Meet Rachel of Yarnigans

Rachel of Yarnigans is one of the knitty people I met this past weekend in Snow Hill, Md Festival.  Her booth was a delight to visit and her kits and adorable knit toys are a must have.  You're probably going to want more than one.  In fact, I see a collection in your future.  Rachel has a successful Etsy shop called Yarnigans, and is a new member of Creating The Hive, the super popular arts and crafts online community. Sit back, settle in, sip some tea or pumpkin spice latte and let your inner child be deliciously delighted.

Q. Rachel, when I look at your work, it makes me feel happy. When did you first get interested in creating such delightful toys?

 

A. I've been making toys for as long as I can remember. When I was young I would sew little stuffed animals out of fleece or make dolls from clothespins, fabric scraps, and ribbon. I love to knit and crochet but I never seem to be able to finish large projects-- I get distracted way too easily. I found a pattern for a crocheted doll in the fall of 2005 and my love of little toys and yarn crafts just sort of clicked together. I started writing up my own patterns for crocheted toys soon afterward and then started knitting toys some time in 2008.

Q. What was the first project that you learned to knit and who has been the biggest influence on your creative life?


A. My roommate Lauren taught me to knit my sophomore year in college and my first project was a really simple, white, boat-neck sweater. Looking back, I'm not sure that I even used a pattern. I had absolutely no concept of what gauge was for at least my first two years as a knitter. The first toy I ever knitted was from a pattern for a ball written by Marcie Nishioka. I made two of them and turned them into a pair of peas in a pod. I learned how to do shaping from that and started writing my own toy patterns immediately afterward.



As far as the person who has had the most influence on me creatively, I would have to say that it is a toss up between my mother, Justine, and my husband, Mark. My mom really influenced me creatively as a kid because we always had a house full of crafting supplies and she was always willing to help with whatever I needed. We did Christmas crafts every year and she taught me to sew and crochet. Without her encouragement I know I wouldn't have grown up to be the creative person that I am. My husband Mark is a huge influence on me now because he really keeps me thinking of fresh ideas and gives me his honest opinion of every single thing I make. He always has a new idea for a toy pattern or a color combination that not only keeps my work new and different, but keeps me interested enough that I never feel like giving up on creating things.

Q. What types of yarn do you find work well for your patterns?

A. In the past couple of years I have started almost exclusively using 100% wool for my projects. There's just something about a knitted project made out of wool that gives it this richness and depth and warmth. I really feel like it brings life into my toys. My go-to yarn is Cascade 220. I have a ton of it and I feel like I can use it for anything. It comes in every color you could possibly imagine. Lately I've been experimenting with different weights of yarn. I almost always use worsted weight wool and size 3 needles for my patterns, but a couple of weeks ago I made up a teddy bear and a hedgehog in super bulky yarn with size 10 needles. They turned out amazing! The great thing about knitting toys is that they don't have to end up a specific size so your knitting gauge absolutely does not matter at all.

Q. Rachel, your love for your knitting patterns and kits really shows in your Etsy shop and in person. What helps you keep your inspiration and passion for what you do?

A. I have always felt really passionate about everything that I make, but the past few months I have been working incredibly long hours on Yarnigans-related stuff, so keeping my inspiration has definitely been an issue. It always really helps to keep me driven when I get nice feedback from people about my work. A few weeks ago I got a message from a nurse at a children's hospital in New Zealand who said she had been making my toys for the patients and that everyone loved them. That sort of thing really keeps me going at the end of a long day. I also just really like the idea of spreading the love of handmade toys around the world-- it's so cool to think that kids all over the place are playing with toys that were made just for them by people who love them. That's the sort of toy they keep forever and pass on to their own kids. My kits and patterns are helping to spread that to people and I really love it.


