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This week, Felicia is chatting with Dianna Walla, a knitwear designer currently based in Montreal, Canada. Originally from the United States, Dianna has also lived in Northern Norway for 2 years. The nordic region continues to have a strong influence on her work and she is especially inspired by stranded colourwork in Norwegian knitting. She’s created  many colourwork patterns for magazines, yarn companies, yarn stores, and her own brand: Paper Tiger. She also creates videos dealing with colourwork and related topics on the Paper Tiger YouTube channel.

Please join Felicia and Dianna as they discuss revitalizing colourwork knitting in modern aesthetics.

 “The hardest thing is figuring out what to relinquish control of, because sometimes when you end up working for yourself it’s because you like to… have control over what you’re doing and as soon as you hand it off to somebody else you’re… trusting them with this piece of your work which matters a lot to you… But it makes a big difference… ” – Dianna Walla on the pros and cons of outsourcing aspects of knitwear design

In this episode, we talk about:

• 1:57 Dianna discusses how she came to love knitting
• 3:23 How did Dianna expand her knitting skills?
• 5:30 How did Dianna get into knitwear design
• 7:00 Digital or analog designing: which does Dianna prefer?
• 8:33 Discussing the balance between Dianna’s creative world and academic world and the complications of translating knitting patterns
• 13:05 How to go about becoming a knitwear designer
• 16:00 How does Dianna find balance between photography, creating tutorial videos, marketing, and all the other aspects of being a self-published knitwear designer
• 18:42  The differences between Dianna’s two blogs: Cake and Vikings and Paper Tiger
• 23:19 What trends are currently being seen on social media in regards to knitwear design
• 25:52 Dianna describes Norwegian style colourwork knitting, why she loves it, and how she uses it in her designs
• 29:29 Felicia and Dianna discuss yarn selection regarding colourwork knitting
• 33:33 How do you help customers find colours that work for them and work well together?
• 38:04 What Dianna is exploring right now
• 40:08 Is there anything Dianna knows now that she wishes she had known when she started?
• 41:42 Where to find Dianna online
• 42:33 Felicia’s Final Notes

 

Here’s Where You Can Find Dianna:

Instagram: @cakeandvikings

Website: www.paper-tiger.net

YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/PaperTiger

 

Thanks for Listening!

Thank you so much for joining us this episode! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with your fellow fibre art friends. And if you like what we’re doing here, please leave a rating and review on iTunes for the show. We read each and every email and bit of feedback, whether it’s on Instagram, Twitter, or

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This week, Felicia is chatting with Caitlin Hunter. Caitlin runs her own knitwear design company called Boyland Knitworks and lives in Oregon with her husband and three boys. Caitlin has a degree in apparel design and manufacturing and worked as a designer in the traditional fashion manufacturing industry before leaving her career to care for her children before becoming the successful knitwear designer she is today. Caitlin’s garments feature fantastic stranded colourwork and are designed to be fashionable, comfortable, and fun!

Please join Felicia and Caitlin for their discussion on fashion, colour, and designing!

 ” In fashion for so long we women have been… stuffed into uncomfortable garments. So there’s nothing really less flattering than seeing somebody who they might look great standing still but they can’t walk in their outfit… or they’re pulling on their hem, adjusting things… it’s not fun to be that person… To try to find that happy balance between looking good and feeling good… that’s my sweet spot. ” – Caitlin Hunter on designing knitwear that’s fun to make and wear

In this episode, we talk about:

• 1:18 Caitlin chats about how she got interested in knitting
• 8:15 Felicia asks Caitlin what inspires her knitwear designs
• 10:53 Talking about comfort in knitwear patterns
• 11:53 Felicia asks Caitlin what she thinks makes a knitwear pattern go viral
• 14:17 Does Caitlin get nervous before launching a new design?
• 17:12 Chatting about the price of knitwear patterns. What is the value of a pattern and how much work goes into being a knitwear designer?
• 21:08 Caitlin and Felicia talk about trying to find balance between work and family
• 27:15 Caitlin discusses her passion for stranded colourwork knitting
• 30:13 Colour dominance in stranded colourwork knitting
• 32:14 How Caitlin chooses colours for her projects
• 33:10 Is there anything Caitlin wishes she had known before becoming a knitwear designer?
• 34:30 What is currently inspiring Caitlin and what plans she has for 2019
• 37:10 Where you can find Caitlin online
• 38:32 Felicia’s Final Notes

 

Here’s Where You Can Find Caitlin:

Instagram: @boylandknitworks

Website: www.boylandknitworks.com

Ravelry: Boyland Knitworks

 

Thanks for Listening!

