There
are so many women that inspires me in their own unique way and through
these conversation posts you and i get the pleasure of getting to know a
bit more about them. About those ordinary but interesting things like
for example what it is that inspires them, what a typical day in
their life looks like, where they find beauty...
This time it is the lovely panda_mr that has sat down and answered my questions.
V: First i want to thank you for saying yes to do this conversation
together with me! Ever since i first came across you on Instagram i have
been "hooked" on your pictures, they both inspire me and make me feel
happy.....your sense and taste for colors and patterns hugely appeal to
me....*smiling*.
I thought it would be nice if you could start with
sharing a bit about yourself?
P: First
of all, thank you so much for your kind words, and for asking me to
have this conversation! I live in Oslo, Norway, with my husband and two
kids aged 8 months and 3 years. When I was pregnant with my first born I
suddenly felt the need to learn to crochet, because I wanted to make a
baby blanket for her. From that moment on I have been hooked on yarn!
Two years ago I decided it was time to refresh my
knitting skills (hadn`t knitted since childhood), and after that I have
been knitting a whole lot for my kids. I am currently on maternity
leave, and I guess the extra time I`ve had on my hands since the arrival
of my second daughter is the reason for me starting to post pictures
from my everyday life on Instagram. I feel that my creativity is really
blooming, there is so much I want to make and learn, both when it comes
to photography, home crafts and other things. There is just not enough time!
V: 5 words that you would choose to describe yourself?
P: Mom, knitter, music listener, walker and coffee drinker.
V: What inspires you..where do you find inspiration?
P: I find inspiration from so many places, from music, literature, movies, fashion, internet, and on Ravelry.com.
These days I must say that I find a lot of inspiration on Instagram,
both when it comes to handicrafts and other things! Also, I find a lot
of inspiration from my own childhood. Thinking back, I remember things
that used to fascinate me, like toys, and clothes that I myself liked to
wear as a kid. I guess you can call me a nostalgic. My daughters’
bookshelf is filled with the books I loved growing up.
V: I
am hugely in love with everything you knit and sew...all the beautiful
childrens clothing makes me wish that i was 3 and not 39!!. I am
curious to know if you prefer one of these crafts above the
other? And if so, why?
P: I am definitely a
knitter, not a seamstress. For me, knitting is so many different things.
It can be a time out, where I forget my worries and focus on what I am
doing in that exact moment. It can also be challenging, but it feels
fulfilling when I master whatever it is that has proven difficult for
me. Sometimes knitting is something I can do while watching TV or
talking (I guess it depends on what exactly is being knitted!). Sewing
is something I recently started doing, mostly because I just wanted to
see if I could. I love Danish children’s wear, but some of it can be
rather expensive. So I decided to use the same kind of fabric, but make
something of my own. For me, sewing is demanding, not something "cozy"
or relaxing like knitting. But I must say it is fun to try for a
change!
V: Have you grown up in a crafty family?
P: Yes,
I guess you could say that. One of my grandfathers was both a painter
and photographer, and my father was into photography as well. On my
mothers side there has been a lot of handicraft, but mostly for the
purpose of making things that were needed in the household. I feel that
while I mostly knit with the purpose of challenging myself and
experience some kind of mastery, they mostly knitted because of the need
of it.
V: What is your first knitting memory and who learned you to knit? And what about sewing?
P: I don`t remember an
exact first experience with knitting, but I do remember that my
grandmother, and her sister, almost always sat with their knitting while
we were having afternoon coffee when I was a child. Also, I remember
there was a lot of talk about knitting, different patterns, yarns etc.
My grandmother is so fast, she knits a mitten in an evening. I also
remember it was very boring to try on half made clothes, that
they wanted to see if fit. I didn`t understand or appreciate at the
time, all the hard work and love they put into their works! I think both
my mother and grandmother helped me learn how to knit, but it was also
part of education at school. As a grown up, I had to use YouTube to
refresh my memory!
V: What is currently on the top of your want-to-knit list? And when it comes to sewing?
P: There are so many
things I want to knit! I want to knit shorts for both of my girls that
they can use during spring and summer. I also want to make another Immie
tee and a Bloomsbury sweater. I am contemplating whether to knit a
Korrigan jacket or another jacket for my eldest daughter. Also, I have
started on a blanket called Umaro, but don`t know if I ever will have
the time to finish it. I have not knitted anything from Amimono, but
want to buy the Little Nordic Collection, with patterns inspired by the
world of Astrid Lindgren. I also plan to knit the "Clara" dress. When it
comes to sewing I don`t have any plans, I guess I will sew something to
match new knitted pieces if i find the motivation!
V: Either
it is your knittings or sewing i hugely like the colors and patterns you pick! I am curious to know what your favourite colors are, and color combinations? Also if this is something that often is in change? For example because of the different seasons and also because of new trends?
