My Interview with Amy Polcyn
Well, the title says it all. Here we are at Stop 3 on the Knit a Dozen Plus Slippers blog tour, and my interview with Amy. If you aren't familiar with Amy's work - here's a link to her website - http://www.amypolcyn.com/
The slipper I am reviewing is the Fair Isle Bootie pattern - knit in a worsted weight wool. Amy used Cascade 220 wool for the sample in the book (I'm using SRK Perth for mine).
I can imagine them keeping my feet warm all winter. The slipper is knit from the cuff down and the fair isle pattern is completed in just 18 rows. Then the rest of the bootie is knit just like a plain vanilla sock. A crocheted cord and pompons are the finishing touch.
I have to say at this point I am so honoured to have been chosen to take part in this tour and to have had the opportunity to ask Amy some questions.So without further adieu let's get started.
My questions are in red, Amy's responses are in blue.
Knittin4britain: You are relatively new to the knitting design world – 2005 was your first year, and you have published so many designs. How has your life changed in the past 5 years? Do you travel more? Do you have time to knit for yourself?
Amy: My life has changed a lot over the past 5 years! I started out being an elementary school teacher who published a few patterns on the side to an overworked teacher trying to publish more designs than I could really handle to a full-time designer and technical editor. Since I haven't sought teaching gigs in the knitting world, I haven't done much traveling, other than to TNNA (yarn industry trade show) each June in Columbus.
I rarely have time to knit for myself anymore, but when I do I choose smaller projects so I can be sure to finish them! I still have a Bohus-style sweater in progress for myself that I started 4 years ago. I'm not sure if I'll ever finish it.
Knittin4britain: In your newest book Slippers, the fair isle boot looks like a good introduction to fair isle knitting and sock construction. Do you have any tips on how to keep the floats loose in the colourwork?
Amy: Yes. Work the floats in a manner that feels ridiculously loose, because believe me, it won't be at the end. I like to spread the stitches just worked out on my right needle a bit before bringing the new color across the back to ensure there is enough length to the float. Be particularly careful when changing needles (with double points or 2 circulars) as it is very easy to make the float too tight at these points!
Knittin4britain: In looking at all your designs from various publications, you don’t seem to have a favourite item, such as socks or hats, to design. You do it all! From where do your design ideas and inspirations come? Does the yarn “talk” to you, or do you tell the yarn what it’s going to be?
Amy: I do like it all-- I guess for me trying to specialize would get boring. There really aren't any techniques or types of garments I dislike in knitting, so I'm eager to do them all. As far as where my ideas come from, sometimes it's the yarn that speaks to me, but more often I get inspired from things I see-- a fabric, an object around the house, or vintage clothing. Sometimes I dream ideas and wake up needing to write them down, or get suddenly inspired while I'm doing something else. I keep a big sketchbook of ideas, full of sloppy little sketches, pictures torn out from magazines, etc. Usually the yarn choice comes second. Once I get an idea sketched out, I'll start thinking about what yarn would work best, or I start digging through my massive collection of sample skeins until I find the right one.
Knittin4britain: In your profile on your knitty.com design, it’s revealed you are an elementary school teacher. Have you taught any of your students to knit?
Amy: I was an elementary teacher for about 10 years, though I haven't taught now since 2007 when I left to design full-time. While I was teaching (first and second grade), I did teach a few students to knit each year. I kept a supply of leftover skeins and some needles I got at a garage sale in the corner of my classroom for the kids to use. One year I decided to teach the entire class, and we made a large felted wall hanging/rug for the school benefit auction. Teaching my students to knit was great for a number of reasons-- it provided a great way for those students who finish early to keep busy, it improved fine motor skills (important at that age), and reinforced math skills.
Knittin4britain: Knitwear design is all about math – do you have any tips for newbie designers?
Amy: Yes. Get some good books on design-- my favorites are Sweater Design in Plain English, Designing Knitwear, and best of all The Knitter's Guide to Sweater Design (sadly out of print). Invest in stitch dictionaries and good technique-driven books. Also, gather up as many size charts, etc as you can (such as those from CYCA, the ones in Sweater Design in Plain English, etc) and use them to get a sense of how sizing works and how clothes change (or don't!) from one size to another. The math in knitting design is not complicated, but it does take some practice. Start simple and try making things fit yourself successfully, then work on extrapolating it to other sizes. Work on adjusting stitch counts to fit different size motifs and stitch patterns. Practice, practice, practice.
Knittin4britain: I like the story about the bunny on your blog frottez.blogspot.com The wee baby in the photo must be around 10 years old now. Does she knit?
Amy: She is 10, very good! My daughter does not knit (yet!) though recently she has started to express an interest. She does, however, enjoy spinning and has her own spinning wheel. The two of us enjoy spending a pleasant afternoon spinning together when we can. She also weaves a bit.
Knittin4britain: Did you finish your Master’s Knitting Course…I still haven’t finished level 1, but I did get both my CYCA Teaching certifications.
Amy: No, I never did--no time! I completed Levels 1 and 2, and all of Level 3 except for finishing knitting the Aran sweater I designed. At this point I confess I probably never will, but I did learn a lot! It improved my knitting immensely to have input from a third party. Since I am self-taught, it helped me feel confident I was "doing it right." I also received both CYCA teaching certifications.
Amy's work is published in many knitting magazines, and on several knitting websites. Her book is available at Annie's Attic. The download function is brilliant - just order and pay for the pdf file, download the file and poof! The book is on your computer. I save all my knitting patterns on to a USB drive that is attached to my key chain so I have them with me all the time - at least when I know where my keys are.
