If you’ve knit any colorwork yoke sweaters, then I know you have seen Jennifer Steingass’ beautiful work. Her patterns are stunning, and I hope you’ll enjoy learning more about her today. (Pattern links go to Ravelry, yarn links go to The Loopy Ewe.)
Loopy: Hi Jenn! Thanks for being in our Designer Spotlight today. Tell us, how long have you been a knitter and who taught you to knit?
Jenn: Hi Loopy! I’ve been knitting for almost 10 years now. My mother in law taught me the knit stitch and I learned the rest from youtube and knitting blogs.
Loopy: She must love seeing all that you have accomplished from her beginning lesson! What is your favorite type of item to knit?
Jenn: Colorwork yoke sweaters!
Loopy: I can tell that. 🙂 You do such beautiful work. What is the most challenging thing that you have knit to date?
Jenn: A seamed, all-over cabled sweater for one of my sons. It was small but it still took me quite a while to knit.
Loopy: You know, cables really do take some time. Especially when it’s an all-over design. When did you start designing, and what spurred that interest?
Jenn: I started improvising knitted garments for my kids pretty soon after I started knitting. A few people on Ravelry saw my work and encouraged me to publish patterns. I knew very soon after I learned to knit that I’d like to design someday, but their little bit of encouragement definitely helped me get started! I guess what spurred my initial interest in designing was that I didn’t like stopping to read patterns while knitting.
Loopy: That’s a funny prompt – not wanting to slow down to read the pattern! And it’s also a good reminder to people that encouraging others really can be the spark that they need to move forward. Do you have a favorite pattern that you’ve designed?
Jenn: Yes, I think Goldwing.
Loopy: I like that one, too. What is your favorite part of your designing? And your not-so-favorite part?
Jenn: I absolutely love designing my colorwork charts on graph paper. My not-so favorite part? Being in the pictures for my patterns and Ravelry.
Loopy: Your photo shoots always look great. People are immediately drawn into the unique patterns. Do you do this business full-time, or on the side? And is that hard? Do you have other jobs outside of pattern designing?
Jenn: Yes, I do this business full time, and I have no other jobs outside pattern designing. I’m also the sole breadwinner for my family. It’s hard in the sense that I know I have to repeatedly come up with new ideas, and that the response to those ideas will always be unpredictable. I’ve been very fortunate with how it’s gone so far.
Loopy: That is hard. You’ve certainly made a name for yourself in the knitting world, and I hope that continues to grow in the years to come! Does anyone else in your family knit? Would you like to tell us about your family?
Jenn: My mother in law knits. Sure! I’m a mom to 2 boys, 10 and 8 years old, and we live in coastal Maine.
Loopy: You need warm sweaters in coastal Maine! Are there other hobbies that you enjoy?
Jenn: I love plants and listening to music, also I love to research so I’m often googling new things I want to learn about.
Loopy: What would be your favorite way to spend a day off?
Jenn: Going on a spur-of-the-moment road trip while listening to my favorite music on full blast!
Loopy: That sounds fun! Last question: Morning or Night person? Coffee or Tea? English or Continental? Solids or Multicolors? 🙂
Jenn: Night person! I don’t drink coffee or tea. English knitter. Solids 🙂
Loopy: Thanks again for being with us today!
Jenn has set up a code for 20% off her patterns from her Ravelry Pattern Shop (and she said you can use it on as many patterns as you’d like!) The code is: LOOPYEWE and will be valid 1/29-2/5/2021. I hope you find something fun!
Sheri
What would be the beginner version of one of these yoked sweater? I love the look but they all seem so complicated. So for a beginner to yokes what should I go with? Thank you for your help.
Wondered the same thing and thought the Fern and Feather looked the most basic. When I looked at the pattern, it said it was a good beginner one. Check it out!