Today we have Sierra and her husband, from Darling J’adore in our Spotlight. Sierra does the designing and writing, and her husband is the IT engineer and does the technological aspects of the business. They live here in Colorado (where Loopy is also located), and I know you’ll enjoy learning more about them! (Pattern links go to Ravelry, yarn links go to The Loopy Ewe)
Loopy: Hi Sierra! Thanks for being in our Spotlight today. How long have you been a knitter and who taught you to knit?
Sierra: Hi, Loopy! Thank you so much for this opportunity! I have been knitting for over two decades and was taught by sweet ladies in a tiny yarn shop in Kentucky when I was a little girl. Years later, I taught myself to crochet.
Loopy: I love hearing about people passing on the love of knitting like that. We need to keep doing that, to grown this wonderful community! What is your favorite type of item to knit?
Sierra: Socks! I love the history of sock-knitting, the tiny stitches, their practicality, how excellent they are to give as gifts, and how relaxing and rhythmic they are to knit. I always keep a pair of socks on my knitting needles at any given time to practice and sharpen my skills, as a sort of “practice project”.
Loopy: You have some really beautiful sock patterns. I think that is what first drew me to your company. What is the most challenging thing that you have knit to date?
Sierra: Sweaters are my most challenging item to knit simply because I am very picky with the fit and look of a finished knitted sweater. Whenever I design sweaters, it usually takes me many months and lots of tries before I am pleased with the finished item.
Loopy: I love your Comfort Sweater. It looks like the perfect sweater to cozy up in. When did you start designing, and what spurred that interest?
Sierra: I have been knitting for many years, but I began drafting patterns approximately five years ago as a hobby while attending law school. My passion has always been in knitwear design, so I decided to make a career change from lawyer to knitwear designer in 2018.
Loopy: That’s a big change. From left brain work to right brain work! (Although plenty of left brain work in the technical aspects of pattern writing.) Do you have a favorite pattern that you’ve designed?
Sierra: At the moment, The Weekend Sweater is my favorite design, because it is classic, cozy, and practical – it’s the perfect go-to sweater! The simple, all-over stockinette stitches make it a really relaxing pattern to follow as well.
Loopy: Yes, I love that one, too! You don’t have a lot of sweater patterns, but the ones you design all look like guaranteed favorites to wear. What is your favorite part of your designing? And your not-so-favorite part?
Sierra: My favorite part of my design process is the beginning phases, involving sketching, swatching various yarns, and playing with stitches. I also enjoy the final moments of the knit/crochet process: wet-blocking. My least-favorite part can sometimes be the technicalities and complexities involved in pattern drafting, including tedious math, grading, and technological behind-the-scenes issues that occasionally arise.
Loopy: Oh, the grading. That never sounds fun. But the swatching and sketching sound great! Do you do this business full-time, or on the side? And is that hard? Do you have other jobs outside of pattern designing?
Sierra: Darling Jadore is my full-time job, and I made the transition in 2018. Before this, I was a practicing attorney. The adjustment was quite difficult at first, since owning a small business can be intensely overwhelming in its infancy stages. The technological complexities involved in owning a knitwear design business, including website development and maintenance, marketing, photography, and video editing and processing, were initially the most difficult aspects of this transition. However, growing a small team and delegating some of these duties to that team has been instrumental in the overall maintenance and growth of Darling Jadore.
Loopy: Delegating some of those roles lets you do the things you are most gifted in – the designing process. That’s smart. Does anyone else in your family knit?
Sierra: No, I’m the only one. But years ago, I taught my husband some basic knit and crochet stitches and I think he has quite a knack for it!
Loopy: Maybe he will be drawn in and hooked one day! Are there other hobbies that you enjoy?
Sierra: Yes, I enjoy many outdoor activities like kayaking, hiking, walking, and exploring beautiful Colorado. I also enjoy embroidery, sewing, painting, and playing the guitar in my free time.
Loopy: A perfect day! Last questions: Morning or Night person? Coffee or Tea? English or Continental? Solids or Multicolors?
Sierra: Lately, I have been a morning person. I am a huge coffee lover and I knit Continental style. I prefer working with solid-colored yarn over multicolor, preferably neutrals and earth-tones, although I do enjoy a pop of color in spring and summertime!
We also re-stocked needles, Soak, and knitting notions, just so your yarn doesn’t have to travel alone. I’m happy to say the Silvalume Handi Tools are back in stock, after we were told they were discontinued. These little tools are great for picking up stitchs. And the Super Snip Scissors are here again – perfect for traveling (which we WILL get to do again one day, right?).
Today we have Amanda Berry in our Designer Spotlight. She has some of the cutest designs I’ve seen, and has been featured in books and magazines. Amanda lives in the UK, in a town called Reading in Berkshire, about 40 miles west of London. I know you’ll enjoy learning more about her today! (Note – today’s discount code works in Amanda’s Etsy shop only – see the end!) All pattern links go to Etsy, all yarn links go to The Loopy Ewe.
Loopy: Hi Amanda! Thanks for being in our Spotlight today. How long have you been a knitter and who taught you to knit?
