Where did your art story begin?

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I have always been a “maker”, but my mother taught me how to knit when I was about 9. I was born and raised in South Africa, where knitting is a more prominent pastime. Whenever someone had a baby, my mother would knit the baby jacket, and I would knit the matching booties. Life happened, and I didn’t pick the skill up again until I was expecting my third child. Things seemed to just fall into place, and my love affair was rekindled, at times escalating into obsession. Knitting is a way to ease daily tension, a way to forget about the busyness and complications of life and simply zone in on completion and success of a project. Whatever the current situation, I can always control the outcome while finishing a piece, and feel accomplished.

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I create because...

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I feel an inert need to. If I’m not planning or working on a project, I feel like my mind is all over the place. 

 

Where does your inspiration comes from and how to your art ideas formulate?

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My inspiration comes mostly from color. I get moved by a color I see in nature, something I’ve seen someone wear, or sometimes even the yarn itself.  

 

What is the knitting process like when you are working on a new piece?

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Knitting is like sculpting to me. I either use a pattern or work from my own design. But once I begin, the precision of bending and manipulating the fiber, the tension, the pace...is all about molding. Once I’ve finished knitting, the sculpting continues. Completing a piece ends in an elaborate blocking process, where I wet, carefully stretch, pin and dry the piece flat. Blocking is crucial to each piece. It evens out the stitches and really highlights detail of the stitch pattern. 

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What are some standout points or people in your life that guided you here?

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While my interest was initially sparked by my mother, the are a number of fellow knitters, independent dyers and designers who not only inspire me, but encourage me. I’ve become part of a fiber community that truly believes in each other, they have really been a blessing in my life. 

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Posted October 2020