Inspiration is everywhere. It could be a mood, a color combination, a general pattern, or whatever. I like to describe myself as some kind of a “sponge” soaking up everything that life has in store for me. Motivation is a totally different game. It’s not always easy to stay motivated, but it helps immensely to know that there are so many knitters out there enjoying and loving my designs and patterns.
1. Tell us about your background and journey.
When I was 19, after finishing school I had a dream. I wanted to study fashion design. In addition to the studies at university I thought it would make sense to know a bit more about the practical side and started a job education to become a dressmaker. I never worked as a dressmaker after I finished my training about 27 years ago, and never started the fashion design studies. My son Max will turn 26 this year.
I then worked part time at an Arts and Craft store for quite a long time, teaching kids craft classes and such things. You see, I always enjoyed creating – in any way. It wasn’t long after I discovered Ravelry, that I started to do test knits for knitwear designers. At the same time, I knit a few pullovers, cardigans and shawls from scratch. I did not follow a pattern but made them up from my own ideas.
For these projects I received a lot of positive feedback, and knitters kept asking me to write down patterns for them. I shared some very raw instructions on my blog, then my first patterns - Paulie, On the Beach and Driftwood were published on Ravelry (for free) back in 2011.
It then took me another 2 years to finally dare to publish my first paid pattern. I was and still am kind of surprised that there are so many knitters out there loving my ideas, encouraging me to continue writing down my ideas and sharing them.
I finally quit my day job in 2017 when I simply wasn’t able to fit my day job, the knitwear design job, the travels to various yarn festivals into the 24 hours our days only have, and I have to say that this was one of the best decisions I made besides of saying “yes” to my husband.
2. How and when did you develop your interest in knitting?
As said, I always enjoyed creating – in any way, but the interest in learning how to knit came up somewhen in the 80s. I was 15 when I taught myself how to knit from some old books my mom had in her bookshelves. I think this resulted from the desire to create unique clothes that only I would have. Luckily there are no photos of these first sweaters I made, people would not stop laughing at me.
My first sweater was made up from leftovers I got from my grandma, my grandma loved this “new” material called acrylic and she loved hot pink and lavender, the fabric looked a bit like a blanket, many different stitch patterns, many colors and different yarn types/weights.
I made two rectangles and had sewn them up at the sides, added some kind of a neck finishing and then when it came to pick up stitches from the arm openings to knit the sleeves, I realized that I would only have to knit around 10 cm for each sleeve to fully cover my body.
After these first attempts there was a long time when I only knitted small items like socks, mittens, and the occasional scarf. Things changed when I discovered Ravelry. The rest is history.
3. What design process do you follow before working on any project?
There is not “the design process”. Sometimes it starts with an idea. I would then sketch down the idea and make notes about the fabric I have in mind and possible yarn choices for it. Then I would swatch yarns I have on hand and then make a final decision about the yarn I want for the design and get things started.
Sometimes it starts with the yarn, trying out new yarns is one of the best parts of my job for me, and it happens often that the yarn tells me what kind of garment/accessory it wants to become. When these general decisions are made – means, as soon as I know what kind of design and what kind of fabric/ yarn would be involved, I would write down a very raw pattern.
This looks more like a grocery shopping list than a knitting pattern. Then I would start knitting the sample. When the sample is close to being finished, without sleeves and edgings I would write down the final pattern. The pattern will then go to the tech editor for a first check.
After this first check and after I finished the sample, there will be a test knit to get rid of all silly/senseless or whatever weird things I would have written into the first draw of the pattern. A last tech editing is then made before the pattern is ready to go.
4. How would you describe your style of knitting?
I’d say my style is clean, modern.
5. Who is your favorite knitwear designer?
Jared Flood, you asked for the favorite designer there are many, many more inspiring, amazing, outstanding, utterly creative designers out there like Tamy Gore, Tif Neilan, Hiromi (Plain needle Works) or Teti (Nutsknitwear), to name a few.
6. How do you keep yourself inspired and motivated?
Inspiration is everywhere. It could be a mood, a color combination, a general pattern, or whatever.I like to describe myself as some kind of a “sponge” , soaking up everything that life has in store for me. Motivation is a totally different game. It’s not always easy to stay motivated, but it helps immensely to know that there are so many knitters out there enjoying and loving my designs and patterns.
7. What tips and advice would you give to aspiring knitwear designers?
Be yourself, you will not be able to pretend being someone else for a long time, never give up Rome wasn’t built in a day, work hard there is no such thing as “you don’t have to work hard” for success and making a living from what you do, use social media to share your ideas and yourself people love to get to know you ... at least a tiny bit and don’t hesitate to ask others for help there is no need for new designers to make the same mistakes others already did.
8. Which is your favorite book and why?
Everything is illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer – it is funny, wise, with so many tiny bits of loveliness in it that it’s a pure joy to read over and over again.
Isabell Kraemer is an independent designer celebrated by knitters for her cool, modern, and comfortable sweaters and accessories. Thoroughly modern, she keeps a low profile, but reaches knitters around the world by publishing her patterns in multiple languages, including English, German, French, Italian, Danish, and Spanish. She lives in a small town in southern Germany but travels far and wide, to teach and for pleasure.
Interviewed By - Serene Ingle
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