Q. Do you have any new items or plans for your Etsy shop in the coming months that you’d like to share with us?


A. Absolutely! I'm preparing for the Holiday 2010 season to be the biggest yet for the Yarnigans shop. In addition to the usual stuff, I'm going to start carrying really adorable four-packs of my mini dolls, which haven't really debuted online but have been going to arts festivals with me and out to the shops that carry Yarnigans. They've been a huge hit so I'm really excited to start listing the four-packs of them. I'm also going to be doing some classic-style large bears out of a great chunky wool. They're going to be great gifts for little kids-- they look like something that just came out of Santa's workshop. I have a three-year-old son and he has already claimed two of the prototypes, so I have a feeling they're going to go over well with kids. I have a few patterns in the works as well, but I'm not sure yet when those will make it to the shop.

That sounds exciting.  We all look forward to seeing more of your adorable toys.  Thank you Rachel, for allowing us a look into your creative life.
You can find Rachel and her adorable toys on the following links:
http://yarnigans.etsy.com
http://yarnigans.tumblr.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yarniganrachel/
http://twitter.com/yarnigans
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Salisbury-MD/Yarnigans/122671491822
http://creatingthehive.com/yarnigans

An intriguing interview with Tabitha the Knittingjourneyman

Pour a cup of tea and gather 'round to meet Tabitha, a  talented writer, artist, and Mom. I first learned about Tabitha from her profile, Tabitha the Knittingjourneyman at CreatingTheHive.com, the new online arts and crafts community.  I was intrigued by Tabitha's observations and outlook on life.  Sit back for an interesting interview full of imagination, creative ideas and the creative process.

Q. Tabitha, I really appreciate your abilities to teach others with your writing, share your love for fiber, knitting, and other materials. When did you first discover your love for writing?


A. I can remember as a young child, writing poems and drawing pictures to go with them. The first actual poem I remember was one I wrote when I was about ten years old. I wrote a poem to the angels. The poem is long lost, but the feeling never left me, that feeling of being able to touch the world and leave an impression. After that, I can always remember writing, in one form or another, all my life. It didn't matter if I was at school or at work. It's just something that I have always had to do. Writing is like breathing. I may suck at it at times, but I can't stop doing it or I'll die.


Q. How do you keep your creativity flowing through the wonderful thread of life?

A. Some days I don't feel all that creative, although the people around me are always supportive and encouraging. One way I keep going is looking at my children. Trying to figure out the worlds these two live in, trying to figure out what's going on in their imaginations, that is what really sparks so many thoughts and ideas. I am often driven to learn new skills, like knitting, so that I am able to teach them when they ask to do such things. I also try new things as much as I can just to show them that you can try things and not be good at them, and not be perfect at them the very first time you try to do them, but you still try. And that enjoying the process is the best part, not struggling to make it 'just so'.


Q. Looking back over your body of creative work, how would you say you have grown?


A. This may seem silly, but I am more adventurous. I am not as careful. I do not worry about will I be able to do this perfectly, will I be able to do this right, what if everyone hates it...what if no one buys it...what if no one ever reads my work...I don't care. I stopped worrying about am I doing it right, will others approve of me or what I do...I just do it. Even if I have to laugh at myself and throw whatever I was attempting to do in the trash when I am done, at least I know I did it. I embrace my mistakes. I embrace my ineptitude. I revel in it. Sometimes, I am sure, I revel at the worst possible times. I am always happy at the end of the day...one way or another.


Q. Do you have any  advice for a new writer or artist who is just beginning their spiritual and creative journey.

A. The best advice I can give you is the same advice my mother seems to have given me about everything in my life (making bread, sewing, knitting, crocheting, you name it): just play with it. Play with it until you find the way it works best for you. Don't be afraid to do things differently. Don't be afraid to break all the rules. If it's working for you, do it, no matter what anyone else tells you. My only other advice is DO IT. Don't sit there and say one day I will be a writer or one day I will be an artist. Wake up in the morning and write. Wake up in the morning and work on your artistic vision. If you think there is no way you can find the time, you won't ever find the time. You have to make time. You can always make the time for what you believe in and for what you are passionate about. Sylvia Plath woke up hours before her children to work on her writing, sometimes at two and three o'clock in the morning, if I remember correctly. She sacrificed her sleep for her passion. If that's what it takes to be what you truly want to be, then that is what you need to do. Otherwise, you will only want to be, but you won't ever quite make it. Yeah, I didn't mean to go all Yoda here, but ,do or do not. There is no try.


