GAL interview with Red and the Wolf Designs, Selana on Ravelry

I was enjoying the photos of  Red and the Wolf Designs, Selana on Ravelry.

You as a designer questions:
What is your design process? That actually depends a lot. Some times, I have fully planned out before I even knit a stitch, because a stitch pattern or something else inspired me. Sometimes, I have more of a vague idea and improvise as I go, then write the pattern when I’m finished. Or it can be me experimenting with a technique and ending up with something I like enough to turn it into a design.

What influences your style?
I design things that I or the people in my life would want to wear. I’m a bit of a goth, love steampunk, sometimes wear jeans and t-shirt, but other times dress up in an elegant gown. My designs for women are things that go with either of those options. And no matter how pretty or stylish something is, I always want it to be functional too.
What about designing and producing patterns are you most adept at, what parts are you most fond of, and what parts are challenging? (Pattern Grading, the last week of editing, coming up with a name for a project, self promotion?)

I love the actual knitting or crochet part, that turns the image in my head into something tangible. If I get it right, it’s a bit like magic. Pattern writing can be challenging, because something that seemed perfectly logical while I was doing it can be hard to describe for others. Especially when I want my patterns accessible to people of all skill levels. Pattern names often are a challenge – except for the few times where I have a name even before I know anything else about the design. As you see, I can be a bit random and chaotic, but I’m that way in every part of my life, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that the same is true for designing. The really challenging thing for me is grading garments, as there are so many measurements to take into account – and then there are people of different body types too. Maybe that’s the reason why I only have one graded garment pattern so far.
What do you find most important in photography?
Clear, well lighted photos that showcase the design. An artsy shoot or two doesn’t hurt, but I think it is important to show the whole garment or accessory in at least one photo. And the style of the photo has to fit the design – I’d photograph a kind of punk design differently from an elegant lace shawl.

You as a Giftalong designer:
What have you learned from the promotion?
It’s my 4th year as a designer and 5th year as a crafter, and I have learned that there is so much talent around – it’s a pleasure to find new patterns and promote their designers. And I love that we support and promote each other, instead of jealously trying to get the most for ourselves. There’s so many different styles from designers, I think we complement each other to reach the most crafters, we don’t stand in a competition.

You as someone who likes to make things questions:
What is your usual process on a fiber project, for instance, do you start with a yarn, a cute pattern, a need you’ve noticed, something exciting you saw in a movie you want to copy, or a technique you want to learn – then what do you do next and then what?
All of the above… Sometimes I see a beautiful FO and want to make one of my own, sometimes I just need a new hat/scarf/whatever, sometimes I have a special yarn and go in search of just the right pattern. When I start with the pattern, the next step of course is to decide on yarn. That means I check my stash and if I can’t find the right thing there, I order some. And then the best part start, the actual crafting.
Does anything intimidate you in knitting or crochet?
Not any more. Well, I’m not fond of intarsia, but it doesn’t really scare me either. It’s just a technique I haven’t really mastered yet – I see that more as a challenge. The same goes for every technique I haven’t tried yet, I just want to learn it at some point.
When you want to learn something, do you look it up in a book, on U-tube, or seek a real person to teach you?

Mostly, I look it up online, preferably as a video. Of course, if I have someone who can actually show me, that is even better, as they can correct me if I do something wrong.
Any repetitive motion disorders due to knitting or crochet? How do you deal with them?
Not really. I had shoulder issues for the second half of this year, but not due to crafting. I had to stop knitting for a while and then get back to it slowly, but I seem to be able to knit or crochet again without trouble. I just need to remember to stop if it actually starts to hurt and not power through.
What makes you buy a pattern (lovely photo, the story of the project, it looks do-able, it looks slightly challenging…)

Well, the thing that doesn’t interest me that much is the story of the project – that only comes into play if the photo or an FO of it has already caught my attention. So, it starts with a visual for me, then I consider whether I can spend the time and attention for it – or whether it is something nice and easy for those days when my brain needs a break but my fingers don’t.

Thank you Selana!