Today we’d like to introduce you to Abigail Patterson.
Hi Abigail, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started knitting nearly 20 years ago when a friend from Poland showed me how to knit continental. The first thing I made was a scarf! After knitting a few scarves, I put the needles down for a while. I eventually got married and busy running my dance studio. Occasionally, I would knit a scarf, but that’s all I knew how to make.
During the summer of 2010, I decided to take some knitting classes at The Knit Studio in Jackson. My first project: a hat. I made it and it turned out pretty well, so I made a few more trying out different patterns. I fell in love with the idea of making something handmade and using my creativity in a new art form.
There for a while, I knitted mostly newborn hats for photographers. I eventually began to branch out and knit other things. My favorite is shawls! I made a couple of shawl cuffs for me and some friends, and it has since overtaken my Etsy shop. It’s fun finding old worn-out belts and scrap leather and give them new life. I also began writing and publishing my designs mostly because I would knit on the whim and later people would ask for the pattern. I recently joined The Craftmen’s Guild of Mississippi for my knitting.
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?
Knitting, designing and leather crafting can be very time consuming. It isn’t necessarily something you can start and finish quickly. If you do, there can be very obvious flaws or mistakes. Remembering to take time and have patience during the process is very important.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
While knitting/designing is something I love and very passionate about it, one of my big focuses is taking materials and repurposing them into useful or novelty items for knitters and crocheters. My shawls cuffs are made from worn-out belts and scrap leather and are popular in my Etsy shop and at fiber festivals. I also take scrap fabric or repurpose worn out clothing and make them into projects bags.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My family has always supported me, even if they didn’t fully understand what I was doing or making. Sometimes my husband has to help me with certain things since he has stronger hands than I do! When I attend fiber festivals, he usually travels with me to help. My parents occasionally do as well. My mom loves anything and everything I knit for her.
I have a friend that I meet with once a week for coffee, knitting, and chit-chat. Sometimes it helps verbalizing my ideas to her and she sometimes challenges me to think in a different direction. Whether I actually take her advice or not it does help me to see it thru a different set or eyes and make improvements.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://msabigailknits.wordpress.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abigailknits/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Abigailknits/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@abigailknits
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/msabigailknits/
