Close Knit

The Close Knit podcast showcases artists, designers, and makers from all over the world who work with fibre in its many forms. Knitters, spinners, sewers, textile artists - all will be celebrated on the Close Knit podcast.

Sky Carter - Sky Carter Colour

Close Knit - Ani Lee

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Sky is a market hunter bargain hunter and loves sourcing different and unique materials for her weavings. In this episode, she talks about how she's learned to outsource certain parts of her process to be able to do the creative work - outsourcing the things that are time consuming and don't contribute to her joy. She keeps her outsourcing local - for practicality's sake and for the community. 

We chat about fibre art and how it fits into the traditional "art" world - and specifically how weaving fits in, how she sources materials and how she figures out how to price her work and communicate that to the world.

Sky's background in interiors and her love of colour has brought her to a point where she sells her work in interior shops. 

 

People/ Things we mentioned in the podcast:

• Kustaa Saksi - the fibre artist Sky is most excited about - he uses jacquard looms to make wall hangings 
• Natalie Miller Design - Her chandelier installations in Hong Kong - she shared her process here - the physical pain involved with the installation process, and other insights into her process.
• Thousand Wave - weaver that does kooky and colourful textural wearable art that her grandma models
• El Anatsui - the artist Sky has been most interested in and inspired by - Ghanaian sculptor. learn more about them here .

Find Sky: instagram | facebook | website Want more? 

• Subscribe: Itunes or Pocket Casts

Like what you're hearing? 

Awesome! I'm glad you've found your way to this podcast. Please feel free to subscribe, leave a review on iTunes (this makes all the difference to reaching more people!) and share with your loved ones. Thanks for tuning in.

Until next time! 

xx

Ani 

The Close Knit podcast showcases artists, designers, and makers from all over the world who work with fibre in its many forms. Knitters, spinners, sewers, textile artists - all will be celebrated on the Close Knit podcast.

This week (ep. 8) of the Close Knit Podcast, I chat to Catherine Wendland, a knitter based in the Pacific Northwest. Catherine expresses her undying love for wool and the many amazing qualities it possesses, and how incredible the fibre community can be. She also reveals some thoughts on the not-so-nice side of social media and the competition it can spark.  At the same time, Catherine has greatly enjoyed the social aspect of the fibre community and relishes in sharing her finished objects with other hand makers. 

 

Catherine Wendland

Close Knit - Ani Lee

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Catherine explains her newfound approach to making - a more mindful approach that considers what she truly needs in her wardrobe and focusing in on the process. She's also incorporating more knits for other folks in her life, straying from the "selfish" knitting she started out with. 

These (picture below) are the knitting patterns Catherine designed in high school - like we were chatting about on the podcast - aren't they awesome?! 

People/ Things we mentioned in the podcast:

• strokkur by ysolda teague - catherine's first sweater project
• fair isle knit - gudrun johnston
• Karen Templer Fringe Association - inspiration, tutorials, knitalongs, yarn reviews
• Diana wallah - paper tiger
• Felicia: the craft sessions, #stashless project 
• Clara Parkes Shetland yarn
• Fibre Share
• Anna - Tolt Yarn and Wool

Find Catherine: instagramWant more? 

• Subscribe: Itunes or Pocket Casts

Like what you're hearing? 

Awesome! I'm glad you've found your way to this podcast. Please feel free to subscribe, leave a review on iTunes (this makes all the difference to reaching more people!) and share with your loved ones. Thanks for tuning in.

Until next time! 

xx

Ani 

 

 

 

Gina with the women who work for Poppy and Pima

The Close Knit podcast showcases artists, designers, and makers from all over the world who work with fibre in its many forms. Knitters, spinners, sewers, textile artists - all will be celebrated on the Close Knit podcast.

This week's episode has a special gift- a 25% discount to Caitlin Hunter's Pattern Shop - Boyland Knitworks. Caitlin lives on a farmstead in rural Oregon with her husband, 3 little boys and a pile of assorted animals. When she’s not herding animals (or children) she’s designing beautiful knitting patterns and embracing slow fashion through her use of sustainable fibres and naturally dyed wool. Caitlin’s patterns cover everything from simple drapey jumpers to lace worked shawls and lovely fair isle beanies. To get 25% off all of Caitlin’s knitting patterns, check out her ravelry shop and enter CLOSEKNIT at checkout.  A big thank you to Caitlin for offering this special gift to podcast listeners. 

In this episode, I speak to Gina Rockenwagner - owner of Poppy and Pima, knitwear designer, and quilter. Gina chats to me about her experimental approach to quilting, and how she uses quilting as an outlet from designing knitwear to fit a human body. 

EPISODE SEVEN :: Gina Rockenwagner - Poppy and Pima

Close Knit - Ani Lee

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one of gina's quilts

Gina clears up my confusion on what "baby alpaca" actually is, as I, embarrassingly, don't actually know what it is! We chat about Gina's entrance into the knitwear design world, and why she thinks of knitting as the original 3d printer.