Amanda: Hi Loopy! I started knitting when I was about 6 years old and my Mum taught me the basics. I also had a book called “A Ladybird Book About Knitting” which was a beginner guide aimed at children. I remember using that book as I made a few scarves for my teddy bears. But I didn’t start knitting properly until 20 years later when I was going through a difficult time and my therapist recommended some crafting. I picked up the needles again and it reignited my passion for all things woolly.
Loopy: Knitting really is a wonderful way to destress, isn’t it? What is your favorite type of item to knit?
Amanda: I love making toys, I am just a big kid at heart! I don’t have the patience to make a blanket or anything large scale, and I enjoy the challenge with toys of shaping and bringing the design to life.
Loopy: Your patterns and toys are some of the cutest I have ever seen. (Like that Peacock up there. I definitely need to make myself a Peacock!) What is the most challenging thing that you have knit to date?
Amanda: I recently made an Old English Sheepdog and it was made by knitting loops, and I really dislike knitting loops! I don’t know why, but knitting loops always makes my fingers sore; I was so happy when that dog was finished.
Loopy: It’s good to challenge yourself, though, so that sounds like it was a good one. When did you start designing, and what spurred that interest?
Amanda: I started designing in the late 2000’s. I wanted to knit a toy for a gift but I couldn’t find a pattern I liked, so I designed my own. I was encouraged to share the pattern and published my first designs in 2010.
Loopy: I looked at your patterns and see Fruits and Vegetables as the first design listed. And it’s still as fun as ever! Do you have a favorite pattern that you’ve designed?
Amanda:Griff the Dragon is one of my favourite toys, he’s really cheeky. I also love making little knits like my Teeny Animals as they are great for using up odds and ends of yarn, and are super quick to knit for impatient people like me!
Loopy: Those teeny tiny creations are adorabley! What is your favorite part of your designing? And your not-so-favorite part?
Amanda: My favourite part is making up the toy seeing it come to life. I prefer to design as I knit so I have the flexibility to change ideas as I knit, so it is great at the end if my ideas actually worked! The downside of working this way is sometimes the shaping doesn’t work so I have to frog and start again.
Loopy: You must have to take really great notes as you design on the go like that. Do you do this business full-time, or on the side? And is that hard? Do you have other jobs outside of pattern designing?
Amanda: I am now full-time designing which is fantastic. When I started designing my knitting was crammed in during the evenings and I was also part-time working and studying for my degree at London College of Fashion. That was really hard work, so after graduating in 2014 I chose to design full time and it has kept me really busy ever since.
Loopy: It sounds like he has learned that lesson well! Are there other hobbies that you enjoy?
Amanda: I enjoy walking. We have some lovely countryside near my home and (especially during these lockdowns) country walks keep me sane. I enjoy being out with nature, even if it is a grey rainy day. It gives me some headspace which is so important in these Covid days. I am not an avid reader, but I occasionally enjoy reading PG Wodehouse Jeeves and Wooster books, as they always make me chuckle.
Loopy: Your countryside really is beautiful, rain or shine. What a treat to have such lovely walkways close to your home. What would be your favorite way to spend a day off?
Amanda: I would have breakfast in bed (cooked by someone else please!) – a large cup of coffee and baked beans with fried egg on toast, yum! Then I would go to London for the day and visit a museum. I especially enjoy going to the British Museum, the V&A and the National Gallery. I would then have some food at the Southbank and browse the vintage book stalls. That would be a great day off.
Loopy: Well I did not know there was such a thing as Vintage Book Stalls. I think I would be lost in there all day! Last set of questions: Morning or Night person? Coffee or Tea? English or Continental? Solids or Multicolors?
Amanda: Morning once I have had my first coffee. Coffee, never tea (it gives me a headache). English please, anything vegetarian with an egg is great. Multi-colours, I am a fan of stripes.
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If you love your morning cup of coffee or an afternoon pick me up, give this delicious frothy matcha latte a try. Matcha gives you a dose of L-theanine and caffeine which can enhance alertness and brain function, decrease anxiety while protecting against mood swings and energy crashes that some experience with coffee. Plus, the practice of making and mindfully enjoying a cup of matcha can be your mindful moment, both reminding you to take a break to enjoy a cup and providing you with energy support while doing so. This Frothy Matcha Latte recipe builds upon the traditional way
Today we re-stocked Stonehedge Shepherd’s Wool and Crazy. I think this batch of Crazy might be the most colorful ever! They are still out of stock on some colors of Shepherds Wool, but we’ll get the rest in when they become available.
We’re closed in-store today due to our 24″+ snowstorm yesterday. The streets in our neighborhood aren’t even plowed – no way to get out. (So you know what that means? A day of knitting, hot cocoa, and a fire in the fire place. Just as soon as I share the Update with you!)
And remember, we’re happy to email you the Crazy Cowl Patterns that we’ve designed, with your purchase of Crazy. Just leave us an order note.
We also added in a new indie dyer – Brediculous Yarns, dyed by Brea! We have her Addy Socks base, which is a fingering weight yarn, 463 yards, and 75% Superwash Merino, 25% Nylon. Loopy Elf Karen made a beautiful cowl/shawl when we were testing it, and I will share that picture when we can wade back into the shop in the next day or two. The colors of this yarn range from crazy colorful to softly beautiful, and I hope you have fun going through them.
That never sounds fun. But the swatching and sketching sound great! Do you do this business full-time, or on the side? And is that hard? Do you have other jobs outside of pattern designing?