Thank you so much for joining us this episode! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with your fellow fibre art friends. And if you like what we’re doing here, please leave a rating and review on iTunes for the show. We read each and every email and bit of feedback, whether it’s on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook, so we welcome your comments.

Thank you all so much for your continued support of our show! Until next time, enjoy colour!

 

Music Credits:

Playbook of Happiness – by RimskyMusic

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This week’s guest is Alanna Wilcox: a Master Spinner, art educator, weaver, knitter, artist, author, and teacher! Alanna has also written an incredible book on spinning, A New Spin On Colour and a dyeing guide, Dyeing To Get The Colours You Want.

Please join Felicia and Alanna as they discuss spinning and Alanna’s massive dye formula project she is undertaking!

In this episode, we talk about:

• 1:45  Alanna chats about how she got into the fibre arts
• 4:01 Alanna shares her journey of becoming a Master Spinner
• 7:44 Felicia asks Alanna to share more details of the intensive Master Spinner course
• 10:10 Alanna discusses her personal goals with spinning
• 12:15 Alanna shares with us the massive dyeing project she is currently undertaking: colour matching dye formulas
• 17:55 Felicia and Alanna discuss the number of primary colours one can use while dyeing
• 21:36 When Alanna’s project will be available to the public (Note: as of this episode publication, her colour formulas are now available for purchase on her website!)
• 23:32 Felicia asks Alanna how she keeps track of all her swatches and samples while completing this project
• 25:20 Is colour sense and colour theory something anyone can learn?
• 27:17 Alanna chats about what it takes to teach fibre arts
• 30:56 Felicia asks Alanna how she manages to balance teaching, dyeing experiments, and having a family
• 32:52 Alanna chats about her 100 Day Project 
• 35:04 Felicia and Alanna chat about electric spinners
• 37:43 Where you can find Alanna online
• 38:46 Felicia’s Final Notes

 

Here’s Where You Can Find Alanna:

Instagram: @spinnybuns

Website: www.alannawilcox.com

Colour Matching Dye Formulas: www.alannawilcox.com/colormatchingdyeformulas

Facebook: Alanna Rothschild Wilcox

 

Enter the Giveaway for a copy of A New Spin on Colour and 5 Free Dye Formulas:

Alanna is giving our listeners a chance to win an e-copy of her book A New Spin on Colour and 5 free dye formulas! If you’d like a chance to win this awesome prize pack, click the link below and enter this episode’s secret word. Thank you so much Alanna!

Click here to enter the giveaway »

 

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Thank you so much for joining us this episode! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with your fellow fibre art friends. And if you like what we’re doing here, please le

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Sylvia is a knitwear designer who has self-published several knitwear design collections. She is well-known for her Waiting for Rainshawl which is one of the first shawls of this design to use short rows and lace together. Sylvia is also a photographer and does all the photography for her gorgeous collections.

Please join us this week as Felicia and Sylvia discuss photographing knitwear!

In this episode, we talk about:

• 2:05  Felicia and Sylvia reminisce about when they first met at Knit City years ago
• 4:48 Sylvia discusses her passion to teach other designers photography
• 7:01 Sylvia and Felicia chat about how perfectionism can interfere with artistic progress
• 7:54 Felicia asks Sylvia what her process is as a self-publishing knitwear designer
• 11:07 Discussing the "creative gap" of what vision you have in your mind versus the results you get
• 11:51 Chatting about moody and dark photography trends coming into fashion and the cyclical nature of trends
• 17:46 Discussing the challenges of photoshoots and finding models
• 22:06 Sylvia explains why she left photography school and the issues in fashion photography today
• 24:49 Felicia asks Sylvia if she keeps photography trends in mind when she does her own knitwear shoots and designs
• 26:02 Talking about Sylvia's latest purchase of a Lensbaby lens
• 27:53 The gear Sylvia recommends for photography
• 28:47 Felicia asks Sylvia how she gets her beautiful "thrown in the air" shawl photos
• 31:35 Sylvia discusses what she's working on right now
• 33:33 The difficulty of sizing in knitwear patterns
• 36:49 Felicia and Sylvia chat about dealing with the discomfort of seeing photographs of yourself
• 40:43 Sylvia offers advice to those wanting to get into knitwear design or photography
• 43:35  Felicia asks Sylvia how she manages to publish knitwear designs on her own
• 47:09 Where to find Sylvia online and her new YouTube podcast
• 48:30 Felicia's Final Thoughts and giveaway!