P: I
don`t think I have any favorite color, but I think that I have periods
where I am really into either a color nuance or a color combination. For
instance, lately I have been into pink, but not ordinary pink, rather
powdery pink, peach-pink or dusty pink. I also have had a period where I
have tended to pick greens; teal, sea green, apple green. Right now
different kind of pastels, mostly in somewhat uncommon combinations, is
what I like! Today, for instance I`m thinking lavender and apple green.
Would`ve loved to have a shorts and jacket for my baby in those
colors, with a matching blouse in a flower print!
Yes,
I definitely think that both changing of seasons and trends influence
both the colors, type of yarns, patterns and the structures of what I
make! For instance, during autumn I tend to choose colors like
aubergine, mustard yellow and navy blue.
V: Can you share your favourite brands when it comes to yarn and fabric with us?
P: I really
like trying out new types of yarns and color palettes! Right now I must
say that Quince & co yarn is a favorite, both because of the colors
and nuances they make and because of the quality and feel of the yarn. I
think that Quince offers some qualities that I haven't yet found among
the available yarns in Norway. And of course, because it is difficult to
come by here, it feels luxurious and rare, and that is always a plus
;-) When it comes to Norwegian yarns, I often go back to Du Store
Alpakka, and their types of yarn called Babysilk and Fin. Both are soft
to touch, they have several colors I like (although I often long for
even more exciting array of colors) and to me they seem to be of good
quality. I also like yarn from pickles.no,
mostly because of their more playful take on colors. Sometimes I can
get "hung up" on a type of yarn for a while, and want to experiment with
it. Most recently I have really liked Pickles.no Abuelita
4 ply yarn, and used it to make a vest of my own design, a Bloomsbury
sweater and a Columbine Hoodie. When it comes to fabric, I don`t have a
lot of experience with purchasing them, but I tend to buy Liberty of
London, because I really like their takes on patterns and colors.
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| Petra Dress |
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| Petra Dress |
V: Among
all the clothes that you have knitted could you
share your absolute favourites with us?
P: I think the "Petra dress" from charlottpettersen.no`s blog
is one of my favorites. I like the design, which is from an old
Norwegian pattern. The dress has a retro feel, which I like a lot, and
also it took a lot of discipline to make it (small needles, really wide
skirt….). More recently I am happy with the Icelandic sweater "Frost",
because knitting with several colors is hard for me. I have also made a cardigan with a lot of cables for my eldest daughter, the pattern is
from a book called "Labour of Love". That took a lot of work!
V: Do you also sew and knit for yourself or only for your kids?
P: I
must admit, I am rather inpatient. It is so much more rewarding to make
things for my kids, and it takes a lot less time. I have knitted my
self the occasional sweater, but nothing to write home about!
V: Your favourite blogs and sites and also what you especially enjoy about them?
P: Actually,
I do not have that many blogs and sites that I regularly visit, lately
Instagram has taken more of my time… But I really like maddermade.com, and her previous blog swatchdiaries.blogspot.com. I love her sense of color combinations! I also like the pickles blog. Ravelry.com is another favorite, both for finding patterns and for yarn suggestions.
V: What kind of value and importance does creativity have in your life?
P: I guess I would say that it
means a lot, but also that it varies a bit depending on where I am in
life. I think photography is the form of creativity that has been with
me most of my life, it has sort of always been present, more or less.
The camera has both been a tool for capturing moments, as a means to
make "scenes", or like now; like a set of "second eyes" to see my
knittings with. I am thinking about starting a blog, but I don`t know if
I have the guts for it.
V: If you were to explore/learn a new craft, what would that be and why?
P: I am not sure, actually. I
guess I would focus on getting better at sewing or photography. Right
now I find it so fun to knit, that I mostly just want to use my
sparetime on that (or browsing the web for yarn suggestions or new
patterns ;-) )
V: Other interests/things you enjoy using your time on?
P: Obviously
it is my family! Two small kids is a lot of work AND fun! I am also
very fond of traveling, and seeing the world. But right now, my
priorities is my everyday life with my man and kids!
V: We are soon heading into spring here in Norway now, a season that is very dear to my heart.
What do you especially enjoy about this season?
P: So
many things! I think it is the best of all seasons. I really enjoy the
days getting longer. The winters can be quite dark and long where I
live, and so more light is always a plus. Also, seeing plants grow to
life, and the gras and trees getting greener; nothing can compare to
that! From feeling sort of grayish, life gets filled with color.
V: As a closing i want to ask you about what you are most grateful and happy about in your life right now?
I
also want to thank you for this lovely and inspiring conversation!...*smiling*...
P: That
must be my two daughters, that constantly reminds me of what is
important in life, and that sometimes makes me see life from a child’s
perspective again.
Thank you so much for asking me! This has certainly been a new and exiting experience for me. Thank you so much,
