Designer interview: Nim Teasdale

Here is my second of three designer interviews for this year’s Gift-a-Long. (Ravelry link)

I met Nim Teasdale (Ravelry link) in the Gift-a-Long two years ago. I was knitting one of her amazing shawls, and she was already following my blog for the stitch patterns. We have since become friends, and also collaborators. She’s designed several shawls that use my stitch patterns: some that are here on my blog, and also some that I have designed exclusively for her.

nim-collage
© Nimble Knits

Here are her patterns that use my stitch patterns.

illumine
© Nimble Knits

This is my favorite of her recent patterns that don’t use my stitches. Illumine, (Ravelry link) which is on sale for the Gift-a-Long. I could stare at those feathers for hours.

1. Please tell us a little about yourself.

Hi, I’m Nim, and I seem to have a lace shawl addiction, with a tendency to stray into stripes-and-garter territory from time to time. I’m a late blooming knitter. I tried to learn to knit at my grandmother’s knee when I was nine, and failed. Then tried again at my auntie’s knee when I was 27, and still couldn’t get the hang of it. Happily, I finally picked it up several years later, thanks to YouTube, and pretty much haven’t sat down without needles in hand since.

2. Which of your patterns do you think are great but are overlooked?

Hmm, Interplay (Ravelry link) is very versatile, and can create quite different end results. Robin in the Leaves (Ravelry link) is very satisfying to knit, and a little more challenging. Flame Flowers (Ravelry link)might be another, as it looks so airy, but is only lace every fourth row. Far and Wide (Ravelry link) is also very simple and adaptable, but a lot of fun to wear.

3. What attracted you to joining in with the Gift-a-Long?

KALs are so much fun! It’s lovely to hang out with like-minded folk, to see old friends and make new ones, and to soak up the festive, creative, sometimes slightly manic vibe of it all! Each year brings something wonderful – like meeting you!

4. What are a few patterns from the Gift-a-Long that have really caught your eye?

I’ve been eyeing off a number of jumpers and tunics (like Kniteration’s Happy Accident (Ravelry link)which I could see myself living in during the winter), and wishing I had the diligence to make something practical, but I’m trying to be realistic. Normally I say I want to knit my first pair of socks, which I do, but it’s been three years now and I’m yet to knit my first pair of socks, so this year, I’m planning to make a soft toy, Browneyedbabs’ Dreamy Owl  (Ravelry link) for my new little nephew, who currently sleeps all day and feeds all night.

5. You recently spent a year traveling around Europe. Are there any places that still hold your attention and make you want to go back?

Hmm, pretty much everywhere, really. I feel like we barely scratched the surface. We moved fairly fast which meant we saw a great variety, which was great, but at the same time, we also didn’t explore any area in real depth, so I’d be happy to go back and do it again in a slightly different way. 🙂

And finally, thank you for the invitation to do an interview!

Where else to find Nim:

Ravelry: Nimblenim
Ravelry group: Nimble KnitsBlog: Little House on the Hill