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Meet the Author
Hey there, can you introduce yourself?
My name is Kandy and I am a knitter. I make knitted accessories and home wares as well as knitted art pieces. When I’m not knitting, I teach knitted textile design, and when I’m not doing that I’m mostly roller skating.
Tell us a bit about the book?
There’s a whole range of projects in the book, all based on my ‘knit and destroy’ designs. There are small projects, perfect for beginners such as a bow brooch or bookmark up to more challenging bigger projects like the ‘I heart snow’ scarf.
What was the inspiration behind it?
I had been making machine knitted products for a few years when I was approached to write a knitting pattern for the ‘State of Craft’ book. I have always been keen on passing on craft skills with fun projects through the craft zine ‘Sugar Paper’ that I co-write and had done a few small knitting patterns for this. I enjoyed writing the scarf pattern for ‘State of Craft’ and it gave me the confidence to convert more of my designs into hand-knit patterns.
Which is your favourite project?
Oooh, that’s a tough one. I really like the bow scarf because it’s in moss stitch and I love moss stitch, also, it’s one that you can really make your own because it would work in any colour.
What is your craft space like?
My craft space is a spare bedroom in my house. This room is my work space for all the ‘knit and destroy’ and art stuff that I do and I spent a good few hours working on the book in there too. A lot of the work for the book was actually done while travelling though, I commute to work and the train was a great place to work out and knit patterns.
Have you always been creative?
I’m not sure, I think so. I have always enjoyed making all sorts of things. At school I favoured Maths and wasn’t really creative in that environment until textiles came along, but at home, yes.
When did you first start crafting?
I started crafting young, the school holidays were always full of making. I remember doing that tapestry into plastic with wool for my Grandma, it was a picture of 2 swans, or maybe just one, she always had it up in her house.
Who are your crafty heroes?
I will have to talk about crafty authors only or this will end up as an ode to J.K. Rowling. I really like old craft books with odd projects in. Wild knitting is my favourite knitting book, it’s by various authors and has all sorts of great projects in it. Victoria Woodcock has to get a mention for putting together state of craft and including me in it and giving me the kick I needed to write my own book.
Where do you find inspiration?
I surround myself with inspirational things in my studio space, but I think my ideas come from things (I have seen/heard/experienced) that have made an impact, made me think and stuck with me. I usually come up with an idea for either a collection of products or other pieces, I will think around this idea, make notes and do some really basic sketches. The next stage for me is to get some visual reference for the things I want to make and that’s when I start looking, it depends what I’m doing as to where I look but I usually go to books, films, and online for images.
What's next for you?
Outer space…seriously! I didn’t win a trip to the moon, but, I am working on a space themed collection at the moment so that’s what’s next for me. Also, in terms of knitting patterns, I would like to develop a few single patterns from my designs too so watch out for them in the future (but on this planet).
Publisher's Description
Book by Diamond, Kandy