Christine Guest, Indie Design Gift A-Long 2019 Interview
Contents
- 1 Christine Guest, Indie Design Gift A-Long 2019 Interview
- 1.1 How did you get into knitting/crochet and who taught you?
- 1.2 What made you want to start designing?
- 1.3 What’s you favourite part of the design process?
- 1.4 What inspires you?
- 1.5 Are you a full-time or part-time designer and how does that fit into your life?
- 1.6 Do you have a favourite thing to design and why?
- 1.7 Do you have much time to make things for yourself or for gifting?
- 1.8 If someone knitted or crocheted a gift item for you, what would you love the most?
- 1.9 Do you have a favourite yarn and why?
- 1.10 What’s your favourite of your own designs and what do you love about it?
- 1.11 Is there anything new you can tell us about or a recent design you’d like to chat about?
- 1.12 What’s your favourite colour?
- 1.13 Have you been a participating designer in the Indie Gift Along before and what do you love most about it?
- 1.14 Which Gift Along 2019 designers inspire you and why?
- 1.15 How do people get in touch with you or see more of your work?
Today we’re chatting to a good friend of mine, Christine Guest, who a knit and crochet designer.
I’m Christine Guest. I homeschool my youngest two kids; figure out what gluten free meals are nutritious, tasty and cheap (my daughter and I have Celiac Disease); volunteer at church; and write knitting and crochet patterns. The writing gives me something technical, artistic and relatively linear to talk about.
How did you get into knitting/crochet and who taught you?
I learned to crochet at Pioneer Girls at church when I was in third grade, then borrowed a library book to learn to knit when I was 15, so I wouldn’t be someone who could only crochet.
Herringbone Toque by Christine Guest
What made you want to start designing?
In the beginning I didn’t understand crochet pattern instructions, but I did understand sewing shapes so designing made sense as long as I could convince my Mom that I wasn’t wasting yarn or time. Those early sweaters were hysterical; once I made a life size stitch chart on a brown paper bag, because I didn’t realize you could measure a swatch and fill in a schematic. Algebra class should have had some word problems about crafting.
My Aunt Bev asked me if I was going to, “Waste money on patterns, or buy one book that told you how to make everything.” I thought she meant Elizabeth Zimmerman, but I think she meant the pattern atlas my Grandmother had. Now I will buy a pattern to see how another designer did something cool and not to make the item. I think my Aunt is laughing at me from Heaven.
Library Window Watchcap by Christine Guest
What’s you favourite part of the design process?
Ivy Vine Mittens by Christine Guest. © Shannon Lynn Photography 2012
What inspires you?
Are you a full-time or part-time designer and how does that fit into your life?
Knitted Library Window Watchcap by Christine Guest
Do you have a favourite thing to design and why?
Sparrow Reticule by Christine Guest
Do you have much time to make things for yourself or for gifting?
If someone knitted or crocheted a gift item for you, what would you love the most?
I’m forever losing my mittens, so a fancy colorwork pair with birds or animals on them.
Do you have a favourite yarn and why?
What’s your favourite of your own designs and what do you love about it?
Herringbone Parallelogram Scarf by Christine Guest
Is there anything new you can tell us about or a recent design you’d like to chat about?
Did you see that sideways ribbing in Habibi and Andalus? I’m so proud of that short row slide technique.
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/habibi
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/andalus
Andalus by Christine Guest
What’s your favourite colour?
My garden is constantly surprising me with what goes well together, and how much I love colors that I thought I didn’t like.
Apiaceae by Christine Guest. Photo © Avi Dascaloff 2019
Have you been a participating designer in the Indie Gift Along before and what do you love most about it?
Which Gift Along 2019 designers inspire you and why?
Lee Meredith because her patterns are so colorful and clever
talitha kuomi because she can crystalize a design to it’s simplicity, and that is super hard work.
Paola Albergamo because her modular shawls are so beautiful, and her photos make me want to dance.
Natalia Kononova did you see Spica Embossed Bag? What wonderful crochet
Hunter Hammersen, her pattern books are like stitch books. Very clever stitch books.
Christelle Nihoul I love her colorwork cowls, especially when the motifs float away from the established patterns.
Amy van de Laar Those bee patterns, and now more lovely colorwork cowls.
Barbara Benson Her pattern books have so many technical tips, and she’s another clever simplifier.
Kerri Blumer, those knotted front shirts!
There are more, but I’ve fan girled on long enough.
How do people get in touch with you or see more of your work?
Blog: http://www.christineguestdesigns.com/blog/
Website: http://www.christineguestdesigns.com
Ravelry pattern store: https://www.ravelry.com/designers/christine-guest
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christineguestknit/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/christineguest/
Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/christineguestdesigns.com/newslettersi…
Quick links to our shop
Austermann Yarns, Baby Yarns, Debbie Bliss Yarns, Lanas Stop Yarns, Araucania Yarns, Schoeller & Stahl Yarns, Felting Yarns, Noro Yarns, DK Yarns, 4ply Yarns, Aran Yarns, Fur Yarns, James C Brett Yarns, Lion Brand Yarns