppy and Pima, knitwear designer, and quilter. Gina chats to me about her experimental approach to quilting, and how she uses quilting as an outlet from designing knitwear to fit a human body.

Gina clears up my confusion on what "baby alpaca" actually is, as I, embarrassingly, don't actually know what it is! We chat about Gina's entrance into the knitwear design world, and why she thinks of knitting as the original 3d printer.

People/ Things we mentioned in the podcast:

Anna Maltz - The Sweater Spotter on instragram, author of Penguin Knits
Zak Foster - brooklyn based quilter
Ruby Hoppen - Australian quilter
Rebbecca Ringquist - embroidery artist
Great people who live in Michigan: Meg Navoy - A Wool Story (ep. 6 guest), Marlee Grace - Have Company
Oxbow Artist Residency in Michigan

Find Gina: website | instagram | facebook

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Until next time!

Ani