(This post, Designer Spotlight: Meiju Knits, was originally written and published by The Loopy Ewe. © TheLoopyEwe, 2021)
Meiju: Hi Loopy! A long long time, over 30 years probably. Originally, my grandma taught me to knit when I was probably 8 years old. In Finland, we also have knitting in our elementary school craft studies. At least back in those days we learned to knit either socks or mittens in school before we turned 12 years. My grandma was an avid knitter and she also designed and wrote patterns into Finnish magazines back in 1950-60’s. She got Alzheimer’s before I started to design professionally so we never got to talk about designing.
Meiju: Either a cardigan or a pullover. Generally I like to knit larger projects more than smaller accessories.
Meiju: Probably my Silversmith Hoodie. Nowadays, when I look at the design it wasn’t really that hard to knit, but the pattern writing was the thing that took me some time. It was my first more complicated cable design that needed really much concentration with the pattern writing. I was hesitating with sending the pattern to test knitters and I was worried what people would think about the pattern but I have received lovely feedback.
Meiju: My first designs I actually did when I was a teenager. I wanted to knit stylish (you should see those 90’s sweaters now, they are well… interesting) sweaters and decided to just do that and I had no pattern. But more professionally, I started to design approximately 10 years ago. I had a yarn and I couldn’t find a pattern that I was looking for it, so I decided to design it myself. Those days I also started to write patterns since I knitted more and more and wanted to cover my yarn expenses. And here I am now.
Meiju: Yes I have a couple of them. My all time favorite is probably my Berlin Soft. It is something that I have worn the most and it was quite a challenge to write the a pattern from the topdown. I am about to grade it as larger sizes, too, this year. Also, my favourites are Abellio and lighter cardigans as Abu Dhabi Soft and Koivu Cardigan. I like the cardigans the best since they give opportunities for layered outfits.
Meiju: My favourite part of the designing is to cast on. I will usually cast on when I have figured out the grading that the design will work in other sizes, too. Not-so-favorite part is ripping. I sometimes have to rip back due to my own stupid mistake or mistakes in my calculations. But it is a process and I rip so you wouldn’t have to. Also, I am not fond of being photoshooted. It is something that I have to do to showcase my designs but it is always something that I don’t really love.
Meiju: I quit my day job in the beginning of 2021 and now I am being full-time self-employed. Yes, it is hard and I am worried will this work but I wanted to try it out. I have received so many encouraging messages, so at the moment I feel that this was a right decision. I have other job beside this but it is also something that I do as a self-employed, so the income depends on my own activity. It is project management training and it takes my time approximately two days in a month. But designing and knitting is something that I do now almost full-time.
Meiju: I have a husband and three boys aged 13, 11 and 7. My middle son can knit, I taught him two years ago. He almost immediately figured out knit stitches, purling is still a bit difficult. However, he is not that fond of knitting that he would like to do it on a regular basis.
Meiju: Yes! I have always been a person into sports. I love winter sports like skiing, iceskating (I was a figure skater as a child), downhill skiing and we have enjoyed the perfect winter in Helsinki this year. There has been a lot of snow and the weather has been perfect for winter sports and activities. I love dancing and before pandemic I took salsa lessons. In the summer time we do hiking and bicycling a lot with my husband and family. Last summer we took long cycling routes around Helsinki and Espoo, 70-90 km per day. And I would love to go to gym but because of corona, I haven’t been there since early 2020. I think a fair amount of sports is necessary to keep knitting muscles healthy.
Meiju: Knitting, of course! But also being with my family and hiking, skiing or doing outdoor stuff with them.
Meiju: Morning person as I was younger turning into Night person. Coffee in the morning, Tea in the night. Continental knitting always. Solids, usually.
Meiju: I signed a book deal with Laine Magazine in February so I am now making a knitting book! I am really excited about this project! The exact publishing date has not been yet set but if you want to join my journey of making the book, follow me on Instagram @meijuknits and also see my stories there.
Have a good weekend, all! Sheri Check out CBD Shop or CBD Blog Via https://www.theloopyewe.com/yarn-shop/blog/2021/02/designer-spotlight-meiju-knits
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