People/ Things we mentioned in the podcast:

• Anna Maltz - The Sweater Spotter on instragram, author of Penguin Knits 
• Zak Foster - brooklyn based quilter
• Ruby Hoppen - Australian quilter   
• Rebbecca Ringquist - embroidery artist
• Great people who live in Michigan: Meg Navoy - A Wool Story (ep. 6 guest), Marlee Grace - Have Company
• Oxbow Artist Residency in Michigan

Find Gina: website | instagram | facebook Want more? 

• Subscribe: Itunes or Pocket Casts

Like what you're hearing? 

Awesome! I'm glad you've found your way to this podcast. Please feel free to subscribe, leave a review on iTunes (this makes all the difference to reaching more people!) and share with your loved ones. Thanks for tuning in.

Until next time! 

xx

Ani 

The Close Knit podcast showcases artists, designers, and makers from all over the world who work with fibre in its many forms. Knitters, spinners, sewers, textile artists - all will be celebrated on the Close Knit podcast.

Meg Navoy - A Wool Story

Close Knit - Ani Lee

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In Episode 6 of the Close Knit Podcast, Meg schools me on the sustainability of alpaca, we chat about how she got into knitting, her time at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), and how her dad is taking after her in striving for zero waste (well, kind of). Meg and I share a lot of laughs on this episode, over her time on an alpaca farm, among other fun stories she shares. 

People/things we mentioned in this podcast

• Meg blew my mind when she explained to me why alpaca is more sustainable than other fibres, including wool. 
• Instead of going to a music festival, Meg visited an alpaca farm and spent the money she saved on a ticket on alpaca (as one does): Waldron Grove Alpaca Farm
• We chat about Meg's friend who founded this company - Evernu - though we got a little bit of info wrong in the podcast- they don't actually recycle mixed fibres, because it's really really hard.  
• Meg introudces me to a thing called "warp knitting" which she learnt about at FIT - it's mainly used for shows and things of that sort. 
• Things and people Meg finds inspiring and reckons we all should be following? 
  • quince and co, marlee grace over at have company, camellia fiber co, karen templer of Fringe Association, and the ever- present on this podcast :), maryanne moodie

 

The Close Knit podcast showcases artists, designers, and makers from all over the world who work with fibre in its many forms. Knitters, spinners, sewers, textile artists - all will be celebrated on the Close Knit podcast.

Lauren Hunter - Costumer Maker

Close Knit - Ani Lee

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This week on the Close Knit Podcast, I spoke to Lauren Hunter, who is a student of costume making at NIDA (the national institute of dramatic arts). We chat about how and why she got into costume making, her love of medieval footwear, and her interest in fibre in its many forms (think leather work).  Lauren loves the feeling that making something from start to finish gives her - so much so that she went back to school to study costume making.  Listen to the whole chat from the link above, or subscribe on itunes! 

People/ Things we mentioned in the podcast:

• The Corseted Beauty - maker of historical fashions
• Zoe Felice - costumer, designer of burlesque pieces, and former NIDA student

Want more? 

• Subscribe: Itunes or Pocket Casts

Like what you're hearing? 

Awesome! I'm glad you've found your way to this podcast. Please feel free to subscribe, leave a review on iTunes (this makes all the difference to reaching more people!) and share with your loved ones. Thanks for tuning in.

Until next time! 

xx

Ani 

The Close Knit podcast showcases artists, designers, and makers from all over the world who work with fibre in its many forms. Knitters, spinners, sewers, textile artists - all will be celebrated on the Close Knit podcast.

Emily Hundt - In The Folds

Close Knit - Ani Lee

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In this week's episode, I chat to Emily Hundt from In the Folds. Em and I cover a lot of ground in this one - from her time in London, when she was exposed to incredible upcycled garments, to how she chooses materials and construction techniques. Everything that Em does is remarkably considered - and that has led to a beautiful aesthetic for her brand. She works primarily with reclaimed materials that she works tirelessly to source. See the photos below of Em and her work, and check out the links to some of the things we mentioned in the show. 

 

People/ Things we mentioned in the podcast:

• The Fabric Cave - social enterprise selling pre-loved fabric, based in Sydney. 
• Liz Payne - fantastic embroiderer
• Sarah Benning - does amazing plant embroidery  
• Katherine Mavridis - incredible, sculptural garments 

Find Emily: website | instagram | facebook Want more? 

• Subscribe: Itunes or Pocket Casts

Like what you're hearing? 

Awesome! I'm glad you've found your way to this podcast. Please feel free to subscribe, leave a review on iTunes (this makes all the difference to reaching more people!) and share with your loved ones. Thanks for tuning in.

Until next time! 

xx

Ani 

The Close Knit podcast showcases artists, designers, and makers from all over the world who work with fibre in its many forms. Knitters, spinners, sewers, textile artists - all will be celebrated on the Close Knit podcast.

EPISODE THREE:: Laura Taylor - School of Hard Knots

Ani Lee

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This episode I met up with Laura Taylor of School of Hard Knots. I met Laura through my usual creepy Instagram lurking, and now we hang out and have natural dyeing experiments. I'm so inspired by Laura's modern approach to crochet and knitting, and I love her easy-to-follow crochet videos. 