 

Here's Where You Can Find Sylvia:

Instagram: @softsweater

Website: www.softsweaterknits.com

Ravelry: softsweater

Ravelry group: www.ravelry.com/groups/softsweater-knits

YouTube: The Wrong Side Podcast

Facebook: Softsweater Knits

 

Enter the Giveaway for a copy of Gentle Armour:

Sylvia has generously offered our listeners a chance to win a hard copy of her shawl collection Gentle Armour: Five Shawls for Sensitive People! If you'd like a chance to win these gorgeous patterns click the link below and enter this episode's secret word. Thank you so much Sylvia!

Click here to enter the giveaway »

 

 

Thanks for Listening!

Thank you so much for joining us this episode! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with your fellow fibre art friends. And if you like what we're doing here, please

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This week Felicia is chatting with Andrea Rangel: a prolific and popular knitwear designer living in Victoria, British Columbia. She is the author of two books: Alterknit Stitch Dictionary and Rugged Knits. Although creating knitting patterns and planning workshops keeps her busy most of the time, Andrea also loves cycling and hiking when she can. She also has a great passion for sewing and dreams of having a wardrobe that is entirely handmade!

Please join us as Felicia and Andrea discuss colourwork motifs and how to modernize them.

 “I think the thing about knitting is that it’s so infinite… I never stop learning, there’s always more… That is really exciting.” – Andrea Rangel

In this episode, we talk about:

• 1:17  Felicia and Andrea chat about the recent Knit Social industry retreat on Galiano Island
• 3:58  Felicia asks Andrea what her plans for 2019 are
• 6:03  Andrea discusses her other crafty interests and how she started knitting
• 11:30  What pulled Andrea into the knitting rabbit-hole
• 15:56  Unique knitting niches and groups on the Internet
• 17:18  Andrea’s design process and how she organizes the many steps that go into publishing a pattern
• 23:55  Digital vs Analog:  How Andrea keep track of her project management
• 26:25  Felicia and Andrea chat about bullet journalling (and their lack of Instagram fanciness)
• 28:18  How do you knit for fun when it’s also your job?
• 32:33  The ladies chat about Andrea’s book: AlterKnit Stitch Dictionary
• 36:28 Felicia asks Andrea how she modernized colourwork motifs for her book and designs
• 41:19  “Remember: what matters is how you feel about your work.”
• 43:40  How did Andrea create her tidy swatches pictured in her book?
• 50:54 Andrea discusses where you can find her online
• 52:00 Felicia’s Final Thoughts and prize giveaway!

 

Here’s Where You Can Find Andrea

Instagram: @andrearangelknits

Website: www.andrearangel.com

Ravelry: Andreakr

Ravelry group: https://www.ravelry.com/groups/andrea-rangel-knits

Twitter: AndreaRKnits

Facebook: Andrea Rangel Knits

 

Enter the Giveaway for a copy of Alterknit Stitch Dictionary

If you’ve been inspired by Felicia and Andrea’s conversation and want to give stranded colourwork knitting a go, enter our contest to win a free copy of Andrea’s book: Alterknit Stitch Dictionary!

Click here to enter the giveaway »

 

Thanks for Listening!

Thank you so much for joining us this episode! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with your fellow fibre art friends. And if you like what we’re doing here, please leave a rating and review on iTunes for the show. We read each and every email and bit of feedback, whether i

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Welcome to the first episode of season four of The SweetGeorgia Show! Thank you all for your patience in waiting for this season as it’s been a long time coming. Last year was a busy one of new challenges as we worked diligently to grow my online fibre arts school: The School of SweetGeorgia. Now that the school is off the ground,  it’s time to get back to having great discussions with some amazing artists.

