Designer Q&A's - Debbie Abrahams & Jane Crowfoot
On Saturday, as you may already know we had Debbie Abrahams and Jane Crowfoot here at the Craft Barn, teaching the Kaleidoscope workshop. They are both well known designers in the knit/crochet world (Debbie knit, Jane crochet) and have been producing beautiful designs for many years. Whilst they were here we thought it would be an opportunity not to be missed to get them both answering our designer questions. Take a look below to see what they both had to say................
Jane Crowfoot Answers
Who taught you to knit / crochet?
I taught myself from a 1970s McCalls book of needlework! My Great Grandmother was very crafty and knitted and crocheted, but we didn't see her very often and I didn't have access to another relation who did either knitting or crochet. It was only when I did my degree in Textile design that I learnt to hand knit 'properly' and I only really got to grips with crochet about 10 years ago.
What was your first ever knitting / crochet project?
My first ever (completed) knit project was a jumper for myself that I knitted whilst in Art School - it was knitted using a Colinette yarn - space dyed with thick and thin bits - a great first project as it was knitted on one big needle and one smaller one - the tension was terrible and it looked like a dish cloth, but I was at Art school and everyone wore spiders web jumpers so it didn't matter!
Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
I love surface pattern so I buy a lot of interior magazines, greeting cards, wrapping paper etc. I tend to go for geometric designs first and love stripes, zigzags and blocks.
What is your favourite yarn to knit with?
knit & crochet = Rowan Cotton Glace!
Where is your favourite place to knit?
I like to knit sat on the settee in front of a movie - but crochet takes more concentration so my favourite place to do this is in my studio with my radio on!
Do you ever watch TV or listen to music when doing your knitting / crochet? If yes anything in particular?
If I knit or crochet in front of the TV it needs to be a little bit 'mindless' so that I don't get too distracted. I have to admit I sit in front of reruns of programmes like CSI or Criminal Minds!
In terms of music I like all sorts, but mostly listen to Indie or rock music.
Do you have a favourite knitting / crochet snack?
I read somewhere once that a hobby like knitting or crochet keeps you thinner because you can't raid the fridge and knit/crochet and eat at the same time! My experience is the opposite - I snack a lot when I'm designing, often when I reach a bit of a stumbling block I will go to the fridge and stand in front of it like a teenager looking for inspiration! I'm a cheese and cracker person rather than a sweets and chocolate person. Im very partial to crisps!
Which other knitwear designers do you admire?
Erika Knight is probably my hero - she has been such an inspiration and I think she is personally responsible for the current rise in people crocheting in the UK - not only that, but she is really really nice!
What / who inspired you to become a knitwear designer?
When I was a student I wanted to be a fine artist, but I had a really great personal tutor who suggested I start looking at textiles courses. Ive always loved yarn and fabric and often put bits of wool and scraps of textiles into my artwork so I suppose she saw the potential. She was a major Rowan fan and I remember her wafting around in huge knitted (Kaffe Fassett) cardigans and I thought she was really cool!
Do you have a knitted / crocheted treasure? A piece that you could never part with, a gift or maybe something you have made yourself?
There are things Ive made that I could never part with for sentimental reasons. I have a Zoe Mellor designed cardigan that I knitted for my son Charlie when he was about 3 years old - it has parrots and pirates and flags on it and he wore and wore it - its in a box in my wardrobe and will be there until I die!
Do you enjoy knitting / crocheting for yourself? If so what do you like to make?
That is a really tough question and one that I get asked all the time - I am passionate about knitting and crochet - I love teaching workshops and getting other people inspired, BUT for me something changed when designing became my full time job and there were suddenly pressures and deadlines. I still love playing with new designs and get really excited by the potential of both crafts, but these days I rarely do it in my leisure time and can't remember the last time I actually completed a project for myself.
I absolutely LOVE choosing the yarn and knitting/crocheting the first few balls of a new project - its like a drug - but after a little while I find myself fancying a new project so that I can get excited all over again. I think that is why i like designing blankets and cushions etc - you can cram so many more techniques and colours into something that is not going to be worn!
Debbie Abrahams Answers
Who taught you to knit / crochet?
My mum, my nan and my aunty. And I am told that this was when I was six years old.
What was your first ever knitting / crochet project?
My first memories are of knitting squares using various colours and playing with knit and purl. My first actual "project" was a denim-jacket style garment by Artwork that used Rowan Handknit Cotton and beads. I knitted it in shade 254, Flame!
Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
Most of my inspiration comes from graphical sources, ie, greetings cards, wrapping paper, tea-towel prints and posters. But I also like to take inspiration from the things that I collect, for example, ceramics. I am inspired by anything that has strong geometric patterning and gorgeous bright colours.
What is your favourite yarn to knit with?
At the moment my favourites are Rowan Felted Tweed and Rowan Glace Cotton.
Where is your favourite place to knit?
On a sunny day, in the garden with my gorgeous cat, Zach, sunbathing beside me. Otherwise it is indoors in my living-room on my black leather couch.
Do you ever watch TV or listen to music when doing your knitting / crochet? If yes anything in particular?
Yes, both! I love watching films, any type really, whatever suits my mood at the time. We have a vast collection of films of all sorts of genres, historical, action, horror and thrillers to name a few. And music has always been a big passion of mine, but like with the films, I listen to whatever suits my mood at the time. So it could be anything from heavy metallers Motley Crue to New Romantics Duran Duran. I grew up in the eighties so much of my music is from this time. But I also like a lot of the new stuff that is around like Hot Chip, Django Django and Kasabian. A little classical music also creeps in from time to time!
Do you have a favourite knitting / crochet snack?
Usually a Twirl chocolate bar!
What other knitwear designer do you admire?
I really like the work of Tine Solheim who is a Norwegain designer. She creates the most wonderful fairisle patterns and combines fairisle with beads - which is of course a great passion of mine also! Her designs are just gorgeous and one day I keep telling myself I will sit down and learn Norwegian (!) and knit one of her lovely designs up.
What / who inspired you to become a knitwear designer?
I have to say that it was probably Kaffe Fassett who inspired me to pick up knitting needles when I was very young. I was completely mesmerized by his use of colour and pattern. I was also inspired by the Rowan magazines and can remember saving up my pocket money to buy their books and yarn.
Do you have a knitted / crocheted treasure?
A piece that you could never part with, a gift or maybe something you have made yourself? Not really, so I will leave this one blank!
Do you enjoy knitting / crocheting for yourself? If so what do you like to make?
Yes, I love to knit for myself, but the problem is time as I am so busy with "work" knitting. But there is nothing better than sitting down with a nice new project to start and I am not the one who is designing it! This to me is my little luxury!
If you would like to see more designs from the Kaleidoscope book take a look here.