TODAY'S GUEST: CARLA SCOTT

I am very pleased to have Carla Scott as my guest today.
Carla is currently the Editor in Chief of Knit Simple magazine, the Executive Editor of Vogue Knitting, and the Editor of Vogue Knitting Stitchionary 5: Lace Knitting, the newest book in the Stitchionary series.
Besides what was already mentioned, Carla's career over 30 years includes working for various yarn companies, designing, hosting the Vogue Knitting Tours, working with book publishers and so many other duties. She lives in New York city and is inspired by it. By the nature of her job, Carla is in the midst of fashion industry which influences her as a designer and the editor.
Carla shares her knowledge through teaching and working with others on the production of magazines. Teaching continues at home as well. Carla began knitting as a little girl and now her daughter knows how to knit as well. We can see how passionate Carla is about hand-knitting industry through many projects that she initiated. In this interview we will learn about Carla Scott the editor, knitter, designer, author, and a teacher.

1. When did you start knitting (crocheting) and who taught you?
I learned to knit at the age of nine. My grandmother and sister taught me.

2. When did you begin publishing your designs?
I started working in the knitting industry in 1977, mostly checking and writing instructions and knitting up samples. I began designing my own in 1984.

3. What is your most favorite knitting (crocheting) technique?
For knitting, cables are my favorite, and for crochet, I love Tunisian (afghan) crochet.

4. When you are thinking about some new design, what inspires you the most? Is it different every time? Could you give us some examples on inspiration for some of your designs?
My forte in knitting is more on the technical/instruction side. I have been writing, sizing and editing knitting and crochet patterns for more than 30 years. When I do design (which is not very often) I like to play with stitch patterns. I’m very inspired by what people are wearing around New York City.

5. What does your studio look like?
I work full time at SoHo Publishing (Vogue Knitting/Knit Simple) and my office is full of magazine swipes, yarn, needles, knitting magazines and books.

6. What is your most favorite place to knit (crochet)?
I love to knit on my sofa at home, watching old movies.



7. Do you spin your own yarn?
No, but I love watching other people spin.

8. Do you belong to a knitting group?
No, but I visit the local knitting guilds (in Long Island, New Jersey, New York and sometimes Boston) several times a year to give presentations of our newest issues.

9. Are you in touch with other designers and how do you communicate with the knitters who knit your designs?
I am in touch with designers all the time, through the magazines I work for and knitting trade shows and events. Living in New York, I am able to meet personally with many designers, either at the office, and at lunch, at yarn shops and knitting events throughout the year.

10. Where can we see your published designs?
I do not have much time to design anymore, but every once in a while you can see my designs in Knit Simple or Vogue Knitting.












11. Do you teach classes? If yes, where do you teach?
I will be teaching classes at a brand-new consumer event sponsored by SoHo Publishing called “Vogue Knitting Live.” The dates are January 21-23, 2011, at the Hilton New York Hotel. Go to Vogue Knitting website for details.

12. What would you like to tell knitters who are timid and do not believe they are skillful enough to knit some of your designs?
As Editor in Chief of Knit Simple magazine, one of my jobs is to choose designs for each issue that are easy to make, yet stylish and fun to do. I also am responsible for all the instructions in both Knit Simple and Vogue Knitting, and most days are also filled with knitting--figuring out complicated patterns, how to size then and make them easier to understand. I find that I prefer to knit simpler things so that I do not have to think too much. Therefore my designs are usually on the easy side and are certainly not a stretch for a new knitter.

13. What are your plans in the near future?
To continue to knit and encourage young people to keep the trend alive.

14. Can you share with us some of your latest designs?
Here is a picture of my daughter Patrice, then 10 (now 13), who is wearing a sweater that I designed and knit for her. It was featured in an article on kids knitting, from Knit Simple 2007, which was my first issue as Editor in Chief.
I wanted her to wear something knitted for the photo shoot, and needed it done quickly, so I knit this short-sleeved raglan sweater in her favorite color. It is a very simple design, knit in one piece to the underarm to cut down on the finishing. I taught Patrice to knit when she was 6, and she still knits today.

15. Would you like to add anything about yourself?
While knitting was not my intended career choice (I wanted to be an interpreter at the U.N. and travel the world), I am so happy to be in the knitting industry. I have met so many wonderful and talented people, many of whom are good friends now. I am able to use my knowledge of languages by translating patterns from other countries and my travel bug is satisfied by going on the annual Vogue Knitting Tours (this year, Italy!). I have been working in this industry since 1977 and have seen a lot of ups and downs. But this most recent knitting trend has lasted longer than anyone expected. I hope that knitting will continue to be strong, and I am excited to be a part of knitting history.

FG: Thank you, Carla, for taking time to visit with us here. It is fascinating to learn about everything you do. Next time my readers open one of the Stitchionary books or Vogue knitting magazines they will know that you played a big role in its realization. Good luck with teaching at Vogue Knitting Live and other ventures.