INTERVIEW: The Other Duckling’s Erica Quincey

When did you first knit on a knitting machine?
I started knitting properly on a machine when I was at college - Manchester Metropolitan University, on the Textiles degree course to be exact. This was during a patch when knitting was pretty much out of favour and print was the big thing (after the jumper-tastic eighties but before the knit-crazed noughties). I went to college fully expecting to emerge a print designer, but instead I got myself tangled up in all things yarn related and ended up producing a catwalk full of crazy woolly machine knitted creations for my final degree show.

Are knitting machines easy to use?
Knitting machines can be a little bit like small children and I know about both now. They’re well behaved if you take one step at a time, don’t try to rush them, treat them with a firm hand and take action at the first sign of trouble. But, if you don’t keep your focus fully on what they’re up to or give them huge quantities of thick, fancy, sparkly, fluffy, glittery yarn to play with, mayhem will result. Once you’ve got the knack, you can make progress really fast and quickly create some really impressive, unique and professional-looking fabrics. You soon get to know the personality quirks of your machine, start to think of it fondly and want to spend more and more time with it!

Could you handknit before you tried machine knitting?
I think the fact that I could handknit fairly capably before I started machine knitting really helped me to understand how the machine built up the stitches and what it was capable of doing. Gaining basic knowledge of shaping and basic stitch construction before attempting a Fair Isle, raglan sleeved, roll neck, full-length cardigan is definitely a good first step…. and then maybe a scarf, then Xmas presents for the whole family can be produced in just a couple of sittings!

Why do you choose to knit on a machine?
I like the polished finish of machine knitted fabric (I can never get the tension really consistent when I handknit) and the fact that it’s organised, regimented, and easy to keep track of where you are and what you’re doing. If you go fully mechanised or you’re knitting something fairly simple it can be quick, but there’s plenty of preparation and fiddling. I even like the noise that machine knitting makes… it’s very therapeutic. I’m pretty sure it’s helped to tone my arms too!

How do you translate your designs into knitting?
When I first knitted on a machine, I went to town creating texture so I did most of my designing by knitting samples straight on to the machine until I got the fabric right and then I created paper patterns for the shapes. For my homeware pieces, I tend to use simple punchcard designs which I develop from sketches, transfer into stitches on graph paper, then punch out. It always takes a couple of tries to get them exactly right and to work with the limitations of the pattern repeat, but it’s surprising how striking the results can be. I don’t tend to branch off into any particularly technical processes or use masses of extra equipment because I think that, as with lots of hobbies, you find your own favourite techniques and make the most of them. I always work the shaping on the machine, even for the circular pouffes. That’s partly because I think you get a neater, smarter finish, and partly because I can’t bear to cut off any bits that I’ve spent time and gorgeous yarn producing!

What would you say to someone who was unsure whether to try machine knitting?
I’d say, nothing ventured, nothing gained! Ask your gran’s friends if any of them have a redundant machine lurking about in their loft, or even better, if they can show you a few techniques. You can also pick one up via freecycle or ebay. Go for a basic model to begin with, just in case you don’t get on with it. There are loads of video clips on the web that can help you master the basics and whether you create your own cottage industry, provide yourself with a winter wardrobe bursting with fashion forward sweaters, or just end up with a loft harbouring a redundant machine, it’s worth a try because you might just love it!

To browse and buy Erica’s gorgeous designs, visit www.theotherduckling.co.uk