In 2017 we ran a survey of Stitchmastery users and one response particularly caught our imagination – someone told us they would like to hear from other Stitchmastery users and how they make use of the software. We’re delighted to bring you a series of interviews with designers, tech editors, magazine editors and teachers – we hope you enjoy reading them!
Interviewee – Arella Seaton
1) When did you start designing? Could you give us a potted history of your knitting and designing background?
Growing up in Estonia, it was only natural to be crafty. I don’t remember learning to knit, but I do recall that we had to knit stranded colourwork mittens in school. The rows were endless, and I was so slow! By the end, my mom helped me out a bit.
When the Internet emerged and craft forums became popular around 15-20 years ago, I joined an Estonian knitting forum. One day, mosaic knitting was discussed in the techniques thread. I had no idea what it was and had to look it up on YouTube. I often find swatching a bit boring. I would rather make a small item to try out my newly learned skills. As it happened, the Mosaic Slippers pattern was born! My first ever written pattern! We had a knit-along in the forum. When I created the pattern page on Ravelry, people started to ask about the pattern in English. And so, the journey began.
My next designs incorporated various techniques, including lace, intarsia, and cables. For several years now, I have primarily created mosaic patterns. I find that mosaic is the best technique for me to develop my own style and be original.
2) Do you have any recurring sources of inspiration or unusual muses for your design work?
For the last six years, I have dedicated myself to mosaic (slip-stitch) colourwork. Mosaic is quite geometric and graphic. Most of all, my inspiration comes from historic national colourwork patterns from all over the world, with Estonian patterns being particularly close to my heart. I try to “translate” traditional stranded, woven or embroidered patterns into mosaic knitting.
Other sources of inspiration can come from architecture, fabrics, logos, ceramic tiles, and so on. Ideas are in the air!
3) When you have an idea, do you always work to a set workflow (eg swatch-knit-chart or chart first then knit) or does your approach change with each design?
Sometimes I have a general idea/vision of mosaic colourwork I want to create, then I decide if it is going to be a shawl, blanket, or bag, etc, and which shape and colours to use.
Other times, it can be the other way round, and yarn or a shape inspires what it wants to become.
4) What made you choose to use Stitchmastery? Is there a particular feature you use most regularly or couldn’t do without? And is there anything you wish Stitchmastery could do?
I used Excel and a random stitch font for my first designs. When I read about Knitty and other magazines using Stitchmastery, I was intrigued and looked it up. It was an easy decision to invest my first earnings from a publication in purchasing SM. At that time, I was creating a lot of lace patterns, and SM had most of the Estonian lace abbreviations I needed. Also, it was easy to create new stitches for my needs. It was a bit of a learning curve at first, but the Ravelry group was very helpful, and tutorials are available. These days, I create my mosaic charts in SM. I love how easy it is to flip a chart, cut and paste, change colours, and set the style. There are many features I haven’t tried yet!
One wish I had was having row numbers on both ends of a row – on the right and left, when the row is identical on the RS and WS. I haven’t switched to the latest version of SM yet. I think I saw it’s a feature now.
5) Please tell us about your latest publication or next exciting project!
One of my most recent publications is the Bessera shawl. The main body of the shawl is a shallow, elongated triangle worked sideways from one tip to another. It is worked in one piece in mosaic garter stitch sections alternated with simple garter and slip stitch sections. I am happy how it turned out! I had a hard time getting all the increases and decreases to work well with the mosaic pattern, and SM made it so much easier to have a polished chart.
I’m thrilled to reveal the latest mosaic design: the Wallflower shawl! I’d like to offer an introductory discount of 25% off (coupon code: flower) until midnight, Monday, 18th August (BST zone).
September marks my annual Mosaic Blanket Knit-along held in my Ravelry group. Hopefully, there will be a new blanket pattern too!
Learn more about Arella:
You can learn more onArella’s website and find her designs on Arella’s Ravelry designer page. You can follow Arella on Instagram or on Arella’s Facebook, or join Arella’s Ravelry group.