I hope you enjoyed our little interview -tomorrow be sure to visit Eurona Tilley of Hands in Delight -- http://handsindelight.com/ for the next interview in the blog tour.
The slipper I am reviewing is the Fair Isle Bootie pattern - knit in a worsted weight wool. Amy used Cascade 220 wool for the sample in the book (I'm using SRK Perth for mine).
I can imagine them keeping my feet warm all winter. The slipper is knit from the cuff down and the fair isle pattern is completed in just 18 rows. Then the rest of the bootie is knit just like a plain vanilla sock. A crocheted cord and pompons are the finishing touch.
I have to say at this point I am so honoured to have been chosen to take part in this tour and to have had the opportunity to ask Amy some questions.So without further adieu let's get started.
My questions are in red, Amy's responses are in blue.
Knittin4britain: You are relatively new to the knitting design world – 2005 was your first year, and you have published so many designs. How has your life changed in the past 5 years? Do you travel more? Do you have time to knit for yourself?
Amy: My life has changed a lot over the past 5 years! I started out being an elementary school teacher who published a few patterns on the side to an overworked teacher trying to publish more designs than I could really handle to a full-time designer and technical editor. Since I haven't sought teaching gigs in the knitting world, I haven't done much traveling, other than to TNNA (yarn industry trade show) each June in Columbus.
I rarely have time to knit for myself anymore, but when I do I choose smaller projects so I can be sure to finish them! I still have a Bohus-style sweater in progress for myself that I started 4 years ago. I'm not sure if I'll ever finish it.
Knittin4britain: In your newest book Slippers, the fair isle boot looks like a good introduction to fair isle knitting and sock construction. Do you have any tips on how to keep the floats loose in the colourwork?
Amy: Yes. Work the floats in a manner that feels ridiculously loose, because believe me, it won't be at the end. I like to spread the stitches just worked out on my right needle a bit before bringing the new color across the back to ensure there is enough length to the float. Be particularly careful when changing needles (with double points or 2 circulars) as it is very easy to make the float too tight at these points!
Knittin4britain: In looking at all your designs from various publications, you don’t seem to have a favourite item, such as socks or hats, to design. You do it all! From where do your design ideas and inspirations come? Does the yarn “talk” to you, or do you tell the yarn what it’s going to be?
Amy: I do like it all-- I guess for me trying to specialize would get boring. There really aren't any techniques or types of garments I dislike in knitting, so I'm eager to do them all. As far as where my ideas come from, sometimes it's the yarn that speaks to me, but more often I get inspired from things I see-- a fabric, an object around the house, or vintage clothing. Sometimes I dream ideas and wake up needing to write them down, or get suddenly inspired while I'm doing something else. I keep a big sketchbook of ideas, full of sloppy little sketches, pictures torn out from magazines, etc. Usually the yarn choice comes second. Once I get an idea sketched out, I'll start thinking about what yarn would work best, or I start digging through my massive collection of sample skeins until I find the right one.
Knittin4britain: In your profile on your knitty.com design, it’s revealed you are an elementary school teacher. Have you taught any of your students to knit?
Amy: I was an elementary teacher for about 10 years, though I haven't taught now since 2007 when I left to design full-time. While I was teaching (first and second grade), I did teach a few students to knit each year. I kept a supply of leftover skeins and some needles I got at a garage sale in the corner of my classroom for the kids to use. One year I decided to teach the entire class, and we made a large felted wall hanging/rug for the school benefit auction. Teaching my students to knit was great for a number of reasons-- it provided a great way for those students who finish early to keep busy, it improved fine motor skills (important at that age), and reinforced math skills.
Knittin4britain: Knitwear design is all about math – do you have any tips for newbie designers?
Amy: Yes. Get some good books on design-- my favorites are Sweater Design in Plain English, Designing Knitwear, and best of all The Knitter's Guide to Sweater Design (sadly out of print). Invest in stitch dictionaries and good technique-driven books. Also, gather up as many size charts, etc as you can (such as those from CYCA, the ones in Sweater Design in Plain English, etc) and use them to get a sense of how sizing works and how clothes change (or don't!) from one size to another. The math in knitting design is not complicated, but it does take some practice. Start simple and try making things fit yourself successfully, then work on extrapolating it to other sizes. Work on adjusting stitch counts to fit different size motifs and stitch patterns. Practice, practice, practice.
Knittin4britain: I like the story about the bunny on your blog frottez.blogspot.com The wee baby in the photo must be around 10 years old now. Does she knit?
Amy: She is 10, very good! My daughter does not knit (yet!) though recently she has started to express an interest. She does, however, enjoy spinning and has her own spinning wheel. The two of us enjoy spending a pleasant afternoon spinning together when we can. She also weaves a bit.
Knittin4britain: Did you finish your Master’s Knitting Course…I still haven’t finished level 1, but I did get both my CYCA Teaching certifications.
Amy: No, I never did--no time! I completed Levels 1 and 2, and all of Level 3 except for finishing knitting the Aran sweater I designed. At this point I confess I probably never will, but I did learn a lot! It improved my knitting immensely to have input from a third party. Since I am self-taught, it helped me feel confident I was "doing it right." I also received both CYCA teaching certifications.
Amy's work is published in many knitting magazines, and on several knitting websites. Her book is available at Annie's Attic. The download function is brilliant - just order and pay for the pdf file, download the file and poof! The book is on your computer. I save all my knitting patterns on to a USB drive that is attached to my key chain so I have them with me all the time - at least when I know where my keys are.
I hope you enjoyed our little interview -tomorrow be sure to visit Eurona Tilley of Hands in Delight -- http://handsindelight.com/ for the next interview in the blog tour.
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