Q. Thank you, Tabitha, for taking time to do this interview, today. Your vast interests and creative endeavors inspire all of us to move forward in our creative lives. What is next for you? Do you have any dreams you would like to share with us?

A. What's next? I have several knitting projects I am currently working on that need to be finished. But the big thing for me right now is planning for NaNoWriMo (http://www.nanowrimo.org/) next month. I actually won last year, even though I didn't do much with the manuscript afterwards. Technically, the story itself still isn't finished. This year I plan to not only win, but to actually complete the manuscript. Otherwise, my plans entail getting up in the morning, writing about something, baking some bread, and working on some knitting.


I have attached a couple pictures. The tattooed lady is a drawing I did recently--she has a story with her that can be seen at:
http://onthewrongsideofthemirror.wordpress.com/2010/09/08/joining-the-circus-part-deux/

The second picture is one of my children, Evangeline and Nikolas.

The zombie doll was a requested knitting project--and not my best work, but it was the fastest work I have ever done. I had less than 24 hours to make the doll. She didn't have arms for awhile...hence the zombie name.

The tree is a painting that I did last year.

Next is a picture of my son in his new hat, not a good picture of either. It is a color worked ear flap hat and he wore it all day, in 70 degree heat, when I gave it to him. He picked out the yarn himself. He loves to request I make him things, and loves even more when he gets to go to the store with me to pick out the yarn.

The last two pictures are current WIPs. The light colored one is a vest for myself and the red one is a sweater for my son...I took both pictures to chronicle the inherent flaws in both. ;)

Thank you so much for this opportunity. I very much appreciate it.

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle"

You're welcome Tabitha.  We're pleased that you took time to share with us your creative outlook on life, family and creativity.

You can see more of Tabitha's writing and creative adventures on the following links:

Personal Upkeep: http://theknittingjourneymanrefitted.wordpress.com/

My Sales: http://thefeyofthecrossroads.wordpress.com/

Creative Endeavor: http://ravensinthewritingdesk.wordpress.com/

Writing Notebook http://onthewrongsideofthemirror.wordpress.com/

Creating The Hive Friday Lineup: Knitty, crafty and eco-friendly

Annapolis GHOSTS: History, Mystery, Legends and Lore  (My latest read )

It's time for my first official Creating The Hive knitty, yarnie, eco-friendly, and cool tee bloggie lineup here on my blog and believe me, there are plenty more blogs to view that will inspire you.  Take a look, join in the community and let your arts & crafts shine.  By the way, your projects been bugging me to tell you that it's the coolest place for them to hang out and meet other arts & crafts.  Give the arts & crafts what they want!  Let them out of the house.  They love photo ops, rave reviews, friendly comments, tweets, FB mentions and the creme de la creme - the sign they've been featured, a little bee next to your blog post entry about them.

http://creatingthehive.com/blog-post/15154/heel-turned


http://creatingthehive.com/blog-post/15948/fiber-arts-friday-anniversary-give-away

http://creatingthehive.com/blog-post/15931/flower-power-tee


http://creatingthehive.com/blog-post/15914/senegal-recycled-art-video

http://creatingthehive.com/blog-post/1366/citron-lace-knitted-shawl

While you're there, you can also check out yesterday's blog update.  I was a littel tired and didn't post in all the usual places.

Enjoy. Create. Share.

Marg (took a haunted tour in Annapolis last night-way spooky!)