Julia Frank
We chatted with Rowan designer Julia Frank, who recently launched Rowan Studio 26, and also has designs in Rowan Knitting & Crochet Magazine 51.
Where did you first find the inspiration to start knitting? I first started knitting when I was a small child living in New York with my Hungarian grandmothers; handicraft was a way of life to them. They used to make all their clothes and inspired me to learn how to knit – this was apparently a good way to keep me occupied!
What would you describe as your biggest achievement to date? I would describe my recent Rowan Studio collection as my biggest achievement to date – I was overjoyed to have been given the opportunity to work in that way. I was actually quite emotional when I got the call, I feel that Marie Wallin at Rowan had a great ability to immediately recognise that my designs would work for the Studio concept.
What is inspiring you at the moment? I am currently studying machine knitting in Brighton, and am particularly inspired by texture and the structure of knitting. Today, I feel drawn to looking at updating classic looks and pieces with modern twists, tomorrow – it may be different, I am feeling a little inspired by everything at the moment – the possibilities really are endless.
What did you enjoy the most about designing Rowan Studio 26? My greatest inspiration for the Studio collection was variegation and variegated yarns. I wanted to experiment with mixing thicker and thinner yarns, and the effect this gives. I also love to work with unique stitches, in fact one of the designs from the collection uses a stitch I invented, I love the idea of using something never seen before.
Do you have any trend hints for the summer for us? Big trends which we will be seeing this spring are webbing, exaggerated pointelle and meshing – people are beginning to be a little less afraid to experiment.
4 - March 2012
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