Interview: Vicky Chan
Today’s second interview is with Vicky Chan of Vicky Chan Designs, a fellow Canadian designer of both knit and crochet patterns, as well as those that combine both.
Who taught you to knit/crochet – How did you learn to knit/crochet?
My aunt taught me to knit and my grandmother taught me to crochet when I was little. It was fun learning with my two sisters the basics through knitting a scarf and crocheting a coin purse.
How did you get started designing?
It all started with “may be I’ll give it a try”.
What inspires your designs?
Fashion magazines and Japanese craft mooks.
Which comes first – the yarn or the inspiration?
The inspiration.
What characteristics do you try to incorporate in your designs?
Botanical and lace themes.
What is your favourite type of item to design?
Sweaters.
Many of your pieces combine knitting and crochet. How does the design process differ than designing for just knit or crochet?
(I only have few pieces combining knitting and crochet at the moment, but I do plan to design more of them.)
The design process is pretty much the same for me, except I would also consider how the knit and crochet portions should complement or balance each other, and if the gauge difference between the two would impact the yarn choice.
Do you have an aspirational knit/crochet – a complicated/challenging design that you want to knit “some day” when you feel ready?
I would like to try free form crochet on a sweater.
What is coming next? What’s in your release queue?
A knitting pattern is coming next in my release queue.
Your desert island yarn? (if you could only knit/crochet with one yarn from now on which would it be?)
Any nice, soft cotton/linen yarn because I have sensitive skin.
Which is your most under-appreciated design?
The sweater that I have wanted to design for my husband.
What’s the one piece of advice you’d like to share with other knitters/crocheters?
Make a swatch.
Any knitting/crochet/designing New Year’s resolutions?
I’ve never made any New Year’s resolutions – I’m too impatient to wait for the New Year. ?
If you could have dinner with one knitting/crochet designer (living or dead) who would it be and why?
Michelangelo! What? He doesn’t do knitting/crochet design? Can I still have dinner with him? Pleeease…
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View all of Vicky’s patterns here. All photos copyright Vicky Chan. All images used by permission.
You can find Vicky on the following social media sites:
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