Thinking Through Making | knitwear design, vernacular knitting & the role of the artisan in 2024
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- I chat to Ailbiona, knitwear designer based in Donegal, Ireland. We chat about how she learned to knit and design, how she approaches her creative practise and life.
Ailbiona's Instagram: / ailbiona
Ailbiona's website: www.ailbiona.com (you can sign up to her newsletter by scrolling to the bottom)
Ailbiona's Ravelry: www.ravelry.co...
Next shop update 29th April, 8:00pm GMT- Galway Yarn
Intro Music played and composed by Hannah Robinson!
SHOP: www.woollymamm...
NEWSLETTER: www.woollymamm...
Instagram: @WoollyMammothFibres
Webshop: www.woollymamm...
Rav: WoollyMammothEmma
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Interesting to know that she knitted for so long without patterns. Of all the knitting patterns I’ve tried, hers have been my favourite. Very well explained, but they also include very valuable tips on how to do modifications for length, yarn weight, collar type, etc.
So great to hear this interview with Albina! Have always loved her patterns and enjoyed her perspective on knitting, the academy, and life in general. Thanks for taking the time to chat and post 🥰
Absolutely adored this interview. Very inspiring. I love Ailbiona's designs... and I agree with her- the designer market is not saturated at ALL. I am a fairly new knitter and devouring patterns and knitting content... and I keep ending up at the same designers over and over again, and yet sometimes failing to find the unique things I feel I'm looking for. Ailbiona has been one of the designers that has really stood out and now I feel I know why that might be!
Thank you both for this wonderful and inspiring interview. It's honestly the most relevant and inspiring interview with someone from within the community/'industry' that I've heard in a long time. I appreciate the talk about designing what you feel like designing and not catering to the market. I also really like to think about the pitfalls of efficiency in the textile industry and even the consumerism within the handknit community. And I like the way you explicitly link our craft, our actions, with art.
Lots to think about. Thank you so much! 😊
So glad you enjoyed it! I always enjoy chats with Ailbiona! Such an insightful person.
That was fascinating Emma, I admire Ailbiona's work even more now. I best go sew the ends in my Moinear now and wear the he K out of it 😘
Well, I have now watched this twice and I know that I shall return to this soul provoking and searching conversation time and time again… the fabric of our lives, the cloth of who we are and how the story morphologically continues to evolve whilst at the same time being true to the our little intimate tune … What a privileged conversation !
This was the BEST! It was the best episode of all podcasts I have ever watched. Thank you so much!
Yes! I thought the same thing - best ever!
Thank you for a very interesting hour! I was listening with Albiona’s Luasc pattern on my needles. It was revealing to hear her roots as a “vernacular “ knitter. Perhaps that is why she always describes so many ways to adjust/modify the work. It’s like getting six patterns in one!
Yes I love the way there's always scope and ideas for modifying gauge etc in her patterns- so good and helpful
It's wonderful to hear how other people have found and discovered their craft! ❤
Thank you for this relaxed episode. Can't wait to knit myself a beret 😍
omg one of my all-time favorite designers -- always so smart and thoughtful -- such a fantastic conversations!! thanks for this! ❤❤
What a fascinating and utterly refreshing conversation, thank you so much Emma and Ailbiona!
I could sit listening to you girls chat all day. What a privilege to share your wonderful conversation. Thank you so much Emma and Ailbíona.
Thanks so much for this episode! I read Ailbiona's newsletter and blog regularly and look forward to every new word she writes. I appreciate your thoughtful interview.
I loved hearing from albina. She is so thoughtful in her newsletter and it was nice seeing her “free flow”
Thank you for another interesting and inspiring interview. I think Ailbiona is a wonderful role model for young teenager girls, especially when talking about keeping your individuality to blend in.
