One of the designers I knew a little bit through our earlier interactions on the forums is Ashwini Jambhekar (she's AshwiniJ on Ravelry). I was delighted to get to interview her for the blog and learn a bit more about her background and design process. I think you'll enjoy getting to know her as well!
How did you start designing? What inspired you to start? Tell me a little about your first design.
I
started designing when I was in grad school in San Francisco. Up to
that point, I had mostly shopped only in big box yarn stores, and had
worked only from patterns published in women's magazines or LeisureArts
leaflets. Needless to say, none of these was particularly attractive to a
young 20-something, and I actually didn't do a whole lot of knitting in
college or early grad school. In San Francisco I discovered a wonderful
LYS called Artfibers (which sadly closed about a year ago). Their
yarns were amazing, the staff was helpful and knowledgeable, and the
shop samples were to die for. And if you purchased their yarn, they
would use their sweater design software to help you create a pattern for
anything you could dream up! Kira Dulaney (kirakdesigns on Ravelry) was
the manager then, and I definitely picked her brain about the design
process. This was the first time I realized that knitting didn't have to
be frumpy sweaters sized to fit the whole family! I finally found the
freedom and skills to create what I wanted. That being said, I don't
even know what to call my "first" design, because I started by gradually
adapting existing patterns. One of the early "designs" just involved
substituting one lace panel for another in the center front of a
sweater. I gradually started substituting yarns with different gauges
and recalculating the pattern, or changing the construction method,
until I was finally making truly original work.
My
first published design happened by fluke. One of my fellow dancers
discovered that I knit (I had posted some photos on Facebook), and she
referred me to her mother-in-law-to-be (Vicki Stiefel, LaidBackKnitter
on Ravelry), who was working on a knitting book. After a chat with
Vicki, I agreed to recreate an existing design for 10 Secrets of the LaidBack Knitters. It took me a while to discover Ravelry after that,
but I did eventually. And it even took me some time after that to start
designing more regularly. But I'm very glad to have finally stumbled
upon this path!
 |
| Cranberry Brioche Sweater |
I
think in all three areas -- science, dance, and designing. What I enjoy
the most is using a defined framework to create something unique,
interesting, and possibly beautiful. So far these three areas haven't
melded together in any tangible way, but one of my dreams is to design a
ballet-themed ebook, with dance shots interspersed with garment photos.
I discovered that garments don't photograph well in actual dance shots,
so I'll probably keep the two separate. I just have to find the time to
make it happen!
My science background has
definitely helped with the technical aspects of pattern writing. I've
become proficient at writing complex instructions in a rigorous manner,
and making sure all math is correct. I'm also proficient enough with
image editing and graphic arts software (mainly the Adobe Suite), so
that also helps. I see how much of a struggle writing and photo
editing can be for other designers, so I'm always grateful to have had
formal training in these areas. Getting good photos in the first place,
however, has been the most difficult aspect of designing for me (and my
husband, who plays photographer).
What is your favorite type of item to design and knit?
Sweaters
for sure. I like my creations to be front and center, and to steal the
show! Additionally, I like that sweaters provide a huge canvas to
explore a variety of ideas, such as different types of shaping and the
interplay between different stitch patterns.
What (if anything) are you knitting for gifts this year?I
always make something for my mom and for my husband (my mom generally
supplies my dad with a hand-knit, so she has that covered). This is the
first year that my holiday gifts are coming from other designers'
patterns. My mom is getting Lingerie socks (designed by Maria Naslund),
and my husband is getting a Sandpoint Pullover (designed by Elizabeth
Morrison). I originally knit the socks for myself, but they fit my mom
so much better that I'm giving them to her. In both cases, the
recipients know what to expect. In fact, my husband practiced casting on
and knitting for the first time with the pullover, so he has actually
contributed to his own gift! The socks are finished, but I'm not sure
the pullover will be done in time for the holidays -- I'll be knitting
like crazy during the last week of December to try to make it happen.
What can we expect to see from you, design-wise, in 2015?
I
think I'd like to try out different sweater constructions. All my
sweaters are worked flat, bottom-up, and seamed, with set-in sleeves.
There are so many possibilities to explore in this format that I don't
think I'll ever run out of ideas. But I do want to try some other types
of construction, like top-down or sideways. It will involve stepping out
of my comfort zone a little bit, but I think I'm ready to tackle a new
design challenge!
Thanks so much for taking take to answer my questions, Ashwini!
You can see all of Ashwini's published designs on Ravelry here. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!
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