Hey there, can you introduce yourself?

I am Alina, a creator of The Gift Of Knitting website, passionate knitter and knitwear designer. I spend all my free time knitting, taking photos of yarn, preparing blog posts and browsing knitwear blogs. Literally there is no day without knitting in my life. I love it with all my heart and feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to share it with so many people.

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Tell us a bit about the book?

Add One Stitch Knitting was created with the beginner in mind. When I picked the needles around 9 years ago, I fell in love with the knit textures and was fascinated by the fact how many diverse kinds of fabric you can create, using just two simple stitches - knit and purl. In Add One Stitch Knitting I wanted to share this passion for knit textures and open the doors to the literally endless realm of stitch combinations. The book contains simple to follow tutorials for basic techniques and 15 fun to knit projects.

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What was the inspiration behind it?

I love knitting with all my heart and can't imagine my life without it right now. So my main inspiration is to share this passion with others. The more people I can convert into knitters, the better :) The idea for the book is to demonstrate to a newbie that knitting is easy and it is enough to learn just two simple stitches to create beautiful handmade pieces.

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Which is your favourite project?

Hurdle Rib Stitch bed throw. Knit in bulky Peruvian wool this blanket is so warm and cozy! I love this stitch - perfect TV knitting project, you will definitely enjoy seeing this texture growing out of your needles. And at the end you will get a great interior piece.

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What is your craft space like?

It is very simple - I almost always knit at my desk. I need to have my computer, notebook and calculator next to me to keep track of the progress and make the notes for the pattern. I write very detailed patterns and try to leave nothing to the imagination.

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Have you always been creative?

I had never considered mysef a creative person until I picked up the yarn. It is amazing how one thing can change your life - learning to knit pushed me to learn more and more things. How to take and edit photos, how to work with websites, basics of graphic design, writing, creating social media content...

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When did you first start crafting?

I was 9 when I learned to crochet. I remember watching my Granny knitting and crocheting all the time and at some point I asked her to teach me. The very first thing I've made was a very long crochet chain.

I picked up knitting when I was in my early 20s, right after graduating from the university. It was a tough time of my life and knitting literally dragged me out of the dark abyss I was at that time. The first knit project was a simple textured scarf, I believe... I gifted it to my friend.

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Who are your crafty heroes?

I admire Shirley Paden as a knitwear designer and as a teacher. I think she has so much love for this craft and geniune desire to share it with knitters.

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Where do you find inspiration?

Everywhere - fashion blogs, street style accounts, Instagram, books, nature, yarn skein. Literally every single thing can sparkle an idea for the new sweater.

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What's next for you?

Work, lots of work. Though I do set the goals and deadlines, the process itself is the most important part for me. I never want to lose this passion for knitwear and fiber that I have found, I am so so infinitely grateful for it!

I love this phrase - I don't know where I am going, but I am on my way... I know I've found my way and I know that with lots of work and dedication, the things will fall in their own place.

With 15 knitting stitches clearly explained and demonstratedAuthor and renowned blogger Alina Schneider demystifies the knitting process and helps you learn 15 essential knitting stitches with this easy, step-by-step guide. Starting with the simple knit and purl stitches, each lesson will help you combine these building blocks to create more complex stitches such as moss, waffle, rib, seed, and more. Build your skill set and create lots of beautiful, stylish projects, including:Garter stitch: ScarfSeed stitch: HeadbandMoss stitch: CowlBroken rib: Baby blanketWaffle stitch: Phone caseAndalusian stitch: Summer top3 x 1 Seed rib stitch: Pom-pom hatAnd much more!Crystal clear photos and easy-to-follow lessons give beginners and refreshers all the tips they need to create beautiful and modern knit pieces.