Today we’d like to introduce you to Martha Wissing
Martha, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve always been a maker. I can remember learning to knit and crochet as a child and making small squares, sewing them together for doll clothes. After working in retail and manufacturing I decided to open a little bead shop. I would make beaded jewelry and sell it in the shop, at craft fairs and to boutique shops nearby. As my interest in knitting grew, the local yarn shops in my area began to close. I decided to add yarn to my little bead shop, which exploded into a yarn store with beads! Always a maker, I would create knitted accessories, write shop patterns and give the patterns to my customers with a yarn purchase. The business grew to be a destination yarn shop in Rhode Island. My life changed when I met my husband, and he joined the Army. I sold my shop and we moved, but wherever we went, I continued knitting, making.
When my husband started training for a new position he was told he would be sent to South Korea for a year. I returned to Rhode Island and began my dream job, working in the design department for Berroco Yarns. My job was to help customers with pattern questions, send out the weekly newsletters, check for pattern errors, and assist the designers by winding new yarns making them ready to knit with. It was a very inspirational environment, and I continued to make. One day I wore a small shawl that I had just finished. Norah, the design director asked me if I had made it, I said yes. She asked if I had used a pattern, I said no, I made it up. She said I would like to buy the sample and your design for the company! Yes!!!! This happened again, a few months later. This time the design was so popular that the company used it in their advertising. Meanwhile, my husband and I moved again, this time to Texas. I received an email from the owner of Berroco Yarns asking if I would be interested in designing a collection of accessories for their new luxury product line, Amano Yarns. When the yarn arrived from Peru, it filled my whole dining room table, I cried! They had such confidence in me! I gathered the strength to also self-publish designs on Ravelry. Now, 9 years later… 276 published pattern designs (and counting).
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The most difficult part of being an independent designer is isolation. Finding maker friends to share ideas with and discuss new ones. Finding community at my local yarn store, The Knitting Cup was invaluable to me.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I create hand knitted garments and accessories with a little something extra, a new way of doing an edge or a small design feature that can make a difference. I love to make easy to knit, accessible, but never boring designs. Once the sample is complete and I’m happy with it, I write the instructions as clearly as possible for the knitter and create a PDF pattern of the design.
My knitted samples are on display at The Knitting Cup in Georgetown. Shawnee has been instrumental in growing my local and international following, having book signings, hosting Knit-A-Longs and featuring my designs in her social media. My knitting patterns are available as digital downloads, on Ravelry and at The Knitting Cup.
My advice to knitters, admire your work often. This will help you see any errors you may have made quickly, so you can easily fix them. My advice to makers, believe in yourself as others do. You got this!
Pricing:
- Knitting Patterns $6 – $8
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ravelry.com/designers/martha-wissing
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marthawissing_designs/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarthaWissingDesigns
Image Credits
@Blue Sky Fibers
