I came across Andrea's designs somehow through Instagram. After perusing her Ravelry Shop I fell in love with every single one of her designs. They are fresh, modern, knit-able and wearable. You can find Andrea on Instagram here or on Ravelry here.
First, would you tell us about your knitting history- ie., where did you learn to knit and how long have you been knitting?
I, like so many other knitters, was lucky enough to have my Grandma teach me as a young girl. And, like so many knitters, knit a square and then got distracted until many years later! Thankfully in my late teens, Urban Outfitters came out with a knit kit, and I haven't put the needles down since then! So I would say I have been knitting "seriously ;)" for about 14 - 15 years.
Where does your love for shawls come from; is there anyone in your memory who wore or knit them, or is it something that happened when you started knitting them?
I got into triangle shawls while living in Austin, TX. Everyone seemed to start wearing them while I was there. It seemed everyone had the plaid woven ones that had some fringe hanging from the edges. They were woven and light weight, so even in the heat you could pair them with a tank top or t-shirt and jeans. I didn't actually begin knitting shawls until a couple years a go though! Once I knit my first triangle shawl, I was totally hooked! They are so easy to wear, and depending on the weight and composition of the yarn and the stitch pattern - they can really be worn year round! I love that about shawls, and I think because of that I always have one on the needles!
Is there a shawl in your personal collection that stands out as most-worn or favorite?
Oh geez! This is tough. I think the first shawl I knit that I really fell in love with was Onward by Shannon Cook. It was the perfect size and I love the yarn I used to knit it. Her stitch pattern was so modern and timeless that I feel it will always hold a place in my regular rotation. After that I would have to say the Farmhouse Shawl by Cabinfour (I mean come on - fringe!!) It is super squishy and perfect to wrap up in. Lastly, I would say Fo' Shawl - a pattern of my own that is perfectly light for year round wear!
Do you have any favorite patterns or yarns when it comes to shawls?
Ha, see above! I tend to gravitate towards triangle shawls. They are so fun to knit, and really gorgeous to wear. I am just recently starting to dip my toes into the crescent shawl pool though, so we will see what will happen there! I love the drape of fingering weight yarn for a shawl that I want to wear year round, but I actually prefer to knit with worsted weight. And woolen spun yarns (such as Brooklyn Tweed or Swans Island All American Worsted) are my fave!
Finally, any tips for styling or wearing a shawl?
My go to is definitely to wear the center point in front with the two ends wrapped around the neck and draped over each shoulder!
Giveaway!!
Andrea has just released a new shawl- the FunFunFun Shawl, pictured above. For a chance to win a copy of this aptly named pattern, leave a comment on this blog post telling us about your most worn/favorite shawl.
One comment per person please, and be sure to include your Ravelry ID as the pattern will be gifted to you via Ravelry. Comments will close Sunday April 5th at 8pm and a winner drawn by random number generator. Can't wait to hear about your shawls!