Please join Felicia this week as she kicks off the fourth season of The SweetGeorgia Show!

In this episode, Felicia talks about:

• 0:53 Why she started The SweetGeorgia Show
• 2:35 Why she took a year off of the podcast and why she created The School of SweetGeorgia
• 3:52 The creative itch and the fear that accompanies it
• 7:13 Felicia’s Final Notes

Check out Felicia’s Vlog

Every Friday Felicia posts an episode of my vlog “Taking Back Friday” on the SweetGeorgia YouTube channel! In this vlog, Felicia discusses what current project she’s working on, happenings at the SweetGeorgia studio, and how to organize life more efficiently to have more time for the crafts we love.

Thanks for Listening!

Thank you so much for joining us this episode! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with your fellow fibre arts friends. And if you like what we’re doing here, please leave a rating and review on iTunes for the show. We read each and every email and bit of feedback, whether it’s on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook, so we welcome your comments.

Thank you all so much for your support of the fourth season of The SweetGeorgia Show! Until we meet again, enjoy colour!

Music Credits:

Playbook of Happiness – by RimskyMusic

Click to subscribe on iTunes

Subscribe on Stitcher Radio

Subscribe on Spotify

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Thank you for joining us this season on The SweetGeorgia Show! This is the last episode this season and we are doing things a little differently from usual. This week, Felicia is by herself and wants to share with you the idea of “seasons”, why we do this podcast, and why we make it in the way that we do. Perhaps this discussion of seasons will inspire you to think differently about your own crafting life.

Please join Felicia this week as she discusses the Seasons of Craft!

In this episode, Felicia talks about:

• 1:58 The first season: Seasons of Life
• 7:17 The second season: Seasons of Creativity
• 10:55 The third season: Seasons of Productivity
• 14:26 The fourth season: Seasons of Rest
• 18:58 Felicia’s Final Notes

Thanks for Listening!

Thank you so much for joining me this episode! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with your fellow knitting friends. And if you like what I’m doing here, please leave a rating and review on iTunes for the show. I read each and every email and bit of feedback, whether it’s on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook, so I welcome your comments.

Thank you all so much for your support of the third season of The SweetGeorgia Show! Until we meet again, enjoy colour!

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This week Felicia is joined by Jane Stafford: production weaver, teacher, and business owner behind Jane Stafford Textiles on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia. For over 35 years, Jane has been exploring weaving and has built the most extraordinary career in textiles. Jane is the instructor for Louet dealers in North America and you might recognize her from her teaching on Louet’s instructional DVDs and videos. It’s also no coincidence that Jane shares her name with Louet’s newest table loom. The Jane loom is an acknowledgement of Jane Stafford’s years of contributions towards weaving loom design. Seriously, how many people can say that they have a weaving loom named after them? Jane is also the recipient of teacher of the year award from Handwoven Magazine and now teaches exclusively from her studio on Salt Spring Island and her online weaving guild.

Join Felicia and Jane this week as they discuss Jane's humble beginnings of weaving her first piece of fabric to creating an online guild so she can reach weavers all over the world!

In this episode, we talk about:

• 2:22 Felicia reminisces how she first learned about Jane from a book on a coffee table many years ago
• 3:27 Jane discusses how she first got introduced to weaving
• 9:00 Did Jane ever feel like quitting during the long process to becoming a weaver? Jane also discusses the frustration of having so many teachers with different methods.
• 11:15 Weaving is attractive to many different kinds of people. Some are very exact and precise, some are very free and unstructured. Felicia asks Jane what her personality is when it comes to weaving. Also, the method Jane used to save herself from the tedium of production weaving.
• 20:02 Is Jane still into production weaving?
• 21:32 How Jane started to teach weaving to others
• 25:20 Jane gives advice on how one can start something as seemingly-complex as weaving
• 29:04 Jane and Felicia discuss Jane’s online weaving guild she’s developing
• 34:38 The ladies discuss mistakes and problem solving in weaving and the dangers of perfectionism
• 38:02 Chatting about how weavers can find support when they are learning online
• 40:28 Jane discusses her plans for the guild for 2018
• 44:00 Felicia asks Jane what she considers is good design for weaving and how people can get there
• 47:17 Jane created the online guild so she could reach more people and have more time for her own personal weaving projects. Felicia asks Jane what she is looking forward to making.
• 51:49 Felicia’s final notes and podcast giveaway!

