FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY: 

Free print available until November 2023

Christine Marie Chen is a knit designer with an extensive portfolio. Her designs have been published in Vogue Knitting, KnitStyle, and the KnitCrate subscription club. She has been featured in several yarn companies including: Manos del Uruguay/Fairmount Fibers,  SweetGeorgia Yarns, The Yarn Sisters (Zealana), Buffalo Wool Co., and Yarnspirations.

Today we’re sharing our interview with Christine. For a limited time, when you sign up for our newsletter you can download your copy of her new pattern for Eucalan, a knit Kindle/ Tablet cozy!

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Q. Tell us your knitting origin story. 

A. Thank you so much for having me! My knitting story begins nearly 20 years ago, when I was expecting my first child. I was living in Illinois at the time and the local library was offering a free knitting class for beginners. I'd always wanted to learn to knit! My first finished object was a chunky, squishy, olive green garter stitch scarf. I fell in love and from then on, I was hooked! I borrowed every knitting book I could get my hands on from the library and basically taught myself everything else I wanted to learn. Fast forward a couple of years, and I was ready to jump into the world of design! 

Q. Do you have a favorite yarn or colourway? 

A. I don't really have a favorite yarn or colorway because my taste changes frequently. But I love trying new yarns and I really enjoy working with ombre and/or tonal colors. Right now I'm actually drawn to shades of deep burnt orange in squishy merino textures.

Q. Where do you draw inspiration from for your designs? 

A.  I love using textures found in nature and I enjoy putting colors together as seen in a sunset or waves on a sandy beach (such as the colors I used in my kindle cozy pattern).  I find inspiration everywhere, especially in nature.

Q. What projects do you have in the works currently? 

A. I'm currently in the process of planning another series of accessories. I will be self-publishing the patterns to Ravelry over the coming months! Look forward to beanies, shawls and maybe some fingerless mitts! I may even create my first sock pattern!  

Q. What do you like most about being a knitting designer? 

A. I love being able to express myself through creativity, and of course I love the act of knitting in and of itself. Knitting has always been a therapeutic form of relaxation for me!  

Q. What's the hardest part about being a knitting designer? 

A. For me, sometimes the hardest part is just getting started on a new design. I usually have so many ideas that I freeze up with analysis paralysis. If authors can have writer's block, can designers have designer's block? I guess I have a habit of overthinking things.

Q. Do you have a favorite Eucalan scent? 

A.  Yes! I love them all, but would have to say that Jasmine (Wrapture) is my favorite. I love Jasmine! I even have Jasmine vines growing up my garden gate. And Jasmine tea is divine! Just don't drink the Eucalan! 

Q. Do you have other creative hobbies? 

A. I do! I have several other creative outlets and eclectic hobbies that I enjoy! I love working with clay. I took pottery classes a few years ago and ended up purchasing my own potter's wheel and kiln! I've created mugs, plates and even a few yarn bowls! I also do some diamond painting. And last but not least, I collect ball jointed dolls and love designing knitwear for them.

Q. What's a technique you'd like to try? 

A. I would actually love to do something in brioche! I took a class on brioche at Stitches West several years ago and managed to create a little swatch, but haven't done anything with it since then! I love the look and feel of brioche, so I think I really need to try it again!  

Q. What else do you wish we asked you? 

A.  I think you pretty much covered everything! But if anyone would like to follow along on my crafty adventures, they can find me on Instagram as Christine Marie Chen aka Bayareaknitter and/or on Ravelry as Christine Marie Chen aka Needle2Needle ...and I do have a couple of YouTube channels where I share my crafty endeavors.

My knitting channel is Bayareaknitter and my multicraft channel is Needle2Needle.

Thank you so much for inviting me to answer these questions for you. It's been my pleasure doing business with you and designing this little kindle cozy!  

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Again, thank you to Christine for taking the time to share your work with us! 

Don’t forget you can download Christine’s Knit Kindle/Tablet Cozy for free when you sign up for the Eucalan newsletter!