We loved talking to American knit designer Kristen TenDyke for issue 17, so much so that we chatted aboutmore than we could possibly fit into the magazine!

Kristen Tendyke

Here's a couple of questions we didn't include in the interview, but couldn't bear to keep from you.  What's been your proudest woolly moment? My proudest woolly moment was when I got my first design accepted by a magazine. I'd designed an I-cord-like scarf and braided it together, added some garter stitch ends to secure the braid. It was accepted by Vogue Knitting for their Holiday 2006 issue. A little while after sending in the finished scarf, I got a phone call one afternoon while I was at work they were putting the scarf on the cover! I couldn't contain my excitement, everyone in the office knew before the day was over.  ...and any total disasters? My biggest disaster was also a huge learning experience, as they often are: I attempted to design an alpaca sweater for my boyfriend in a cable rib pattern. This was before I understood how important it is to wash and STRETCH ribbing before taking the gauge, and before I knew that 100% alpaca tends to grow after it's knit. I spent weeks knitting with this lovely yarn. When I was finished I washed the sweater to let it block and the thing grew, and grew, and man, it was WAY too big. I learned that lesson and I always wet-block my swatches now before I take gauge. He lovingly wore the sweater anyways. The sleeve cuffs were folded up, and he had a few layers on under it.  You'll find the interview in full in The Thread in the latest issue (with subscribers already and in shops from tomorrow).