I like to write patterns that are fun and easy to make, while at the same time giving finished objects that look beautiful and are enjoyable to wear. I won‘t overload my designs with a million details – instead, I focus on one element and really let it shine.
1. Tell us about your background and journey?
When I finished school, I originally wanted to study IT, but it didn‘t take long until I found out it was not what I had expected: There was way too much maths involved, and not a lot of actual computer work! So instead, I got a job education, and after that I worked as an IT specialist for several years.I went on parental leave when my first child was born, and that was when I picked up my knitting needles. I had the strong desire to craft something for her with my own two hands, something warm, to protect her. And ever since then, I stayed with knitting!
I quickly discovered Ravelry, an online knitting community, and learnt about knitting patterns and designers. I began writing my own knitting patterns to share them with others, and was really surprised that people actually liked my ideas! I kept publishing patterns, and somehow, over the course of a few years, this has now become my day job.
2. How and when did you develop your interest in knitting?
My mother taught me how to knit when I was a child, and she showed me again when I was a teenager. But it never really stuck! I think what made me passionate about it was that I discovered the beauty of handmade garments and accessories.
3. What design process do you follow before working on any project?
For all of my projects, I really like to begin with the yarn. Each fiber has its own characteristics, and I always want to design patterns that showcase them best. For example – knitting a cabled sweater in a kidsilk mohair lace yarn would not be a good idea… instead, an elegant lightweight shawl would show the beauty of the yarn much better.
Next, I usually swatch! Does the stitch pattern I have in mind work great with the fiber characteristics? If not, I‘ll search for another stitch pattern. If yes, it‘s time for some math now (but not nearly as abstract as at university) – I‘ll try to combine the given stitch pattern with a construction that makes all the numbers work together in a nice and elegant way. That way, the final PDF won‘t exceed a handful of pages, so it stays user-friendly and convenient to work with.
4. How would you describe your style of knitting?
I like to write patterns that are fun and easy to make, while at the same time giving finished objects that look beautiful and are enjoyable to wear. I won‘t overload my designs with a million details – instead, I focus on one element and really let it shine.
5. Who is your favorite knitwear designer?
There are so many! I love Åsa Tricosa‘s work, as well as all designs by Thea Colman, Bristol Ivy, Jana Huck and Tin Can Knits. And I always enjoy discovering new talents out there!
6. How do you keep yourself inspired and motivated?
I‘m not always inspired and motivated – I don‘t think anyone is that all the time. When I feel like I‘m only staring at a blank sheet (or on empty knitting needles, you could say), I simply do something else! I love reading and writing, doing sports or playing board games with my kids. There‘s always distractions, and eventually, your inspiration will come back to you.
7. What tips and advice would you give to aspiring knitwear designers?
Be serious about it! Work constantly on writing the best patterns you possibly can. Don‘t take the short way. Knitters out there deserve high-quality patterns!
8. Which is your favorite book and why?
Oh, there‘s so many! I love reading. My favorite knitting books are Barbara Walker‘s stitch dictionaries – they‘re a wonderful resource! Some of my favorite non-knitting-related books are:
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
Everything by Tana French
Calling Major Tom by David Barnett
Hologrammatica by Tom Hillenbrand
Podkin One-Ear by Kieran Larwood
… and hundreds more.
I really wish my days had ten hours more, so that I could read much more!
Melanie Berg is a knitwear designer from Germany. She combines texture and color into wearable modern designs that are both playful and beautiful. She designs to surprise — from matching cheeky stripes with elegant lace, to choosing unexpected color combinations. Melanie loves to collaborate with other creative types around the world, and her patterns have been published by yarn companies and knitting magazines large and small. Together with her husband and their three children, Melanie enjoys the surroundings of her hometown Bonn, where she draws inspiration from the architecture and landscape.
Interviewed By - Serene Ingle
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