This month, I am over-the-moon excited to be interviewing Andrea Mowry, my favorite designer! As I’m sure you all know, Andrea basically invented the fade craze starting with her Find Your Fade shawl and continuing with many other fabulous designs. My questions will be in black, and Andrea’s responses will be in purple because the guest should always get the best color!
Welcome, Andrea!
Thank you so much for having me!!
Can you tell us how you got started in fiber arts? How did you first learn to knit?
I am one of the lucky ones who was taught by their grandma. My Grandma Ginny taught me when I was about 9 years old. I was the only one out of her 11 grandchildren that she passed it on to, and I spent much of my adult life thanking her for the gift she gave me. It has truly altered the course of my life and lead to so much happiness!
Did you do what most people do and start with acrylic yarn and then move onto more luxurious yarn?
I am sure what she used to teach me was definitely acrylic. My guess is that it was Red Heart, as that is what she always used to knit afghans. She made one for all of her grandchildren when we were little, and we got to pick out the color- I still have mine! When I returned to knitting in my teens and became thoroughly obsessed, I began using wool and discovering what a vast world of yarn was out there!
When did you decide to start designing your own patterns, and what led to that?
I tried for the first time in my early twenties. I was living in New Zealand and was absolutely obsessed with knitting. If I wasn’t knitting, I was blogging about knitting. I wondered if I could make a career out of it?? Sadly, I was turned down for the one submission I sent out (rightfully so, LOL! You can see what it was if you hunt back in my Instagram this past year.)
It took me about 10 years to muster the courage to try again. I had just had my first child and had left my busy job as a baker to be a stay-at-home mom. It was very challenging to go through such a big life change (working 50+ hours a week) and the loss of income. I was constantly knitting while my daughter napped, and I thought maybe if I could sell some knitting patterns I could still indulge in buying yarn! So I published a mitten pattern, and then a hat pattern, and then my first collection, and here we are 4 years later, and I support my family with my knitwear design! There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t give gratitude for being able to do what I love!
I love that so much! There’s nothing like making a living doing what you love!
When you’re looking for inspiration for a new pattern, where do you find it?
Everywhere! I snap photos all the time of textures, colors–even just someone with cool style that I pass in the airport. More often then not, though, it seems to appear out of nowhere. I’ll be sitting, not doing anything of much importance, and out of the darkness in my mind a spark – and pop! I am rushing to get my notebook out to jot it down before I forget it.
Do you see yourself ever running out of ideas?
*Knocking on wood.* No! Some days I feel overwhelmed by the amount of ideas I have and the lack of time I have to create them. I constantly have to remind myself to slow down. If the idea is a good one, it will still be there by the time I have space for it.
That makes sense! I saw on your blog (http://www.dreareneeknits.com/blog) that your husband does the photography for your patterns. What a great partnership! Is he involved in other aspects of your work as a designer as well?
My husband is my biggest support, and I am so lucky to have him behind the camera! He has an amazing eye and really brings soul to my knits through his photographs. Besides taking the photos, he is the one wrangling our kiddos all day while I work on new designs! I like to dream that in the future when both of our children our in school, he would like to become a bigger part of the business, but I think at that point he will want to focus on his own art! He is an incredible musician.
Which comes first? The yarn or the pattern? Do you find some yarn and come up with the perfect pattern to go with it, or do you have a pattern idea in mind and go in search of yarn that would complement it?
I think there is always a bit of both, but most of the time the yarn tells me what it wants to be.
What’s your favorite yarn weight to work with?
I tend to go in phases, but I often time default to fingering-weight yarn because I believe it is incredibly versatile–and you can always hold multiple strands together to achieve a heavier weight!
What’s your favorite fiber or fiber blend to work with, and what do you like about it?
Wool – forever! I am mesmerized by all of it’s unique attributes and I love the way it feels moving through my hands as I work. I have also found that I wear my wool knits more than any others!
What is your own personal favorite design that you have made so far?
Oh this is always tough – like picking a favorite child! It is usually whatever I have just finished because I am so excited about it! If I went with my most worn, it would probably be The Weekender, and if I went with “woah, I made that!!”, it would be my Wool and Honey or Shifty sweaters. (Yes, I know I just sneaked 3 in there! Ha!)
Where is the best place to get your patterns?
https://www.ravelry.com/designers/andrea-mowry
Where else can we find you online?
www.instagram.com/dreareneeknits
Can you give us a sneak peak of what you’re working on right now?
I just finished up a new sweater with The Farmer’s Daughter Fibers yarn that I’ll be working on grading into all the sizes this week!!
I can’t wait to see it! Andrea, thank you so much for the interview. It was an honor to interview you!
May Club Colorway Announcement
There’s one more thing I wanted to tell you today. I was planning on using a painting by Renoir for the May yarn and fiber club colorway, but I changed my mind. Like so many, I was moved by sadness at the Notre Dame Cathedral fire and then was so very relieved to hear that the relics, the art work, and most of the cathedral itself were saved. The fact that the rose window in particular survived against all odds seems almost miraculous. In solidarity with the people of Paris, I decided to use Maximilien Luce’s painting, “Nore-Dame de Paris” as my inspiration this month. Here’s the painting:
Trying to come close to the color of the sun reflecting off the cathedral’s facade is going to be an interesting challenge! If you would like to join my yarn or fiber clubs or make changes to your current club subscriptions, feel free to do so through May 1st. Have a beautiful, fiber-filled week!