This week Felicia is joined by knitwear designer, Emma Welford. Emma lives in Western Massachusetts and has been knitting since 2007 and designing since 2011. She is a fellow multi-craftual maker who also sews her own clothes, crochets, and spins on her Lendrum spinning wheel. Emma is no stranger to SweetGeorgia as she has designed two amazing patterns for us in the past: her Fall Break socks and the adorable Ribbons cardigan.
Please join us this week as Felicia and Emma discuss slowing down and enjoying the process of creation!
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On mindful making: “I definitely think more about the whole process of making because… it draws the making process out longer. If I’m spending time shopping for fabric, contemplating my options, taking the time to trace the pattern pieces, cut the fabric out, decide what seam finishes I’m going to do… It makes it this really… luxurious almost self-care kind of pampering… and it means that I’m being more aware of the choices I make when I make something.” — Emma Welford
Photos by Lindsay Topham
In this episode, we talk about:
- 2:39 Emma chats about her main passion before she started knitting seriously: sewing without patterns. Felicia also asks Emma how she got into knitting in 2007.
- 5:11 Felicia and Emma talk about slow fashion, mindful making, and wearing your handmade knits more by examining if they truly fit into your everyday wardrobe. The ladies also ponder if one can truly have too many sweaters.
- 9:12 Emma and Felicia discuss the “instantaneous pattern lust” on Ravelry and if it causes knitters to make before thinking
- 11:05 Talking about minimalism and how Emma tries to slow down the process of creation to enjoy it more
- 15:15 How Emma chooses her colour palettes and her suggestions to others on how to pick yarn colours for projects
- 20:50 Frosting VS Cake: the struggle of choosing neutral yarn colours in a store
- 23:12 Emma chats about her time working at Webs – America’s Yarn Store
- 26:16 Emma gives suggestions on how to balance working a day job and designing knitwear
- 30:00 Chatting about Emma’s latest project: a collaboration e-book of patterns called Join Hands (Proceeds from this project will be shared equally between the American Civil Liberties Union and the Southern Poverty Law Center)
- 31:10 Felicia and Emma discuss bullet journalling
- 34:26 Where to find Emma online to keep up with all of her latest designs and projects
- 34:05 Felicia’s final notes and podcast giveaway!
Links and Things
Here’s where to find Emma online:
- Website: www.emmawelford.com – Sign up for the monthly newsletter to keep up with Emma’s latest work!
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/emmawelford
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/welforddesigns
- Ravelry: www.ravelry.com/groups/emma-welford-designs
Podcast Giveaway!
Win a free copy of one of Emma’s SweetGeorgia patterns: Fall Break socks or Ribbons cardigan! Simply enter your info here and we’ll enter you in the giveaway and also subscribe you to our SweetGeorgia updates, so you won’t miss out on any of our updates!
Please Support Join Hands!
As discussed in this week’s episode, Emma has collaborated with a bunch of amazing designers to create the new e-book pattern collection: Join Hands. With recent world events, craftivism has been thrust back into the spotlight and the designers in this collection have combined their heart and skills into mitten patterns that make a statement. Proceeds from this project will be shared equally between the American Civil Liberties Union and the Southern Poverty Law Center. SweetGeorgia recently highlighted the gorgeous 51% Mittens pattern that was knit up in our Tough Love Sock, so please check it out!
Please Join us Online at the Newly-Launched School of SweetGeorgia!
If Felicia and Emma’s discussion on choosing colours in this week’s episode has inspired you, consider checking out our new site: the School of SweetGeorgia. Our Colour Play course is a mini-workshop in colour theory basics for fibre artists and is available for free!
Thanks for Listening!
Thank you so much for joining me this episode! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with your fellow knitting friends. And if you like what I’m doing here, please leave a rating and review on iTunes for the show. I read each and every email and bit of feedback, whether it’s on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook, so I welcome your comments.
Thank you Emma for joining us on the show this week!
Music Credits:
The Young and Beautiful – by Ivory Hours
Fallin’ – by Jetty Rae (on Noise Trade)