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Knitting School Dropout: Melissa

March 1, 2012

As promised, more Melissa fun. We have an interview with this swell designer.

The Swell Cowl is a free pattern, available on the Spud & Chloë Blog

You can find the Swell Cowl here.

Cousin Katie: Melissa, please tell us a little bit about yourself.

Melissa: I’m a life-long New Englander living in lovely western Massachusetts. I live with my partner Brendan, two cats, and we’re expecting our first child, a daughter in early May. I learned to knit in the mid-nineties, when I was in my early twenties and working in a nursing home. At first I thought it would be a way to bond with a resident who didn’t particularly like me, but it stuck and I ended up running a little knitting group during my time there. I kind of dropped it for a few years and picked it up again maybe eight years ago. I haven’t put the needles down since!

A sweet, feminine design from Melissa.

The Folk Story Cardi can be downloaded or purchased at your local Spud & Chloë stockist.

Cousin Katie: Congratulations! That is very exciting. With all of life’s goings on, what inspires you? In particular, what inspired the Swell Cowl or Folk Story Cardi?

Melissa: I’m most often inspired simply by what I’d like to wear at the moment. I’m kind of obsessed with reversible cowls at the moment, so this design follows that theme. I wear lots of cardigans, so I end up designing many too. I also love knitting lace, so this (the Folk Story Cardi), was just a way to combine two of my favorite things. I love to knit myself sweaters (can’t wait to get back to those when I’m not pregnant anymore), cowls and hats. I’ve been knitting mostly accessories these days.

Melissa, our brilliant designer.

Cousin Katie: What is your knitting space like?

Melissa: I do have a dedicated knitting room in my house, and it has a comfy chair and shelves filled with books and yarn. But these days I tend to knit a lot in my living room while I watch movies. It give me the option of taking a quick nap when I need one (which is pretty often these days).

Cousin Katie: What’s your favorite color? What color do you gravitate to knitting with?

Melissa: My favorite color changes, but lately it seems like teal-y blues are my favorite.

A Melissa design for Blue Sky Alpacas

The Men’s Striped Vest from Blue Sky Alpacas is a wearable men’s design.

Cousin Katie: Is there a special technique that you would like to share with the Spud & Chloë Pals?

Melissa: I use magic loop to knit anything with a small circumference in the round. It’s my favorite trick that I’ve learned over the years. I try to teach it to every knitter I know.

Cousin Katie: Is there something you don’t like about knitting?

Melissa: It takes an awfully long time! I’ll never get all those design ideas out!

A one hank, TECHNO wonder!

This Blue Sky Alpacas design, the Cafe Beret is another great accessory by Melissa.

Isn’t that the truth. There are never enough hours in the day to do all the knitting I would like.

Thanks to Melissa, for a great interview. I love getting to know the people behind all my favorite designs.

Stay tuned, I have one more Melissa surprise in store Spud & Chloë Pals.

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