 

People/ Things we mentioned in the podcast:

• The Makery/Work-Shop (where Laura teaches her classes) 
• Caitlin Murray (Raglan St Wears - episode one of the Close Knit Podcast) 
• Purl Soho - sewing/knitting/crochet design inspiration 

Find Laura: website | instagram | facebook Want more? 

• Subscribe: Itunes or Pocket Casts

Like what you're hearing? 

Awesome! I'm glad you've found your way to this podcast. Please feel free to subscribe, leave a review on iTunes (this makes all the difference to reaching more people!) and share with your loved ones. Thanks for tuning in.

Until next time! 

xx

Ani 

The Close Knit podcast showcases artists, designers, and makers from all over the world who work with fibre in its many forms. Knitters, spinners, sewers, textile artists - all will be celebrated on the Close Knit podcast.

Close Knit Podcast : Kylie Walsh - We Heart The Arts

Ani Lee

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This episode, I caught up with Kylie Walsh of We Heart the Arts. Kylie is a curator, creative retail space manager, and event organiser. She works with fibre in her practice of "wrapping" - which we'll talk about in the podcast. This past year, she's gotten into weaving - check out some of her work below. 

 a weaving of kylie's 

One of Kylie's "wrappings" over a jar - now housing a plant 

Photos by: Ani Lee, Kylie Walsh 

People/things we mentioned in the podcast:

• Liz Payne - embroiderer
• Laura Taylor, School of Hard Knots (also ep.3 on the Close Knit Podcast ;) ) 
• Above the Canopy - Lizzy Mendinsky (ep 10 on the Close Knit Podcast - stay tuned!) 
• Queen Babs - Jane (again!) 
• The Unusual Pear - weaver 
• Fibre Share - every few months, fibre artists from around the world send each other parcels of fibre-y goodness to love and make with (it's a pretty special thing!) 
• Natalie Miller Design - weaver, macrame artist, knitter, dyer (all round #colourporn)
• Miss Helen - weaver and weaving teacher
• We Heart the Arts - Kylie's venture, which supports Sydney's creatives through community + social engagement

Follow along with Kylie on Instagram and Facebook

Want more? 

• Subscribe: Itunes  + Pocketcasts

Like what you're hearing? 

Awesome! I'm glad you've found your way to this podcast. Please feel free to subscribe, leave a review on iTunes (this makes all the difference to reaching more people!) and share with your loved ones. Thanks for tuning in.

Until next time! 

xx

Ani 

Caitlin in her studio 

The Close Knit podcast showcases artists, designers, and makers from all over the world who work with fibre in its many forms. Knitters, spinners, sewers, textile artists - all will be celebrated on the Close Knit podcast.

Close Knit Podcast Episode 1 - Caitlin Murray

Ani Lee- Close Knit

This week on the Close Knit Podcast, I spoke to Caitlin Murray of Raglan St Wears. We chatted about the inspiration for her SS15 collection, how she keeps motivated to continue working on her business, and her love of needlepoint. 

The Rosamund Tank from Caitlin's SS15 collection

The Marion Hand Knit Tank from Caitlin's SS15 collection

People/ Things we mentioned in the podcast:

• William Morris - 1800's tapestry designer, artist, philosopher (this is the needlepoint maker Caitlin is using to create her latest needlepoint project) 
• Picnic At Hanging Rock - the movie that inspired Caitlin's SS15 collection
• The Beach Tank - Jess Schreibstien's knitting pattern that Caitlin has been working on
• Maryanne Moodie - expert weaver, check out the hashtag #weaveweird on social media channels
• Queen Babs (Jane) - crocheter, yarn-bomber, facilitator of community gatherings - all 'round lovely human. 

Find Caitlin: website | instagram | facebook Want more? 

• Subscribe: Itunes

Like what you're hearing? 

Awesome! I'm glad you've found your way to this podcast. Please feel free to subscribe, leave a review on iTunes (this makes all the difference to reaching more people!) and share with your loved ones. Thanks for tuning in.

Until next time! 

xx

Ani 

 

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Close Knit Podcast Introduction

Ani Lee

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There is so much talent and beauty in the fibre arts world. It's all around us - social media, in magazines, workshops, retail spaces - and I'm constantly in awe of it.

So, I'm bringing you a recorded podcast, along with little blog posts, simply titled, the Close Knit Podcast, because these folks (mostly women, I've found - #thefutureisfemale) are just too good not to share. 

At first, I planned to make this a written series, and then my friend Caitlin (pictured above, center) suggested we chat these out and record the answers. And I thought, "like a podcast?" - and then I was really excited about making a podcast, as that's the way I most love consuming stories and interviews, so I changed gears and started recording my conversations with these ladies. 

Weavers, knitters, sewers, natural dyers, crochet-lovers, and everything in between. We'll get a peek into their work and lives, and get to know a bit about what got them started and what keeps them going. 

Can't wait to share these gems with you! 

xx

Ani