Eclectic Closet Litblog, Book Reviews & Knitting Designs

A litblog dedicated to book reviews/recommendations, as well as literary and publishing news. Now enhanced with knitting designs.

Interview: Gabrielle Danskknit

November21

Interview #4 is with fellow Canadian designer, Gabrielle Danskknit.

Gabrielle Danskknit

Gabrielle Danskknit

Who taught you to knit/How did you learn to knit?
My grandmother gave me some yarn and needles and taught me the basics when I was about 12. Then I went to the library and learned more with books.

How did you get started designing?
I always felt like something was missing in the patterns I was knitting at the time (mostly French patterns). I wanted to take a little bit of this and a little bit of that, knit in the round, etc. Plus, my gauge was never right. So I started creating things just the way I was imagining them.

What inspires your designs?
Stitches and textures mostly. Sometimes I will stare at someone’s hat in the bus, get inspired and when I get home I just need to cast on!

Which comes first – the yarn or the inspiration?
Inspiration more often. Nowadays I’m lucky to have a good stash, so sometimes it’s the yarn.

What characteristics do you try to incorporate in your designs?
Easiness. I often go for straight forward construction and minimal sewing. Texture too.

What is your favourite type of item to design?
It changes! Right now it’s all about hats. When I started it was mostly baby items and blankets.

Tell me about your aviator hats, what is the story behind these pieces?
I wanted to knit something for a fellow knitter and she liked aviator hats. I thought it was something I could easily make so I just designed one! Then I had to add textures, colours, etc. An entire collection was born after a few years.

Do you have an aspirational knit – a complicated/challenging design that you want to knit “some day” when you feel ready?
A sweater for me. I don’t think it’s that much of a challenge but I mostly knit small items and get bored easily. So I will need to find the perfect combination of yarn and pattern to keep me motivated!

What is coming next? What’s in your release queue?
More hats! And baby items, I can’t stop!

Your desert island yarn? (if you could only knit with one yarn from now on which would it be?)
Malabrigo Rios. That thing is… wonderful!

Which is your most under-appreciated design?
I think I have a few ones. I also think I would like to revamp some of them. A design I like which is not getting as much attention as I think it deserves is Bergen Snowflake.

What’s the one piece of advice you’d like to share with other knitters?
When you no longer have motivation to finish an item, just drop it. The freedom you have after, to just cast on something new and forget about the old one…

Any knitting/designing New Year’s resolutions?
Knit for myself more often!

If you could have dinner with one knitting designer (living or dead) who would it be and why?
Maybe Ysolda Teague? A dinner in Scotland with a talented designer!

View all of Gabrielle’s patterns here. Photos copyright Gabrielle Danskknit. All images used by permission.

You can find Gabrielle on the following social media sites:

What is the Gift-A-Long? The GAL is a big knitting and crochet designer promotion with prizes and more than 5,000 people participating in a giant KAL/CAL. Come join the GAL group on Ravelry!

posted under interview, Knitting

Email will not be published

Website example

Your Comment:

 

Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required
Email Preference *
Email Format

Visit my Ravelry Shop

My Knitting Patterns


Audrey II



Angular Path Scarf



Cartouche Stole



Fossetta Cowl



Fossetta Hat



Sargaço Shawl



Whitman Hat



Every Which Way Cowl



Every Which Way Hat



Every Which Way Fingerless Mitts



Gothic Forest Scarf



Valencia Scarf



Branching Path Cowl



Flower Bell Stole



Whitman Cowl



New Tech Cowl



Vieux Carré Stole



Stacks Socks



Anna Perenna Shawlette



Taming of the Fox


Don't Ask Y

Cantilevering Leaves



Amplification Stole



Combs Cowl



Mindfulness Cowl



Tipsy Scarf



Gridwork Scarf
Ravelry Free Download