Links and Things

Here's where to find Jane online:

• Website: www.janestaffordtextiles.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/janestaffordtextiles
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/janestaffordtextiles
• Ravelry Group: www.ravelry.com/groups/browse/show/weave-with-jane-stafford
• Pinterest: www.pinterest.ca/janestaff

 

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This week Felicia is joined by Anna Hunter: knitter, business owner, entrepreneur, community leader, and now shepherdess and homesteader. For some of our listeners in the audience who are from our local Vancouver, BC area, you’ll recall that Anna was the founder of the Baaad Anna’s yarn store in East Vancouver. About two and a half years ago, she sold the store to a longtime friend and customer Paula who has continued to build the store. Since that time Anna, her husband, and her two young sons have had some big adventures on their new farm Long Way Homestead.

Please join us as Felicia and Anna discuss the challenges one faces when starting your own farm!

In this episode, we talk about:

• 1:43 Anna talks about how she was first introduced to knitting and how she was inspired to open Baaad Anna’s
• 7:00 Felicia asks Anna how her strong beliefs in community building has affected her decisions in creating Baaad Anna’s and her current business ventures
• 9:34 Anna talks about why she decided to sell her yarn store and move to Manitoba to start a farm
• 13:01 Talking about starting up the homestead and the Kickstarter that made Anna’s SponsorSHEEPprogram possible
• 18:54 Anna and Felicia discuss the SponsorSHEEP program in more detail and how it changes the way fibre artists view the materials they work with
• 24:00 Garlic VS sheep, escaping llamas, and how Anna documents all that she’s learning living on a homestead
• 27:09 Anna discusses why local wool production is so important and the lack of wool mills in Canada and how it affects our carbon footprint
• 36:32 With all the responsibility of keeping a homestead going, does Anna have time to knit?
• 40:13 What kind of sheep Anna raises on her farm and some nerding out over sheep facts
• 44:25 How Anna’s family has adjusted from living in the big city to now living on a rural farm
• 46:07 Where to find Anna online to follow her family’s adventures and information on upcoming SponsorSHEEP opportunities
• 47:15 Felicia’s final notes

Links and Things

Here’s where to find Anna online:

• Website: www.longwayhomestead.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/longwayhomestead

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This week Felicia is joined by Romi Hill, a knitwear and jewelry designer. Romi is an inspiration as a knitwear designer who has been working in a very specialized niche in the knitting world. She designs gorgeous shawl pins that go with her equally gorgeous lace shawl patterns. Romi’s work is breathtakingly delicate and awe-inspiring so it’s no surprise her Ravelry group is over 9,000 members strong!

Please join us today as Felicia chats with Romi about how she found her passion in designing lace shawls and crafting exquisite shawl pins.

In this episode, we talk about:

• 1:22 Felicia asks Romi how she first got interested in knitting and jewelry making
• 9:02 Romi describes how she changed her career from music to knitwear and jewellery design
• 16:25 Romi and Felcia chat about Romi’s Pins and Lace Club which is now in it’s 9th year!
• 19:44 Felicia chats with Romi about her subscription based business model, her e-book subscriptions, her 7 Small Shawls to Knit collections, Romi’s secret “sock hate”, and her 7 reSizeable Shawls pattern collection
• 27:24 Felicia asks Romi how she writes her lace patterns (chart VS written)
• 30:13 How to choose yarn for lace projects
• 37:06 How Romi chooses colours for her lace projects
• 38:52 Where to find Romi online and keep up with her latest works
• 41:45 Felicia’s final notes and podcast giveaway!

Links and Things

Here’s where to find Romi online:

• Website: www.designsbyromi.com (Check out this site to sign up for the 2018 Romi’s Pins and Lace Club!)
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/romidesigns
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/RomiDesigns
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/DesignsbyRomi
• Ravelry Group: www.ravelry.com/groups/-romis-studio