Today’s interview is with Monika Sirna of What Dreams are Made of, a designer of sleek and modern pieces.

Cabernet Sauvignon

How did you get started designing?
Designing was a natural progression from knitting for me. I modified most of the patterns I knitted – I was always analyzing the stitches, thinking why ‘this way’ it would be better than ‘that way’. My first design was Green Apple, and it was such a fun design to work on! However, I was shocked at how many different levels a designer has to cover before a pattern is ready to be published. From the first idea, to knitting samples, then making calculations while ensuring every single stitch adds up, not to mention the spelling, the editing, the photography…! But after working on the pattern for 3 months and knitting 6 Green Apples myself, and seeing how everything came together, I couldn’t be happier!

Green Apple

What inspires your designs?
I find my inspiration almost everywhere! It can be a new skein of yarn, a color, a little dress in a magazine, a little girl crossing the street, a tiny piece of fabric, a button, a kids’ coloring book, a piece of ribbon, a painting, a photo (not knitting related), a new design I am currently working on …. However, most of the time, new ideas pop in my head when there is peace and quiet around me, no tv, no radio, no kids running around. Letting the thoughts flow brings my inspiration new life.

Which comes first – the yarn or the inspiration?
Most of the time – the yarn! Although there are a few designs, which made me search the internet for hours (while looking for the perfect yarn)!

What characteristics do you try to incorporate in your designs?
I love natural fibers, beautiful bright colors, and I am always searching for the perfect combination.

I love perfection in every detail and I share those details, tip and techniques in my patterns, so a knitters may achieve the same effect seen on my samples. On the other hand, I love to offer options and tips for customizations. This is what makes knitting live, what makes every piece unique, and it gives you the gentle push to knit a piece you would like to wear.

Tutu

What is your favourite type of item to design?
Skirts! I love how happy they make a little girl feel, and I love how feminine and beautiful they make a women look.

Your desert island yarn? (if you could only knit with one yarn from now on which would it be?)
This is one of the hardest question, almost like choosing your favorite child. Hmm, I would go with the buttery softness of Cashmere Delight by Colour Adventures!

Alyssum Way

What’s your “comfort knitting?”
My comfort knitting is miles and miles of stockinette – hands at work and mind free to play with new ideas!

Which is your most under-appreciated design?
Saku Hana. I was over the moon when I came up with the idea, feeling like I discovered the world! These are the happiest mitts I have knitted so far, and I was pleasantly surprised with the photos as well. The mitts feature a very elegant cable panel at the top and an intriguing ribbing at the palm side. The combination of those two will give you the perfect fit and will keep the mitt in shape for years to come. The generous length will make sure your hands stay warm, your knuckles covered without the extra bulk in your palm you will get with most of the mitts.

Saku Hana

Continental or English?
Continental.

Which three GAL designs are top of your list to cast on?
Ooooh, the top three GAL designs I want to knit are Snowstorm Hat by Anna Rauf, Lady Schenley by Jenn Emerson, and Granny’s Favourite by Georgie Hallam.

What’s the best thing about knitting?
The satisfaction it gives you when you finish a project, the great feeling that you created something. The feeling that you didn’t waste your time even if you watched TV, were sitting in a traffic white taking a buss to work, or in a waiting room.

Tiger Lily Shawl

What’s the one piece of advice you’d like to share with other knitters?
Ohhh, advice! That can be dangerous! Well, I think it’s important to stretch your knitting knowledge to new horizons, like for example by trying things, as new techniques. It’s sometimes thrilling to see what you can do with something new! Sometimes new techniques make you understand old ones even better! And sometimes they solve a longlasting hassle/problem.

Any knitting/designing New Year’s resolutions?
I must finish the sweater designs I am working on, and write the patterns for the ones I already finished samples for. Also, I want to work on a few designs with neutral colors.

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View all of Monika’s patterns here. Photo of Tiger Lily Shawl is copyright KnittyO. All other photos are copyright Monika Sirna and all photos are used by permission.

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