I’ve got something extra special to share with you today—an interview with Jennifer Weissman of ShadyStroll Knits! Jen has been one of my favorite indie designers for some time now; after mentioning one of her pieces in last week’s post on creativity, I got to thinking “Wouldn’t it be great to hear from the designer herself?” And, lo and behold…here she is! Jen kindly agreed to answer my deluge of questions about her design work, her process, and so much more—read on to hear her answers and to see some of her wonderful designs.
RN: Tell us about yourself in one sentence! (Lots of semicolons are allowed…)
JW: Aside from being obsessed with knitting and my family, I love to read, garden and fiddle with all sorts of crafts, and I adore animals—the fuzzier, the better!
RN: How did you learn to knit? From there, how did you transition into designing?
JW: My grandmother taught me how to needlepoint, crochet, quilt and knit when I was a child. We lived in different parts of the US, but she taught me a little something each time we got together. I wish that she’d had the chance to experience Ravelry; she would have loved it!
I’ve always felt comfortable modifying patterns—adding sleeves to a vest, a lace edge to the ends of a scarf, etc. Eventually that led me to design something completely new. But if it weren’t for the encouragement of knitters on Ravelry, I never would have had the confidence to publish patterns.
RN: How would you describe your design style?
JW: Traditional with a twist!
RN: What kinds of things tend to jumpstart your designs—yarn, stitch pattern, construction, or something else? What does the process of developing a design look like from there?
JW: Many things inspire me—architectural details, an eye-catching stitch pattern, a beautiful yarn—but mainly I try to knit things that I would want to wear.
I usually start with a sketch. I keep a design notebook, and I put all of my sketches there, so I can go back to them when I have the time. When I’m ready to develop the idea, I do a lot of swatching, and I keep detailed notes. These days, I write as much of the pattern as possible before starting the sample, and then I edit the draft as I knit. I typically run a test knit in my Ravelry group with at least ten testers. Even when the draft is free of errors, testers can alert me to potential pitfalls, and this gives me the chance to include helpful tips or emphasize key details.
RN: For your pieces that use multiple colors, how do you choose?
JW: I often photograph the colors together on my cell phone, and then apply the black-and-white filter. This shows me how much contrast there is between the colors, so I can tell whether my stitch pattern will show clearly.
RN: Describe your dream yarn.
JW: Lofty and soft, with a bit of a halo. Sometimes I create this by holding a strand of a silk mohair together with my main yarn. It looks so luxurious and holds its shape while minimizing pilling — it’s magical!
RN: Which of your designs is your favorite, and why? Which is your most popular design?
JW: It’s impossible to choose! But one of my favorites is Dragonfly’s Path. It is a fingering-weight crescent-shaped shawl that can also be worn as a scarf. I love everything about its edging — the shapes of the tips, the curves of the bottom edge, and the pretty cable, which can easily be worked without a cable needle. While you’re knitting, it’s fun to think of the cable as a little dragonfly flitting back and forth.
My most popular design is Architexture, a reversible scarf with V-shaped bands in a variety of classic textures.
RN: Would you talk about the growth and establishment of your business? Was it more organic, or did you have a “big break”?
JW: I was very fortunate! Early in my design life, Craftsy invited me to collaborate on a couple of knitting kits. We ended up working together for years, and I believe that this opened the door to collaborations with wonderful yarn dyers like Miss Babs, Marianated Yarns, and Artfil.
RN: What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your design career so far?
JW: Keeping patterns simple! Sometimes I dream up a design, and I know just how to knit it. But before I dive in, I have to think about what this pattern will look like in writing. If it will be long and complicated, following the pattern won’t be much fun. Sometimes simplifying an element or two can transform the pattern into something that will be enjoyable.
RN: If there was one thing you’d like to be known for as a designer, what would it be?
JW: I’d like others to share my obsession with knitting, so I always hope that they will enjoy their projects. But I also hope that they will love wearing what they’ve made.
So (and I suppose this is really two things) … my hope is to be known for designs that are both fun to knit and stylish.
RN: Do you have any advice for startup designers?
JW: Think of your knitting as creating a fabric, and consider how that fabric will look when the garment or accessory is worn. If you are including a beautiful element, try to place it so that it will show and not be hidden in the folds of the knitted fabric.
Also, consider what following your pattern will feel like for the knitter. Will the instructions be so dense that the pattern looks intimidating? Is the beginning easy enough to make the knitter want to jump right in? Is there some variety in the pattern to keep it interesting?
RN: Make up your own question! 😄
JW: Is there a new design you can talk about?
I’m super excited about Bee Loved, a two-color scarf that I released earlier this month. It is an easy knit, because all of the colorwork is done by slipping stitches, and it’s a great way to showcase a gorgeous skein of variegated yarn. When not in use, this color can be carried invisibly in the i-cord edges, so there are very few ends to weave in, hurray!
Thank you so much, Jen! It was so kind of you to take this time to share your journey and experiences with us. Best wishes for the future of your business—I can’t wait to see what fabulous things you’ll dream up next!
I hope y’all have enjoyed this interview! Be sure to check out Jen’s portfolio on Ravelry and give it some love. I’ve just featured a few of her designs here; there are dozens more to discover. And thanks for reading!
The design shown at the beginning of this post is My Softer Side.
All images are property of Jennifer Weissman. Used by permission.
Thanks for having me, Ruth — it was a pleasure!
Thank you for being here, Jen! This was so fun!