The Knitter - UK (2019-09)

Amanda Jones

BASED IN rural Somerset,

designer Amanda Jones

has been working with

The Knitter for many

years, and we’re delighted

to have her latest pattern

on the front cover of

this issue. After completing a degree in

fashion and textiles, where she specialised

in knitting, Amanda began designing

knitwear patterns for yarn companies and

magazines in the mid-1980s. Her work is

characterised by her love of stitch textures,

and she enjoys using intricate cables,

delicate lace, and brioche stitch in her

work. We caught up with Amanda to talk

about her design inspirations.

Who inspired you to take up knitting?

“My mother was always knitting for my

four brothers and myself, and watching her

made me want to copy her. I always wanted

to knit a row, but for some reason she

wouldn’t let me. Finally she and my

grandmother taught me how to knit.”

Do you have a favourite artist, writer,

poet or musician who inspires you?

“I love the work of the Pre-Raphaelite

artists. Their use of detail and colour in

their paintings are always an inspiration.”

Which knitwear designer has most

inspired you, and why?

“When I first started my knitting career

in the 1980s and was beginning to sell my

patterns into magazines, Debbie Bliss was

my main inspiration. I met her back when

she was working as a rep for the yarn

company Hayfield, and I loved her designs.

“Today, thanks to the internet, it’s easy

to discover the work of talented designers

from all walks of life and from all around

the world, and I find myself constantly

inspired by their work.”

Tell us about the colours, landscapes or

architecture that inspire your design work.

“I am lucky enough to live in a very

beautiful part of England, and I am

surrounded by lush hills and farmland.

My garden is a constant source of

inspiration, as each season there are

new plants and colours to inspire. At the

moment the garden is full of bright reds,

hot pinks and oranges – I love it!”

What is your favourite knitting book?

“This is a difficult question. I am a collector

of stitch dictionaries, but if I have to choose

one, the ones I always go back to are my

Japanese stitch books. Every page is full of

inspiring stitches worked from charts.”

What fibres do you love to work with?

“I love a yarn that will show off the stitches

• pure wool is probably the best.”

Which design from your portfolio are you

most proud of, or is most special to you?

“I really like my shawl pattern from Issue

115, called ‘Hampstead’. This was my first

big shawl, and I love the finished result.”

Are there any techniques or styles of

knitting you’d like to explore further?

“Nancy Marchant has just published a book

on brioche lace [Knitting Brioche Lace,

available from http://www.tangled-yarn.co.uk].

This will be my next knitting challenge,

and I can’t wait. I have had the book for a

few weeks now, but have not had the time

to sit down and really look at it as I have

been busy finishing off other projects. I feel

that brioche lace is something that will

need my undivided attention!”

http://www.ravelry.com/designers/

amanda-jones

Amanda loves to combine intricate stitch

textures to create beautiful knitted pieces

MY INSPIRATION

1 Amanda’s ‘Bayswater Bag’ design appeared in

The Knitter issue 86 2 ‘Hampstead’ is from Issue

115 3 + 4 She loves Japanese stitch dictionaries,

and is trying brioche lace with Nancy Marchant’s

new book 5 ‘Gwyneth’ is a pattern from Issue 95

Amanda’s design style is typically feminine and

intricate, as shown by ‘Amethyst’ from Issue 94

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Interview

The Knitter 90 Issue 141