Very interesting woman! Thank you Emma and Ailbiona for this though-provoking conversation. (As an American in the UK I laughed out loud when she talked about her morning coffee ritual, YES I miss that ritual! Sallying forth to be productive 😆)
i always love watching these little pockets of you sitting with designers to learn their process of making things, whether it be designing knitware, spinning yarns, ceramics, etc. i only recently just learned how to knit and ive been working on my first sweater for a month now, but these videos are a lovely way to keep me motivated and brings me inspiration or new ideas as to what i might want to make next :)
also the fact that ailbiona knitted so long without patterns kinda reminds me of my grandma. she could read patterns and owned many--those of which could be salvaged and saved are kept by my mother and are often in rough shape because of how old they are--but it felt like a lot of the time, she was just making things on the fly because she understood what needed to be done to make a wearable and good-looking garment. i aspire to have that sort of technical know-how someday :D
Very enjoyable interview. She is just lovely and so interesting. Hoping she will come back and chat with you again. You look stunning in the beret! Very artistic and smart looking.
Wonderful interview. So refreshing and real.
one of my favorite designers! love this interview.
Emma, this is such a unique concept and Ailbiona is a stunning person - this was really interesting! I love where she comes from with knitting (I'm also one who just knits out of inspiration and won't really follow a pattern). Great conversation! Really love your calming vlogs as well ❤
Another insightful interview….you’ve found your groove here Emma, really enjoying this series…..
Ailbiona is so inspiring and refreshing! I loved hearing her perspective on her approach to designing, and it was interesting to hear how she had success teaching people to knit by physically holding and moving their hands. feeling is worth a million words!
Oh, that was so great! both of you, so lovely. Thanks for the inspiration!
A really interesting interview. Some very refreshing perspectives. Thank you both very much! I like this series a lot Emma.
Such a fascinating interview! I want to make her back and front jumper….. or some of her other designs.
So so interesting and inspiring on many different levels. Great interview on both sides. I will carry bits and pieces of inspiration from this interview with me for a long time❤
amazing interview with two of my favorite craftspeople. learning more about Ailbiona's process and history with vernacular knitting explains why her patterns are so wonderful to knit. thank you for this treat!
Incredible ❤❤❤
Super validating you both, I feel one day I’d like to just keep craft accessible & acceptable with the younger generations, not sure how . (but I’m a slave to wages as a single parent, but 1 day!)
Sooo good, really enjoyed this, Emma and Ailbiona!! So interesting to hear about inspiration and process - and wonderful to hear someone talking about how current fashion is really decided by random folk, and how our own discoveries of style, and in fact the style that is most important for us, actually shows our individuality - that's exactly how I feel about fashion... I think it really should be such a personal expression. And now I'm off to have more looks through the wonderful patterns of Ailbiona! Cheers both of you! Judith 💜
Really really enjoyed this podcast, so interesting and made me reflect on the creative process ❤
What a very fascinating and wonderful hour to spend with you both , it’s going to make me think much more about my knitting and what I want to wear for me and not fashions xx
Wonderful ❤ inspiring. Cannot capture my response. I’ve test knit for Albina and love her way of being. Thank you both for sharing.
OMG great interview! I love this series you are doing. And Ailbiona - have a few of her patterns on my list of to knit. Emma you are marvelous. And look marvelous. Thank you thank you
This was wonderful. Thank you so much for this insightful conversation.
Love this interview, Emma! So inspiring and fascinating! Thank you, Karen (Ten Mile, Tennessee)
Loved seeing you today in the new setting. And you look awesome
Wow, what an amazing interview! Thank you Emma for hosting, thank you Albina for sharing your views, this is probably the first proper discussion on meaning of knitting on UA-cam podcasts! This conversation deeply resonated with me on many levels (I am one of those to pick up a coffee in the morning, travel by bicycle and write in fountain pens). Thank you both for creating beauty and contributing to art of our everyday life.
I think now that Ravelry has taken off, the market really has become saturated so a designer must stand out above others to actually be profitable.
Perhaps one can knit me a mauve turtle neck sweater and matching underpants?