Why I began designing knitting patterns

Little tiny Brynna in her Wildflower Tunic.

My initial foray into designing knitting patterns began with a very simple problem. I wanted to knit something but couldn’t find a pattern for it. I had a giant pile of sport weight yarn in a perfect Christmas green and decided to make Talia a special outfit for her first Christmas. After hours spent scrolling through Ravelry’s pattern browser, I gave up and decided to come up with something on my own.

The Wildflower Tunic was born of this rather frustrating beginning. Of course, I didn’t get it done in time for her first Christmas, but come the middle of January, Talia had an adorable new sweater.

The very first Wildflower Tunic and the special Christmas outfit I had planned for Talia.

Once I realized that I could knit basically anything I could dream up, I just could not stop. I began designing little outfits for Talia and knit up everything that popped into my head. Many of those early designs were not good at all, but they gave me valuable practice and there is no better way to learn, in my opinion, than by doing.

I learned many other things from my experience of dressing several children in handknits. Tricks and strategies to make the finished garment easier to dress the child in or to make it look nicer for longer. I learned what is super cute, but never gets worn. I learned what is too complicated to knit while taking care of little ones. And most of all, I learned just how much I loved taking an idea for a sweater and bringing it to life.

One of my newer baby patterns, Sweet Sage.

After a few years designing for babies and children, I decided to drum up the courage to design my first adult sweater pattern. Designing for adults comes with a few other considerations, but I quickly learned the ropes. At the time, I was still figuring out my own personal style, and thinking about sweater designs made me give some serious thought to how my clothing impacts my mindset and just what is my personal style anyway.

My very first adult sweater pattern, Isla.

It turns out that I feel better about myself and am able to be a much better and more accomplished mother when I am wearing clothing that I love and feel good in. I’ve been working on creating a beautiful selection of handknit garments for myself every since. Wearing a sweater I made for myself just makes me feel fantastic.

My latest favorite cardigan, Snowland, gets worn almost every day. I wear it with a chambray shirt when I’m feeling fancy.

I am rarely precious about my handknit sweaters and wear them every day regardless of what I am doing. Using a good wool yarn means that the sweater can handle some serious wear and tear. And when the sweater finally begins to show its age, I can mend it to be lovingly worn many more times.

Designing my own sweaters gives me the freedom to have the handknit wardrobe of my dreams and so I will never stop. Beautiful, simple, and so gloriously wearable sweaters are my goal. Sweaters that I love to knit and will love wearing for years. I love them, and I am delighted that so many of you love them too.  

Abloom was published early this past spring. Wearing it makes waiting for spring a bit less dreary.