A. Karen Alfke
Port Townsend, WA USA
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Specialty |
I write Unpatterns: design tools for independent knitters. Unpatterns let you choose any yarn and knit it to your own gauge -- with that, you get step-by-step help in designing your own simple garments, from socks to hats and vests to sweaters (even ponchos)!
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| Contact Information: |
1010 Madison Street Port Townsend, WA USA
360 301-5559
karen@2ndesign.com
2nd Nature Design/Unpatterns
(360-301-5559)
featuresList.php?CategoryID=57
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| Favorite Knitting Book |
Principles of Knitting
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| Favorite knitting reference |
Principles of Knitting
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| Favorite Cast-On |
Long-tail (2-color!)
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| Favorite Knitting Tip |
slip your markers while you remove your needle from the last stitch! No extra motion!
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| Biography |
I learned to knit in Germany, from my aunt, who is an intuitive designer. I learned to knit and design basic garment shapes at the same time, without fear. It's that experience that I am trying to pass on to American knitters with my Unpatterns. Attending my first Stitches in 1996 shot my knitting and skills into the stratosphere, and I've never looked back.
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| What is your knitting mantra? |
Housework is not knitting.
Surfing is not knitting.
Even yarn shopping is not knitting!
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| What inspires you? |
Pictures in catalogs, magazines; other knitters; all the great new yarns that are being made these days. Yarn companies keep coming out with more exciting yarns that call for new treatments -- there's never enough time to knit it all!
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| Confess - when it comes to hiding your yarn, what are your secrets? |
I no longer hide my yarn: I flaunt it! I use cubby storage bookshelves from Ikea; they fill one wall of my studio and I revel in my stash!
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| What is your idea of knitting heaven? |
A rainy day, a pot of tea or coffee, and a project that's just about done, with a brand-new one waiting in the wings. And no deadlines!.
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| How many UFO's (Unfinished Objects)do you have going at once? |
Can you count that high?
With new patterns I'm writing, that's usually over a dozen.
More than that, I'm not telling.
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| My yarn stash equals the GNP (Gross National Product) of ... |
Most of the outlying islands of Great Britain.
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| Whom would you like to see accept an Academy Award wearing your creation? |
Jodie Foster, or maybe Cate Blanchett
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| What knitting commandment do you most like to break? |
Thou shalt finish one thing before starting another.
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| What frequently-asked knitting question do you hate to answer? |
"I'm left-handed: can you show me how to knit backwards from everyone else?" I'm left-handed too, and trust me: LEARN THE WAY EVERYONE ELSE DOES. That way you won't have to reverse every pattern you ever try to read. It's a two-handed operation; there's no reason to make it harder. Try 'picking' (working yarn in the left hand) if you're really dominant.
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| What is your most dog-eared knitting reference? |
Principles of Knitting
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| When and how did you learn to knit? |
At age 16, in Germany: my aunt sat with me every afternoon after school and taught me the basics of knitting as well as garment design. No patterns, just gauge and simple garment shapes. An ideal knitter's apprenticeship!
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| What is the most unusual place you've ever knitted? |
Hiking in the Olympic Mountains in Washington: taking a lunch break at the top of Mount Townsend, about 4,000 feet up!
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| How long can you last without knitting? |
Hah!
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| If you were stranded on a deserted island, what one yarn, book, or gizmo would you want along? |
Clover locking stitch markers: so handy for keeping track of where you are, what row you're on....
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| How many hours have you knitted non-stop - and why? |
18 hours: finishing a sweater on a deadline for a class I was teaching
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| What do you want your knitting epitaph to say? |
She made beatiful things -- and beautiful knitters!
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| Who would you like to greet you in knitting heaven? |
Elizabeth Zimmermann, of course, and Montse Stanley. I'd like to be in on that conversation!
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