[Designer Focus] Linette Grayum

We got to sit down with Linette Grayum this month! She’s another frequent contributor to Knotions and we thought you’d love to learn a bit more about her. And what’s not to love? A fellow chocolate and tea lover? Of course.

Linette designed this month’s Shellrock Shawl, among many others. Enjoy getting to hear a bit more about the designer behind some of your favorite designs!

Tell us a bit more about yourself. Where do you live? How did you end up there?

Hm, this one is a bit tough. I currently don’t have a permanent home, but live a nomad life in a 17′ travel trailer, touring across the U.S. We (my little family consists of my husband, my almost teenage son and our Malamute ‘puppy’) started traveling every winter for the past 3 years to escape the cold and dark of the Pacific Northwest (PNW). We moved permanently to this lifestyle a year ago. Before that we lived in Mazama, Washington.

What are your favorite things:

1. Colors: Earthen colors: greens, blues, some reds and burnt orange are my favorite (think fall with a blue sky), though I love most intense colors, except for yellow.
2. Yarn weights: anything from fingering to aran.
3. Types of objects (e.g., shawls, hats, etc.): shawls, shawls and more shawls. I think one needs a shawl for each day of the year.
4. Food: Dark chocolate and tea!

Why do you like to design?

It gives me a creative outlet. I can never follow a pattern; I always change things, then I see an opportunity for new visions (not versions; but something different), and I go for it.

You’ve recently started designing for crochet in addition to knitting. Tell us more about that.

I learned both knitting & crochet when I was young, but never made much else besides scarves (socks were too tedious & sweaters too scary). I did crochet every once in a while (a hat, a blanket) and when I started back up in earnest with fiber crafts 9 years ago, I was a total “hooker”. It took me over a year to pick up knitting needles (and that was because I started working in a yarn store). All of a sudden, knitting was exciting and I loved the fabric it created. But secretly, crochet is still my passion. The rhythm of hook movement is something mesmerizing/relaxing. So I decided to expand my design portfolio to crocheting, as there are far fewer crochet designers than there are knit designers. I am working on creating several of my knit patterns in a crochet version.

What made you choose to submit to Knotions?

I think initially it was a suggestion (by Mary Rose), but after submitting, I realized I love working with Jody. Not only is she fun and more approachable than other publications, she is as enthusiastic about my designs as I am.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Where not? (laughs) Everything around me is inspiration.

Can you tell us about your process when you design? I’m curious about your inspiration and how you bring that to life?

Oh boy. Every design is different, and I don’t have a set process. Most of the time I knit up my vision, then try to write and chart it so others can follow (as they request). For this month’s pattern, for instance, the Shellrock Shawl, was inspired by a weeklong backpacking trip in September 2 years ago. It was cold & snowy (thus the white yarn), but gorgeous all the same, with the Larches all golden underneath their white blanket, finding the winding trail over Shellrock pass (the meandering cables).

Who are your favorite designers? (both craft and non-craft)

There are so many awesome designers out there. I enjoy finding new designers, and supporting the lesser known ones. When I first started knitting again, I really loved Leethal’s designs.

What do you do in addition to being a designer?

First and foremost, I’m a mother and wife; I take care of my family. We home-/un-school our son, which has been very rewarding. I also have a small side business as a virtual assistant.

What does a typical Linette-day entail?

Mornings are my tea and designing time. Then depending on if it is a rock-climbing day for the rest of the family, I plan and pack a lunch and we head out to the crag (where they climb) and I will knit and belay. Or if it’s a chore day, we run to the nearest town to do laundry, grocery shopping and work. Pretty low key.

Other than knitting, crocheting and designing, do you have any other creative endeavors?

Baking. I LOVE to bake (and cook). I have dabbled in yarn dyeing and spinning, but with the lack of space right now, I’ve put those on hold for now.

Do you have a stash? Or if you buy it you make it up pretty quickly?

I do have a stash; I have a small portion with me (about a grocery bag’s worth of storage in “my spot”), and the rest of it currently lives at my mom’s house (Thanks, mom!). I am trying to work and design from stash mostly, but I do get new yarn either gifted or purchased (souvenir yarn has a whole new meaning when you live on the road) ; -).

Thanks again, Linette! It was so much fun to hear a bit more about the woman behind all these great shawls! And a shawl a day? You better get designing 😉