[designer focus] Pam Sluter

This month, we got to sit down with Pam Sluter! She’s designed several items for Knotions as well as doing it under her own brand too.

Get to know her a bit more, find out where she gets her inspiration from and the thing she really doesn’t like to do…

Tell us a bit more about yourself. Where do you live? Who do you live with? How did you end up there? Where are you from originally?

I currently live in Rhode Island. I was born and raised in Massachusetts so I didn’t go very far. I live with my husband, 4 kids (ages 9,12, 15 and 18), dog, cat and 3 chickens.

What are your favorite things:

1. Colors: blues, greens, grey
2. Yarn weights: fingering, dk, worsted
3. Fibers: wool and wool blends
4. Types of objects: Hats are my favorite, then shawls, socks and sweaters.

Why do you like to design?

I enjoy trying to figure out how to make an idea in my head work. Trying to figure out the right yarn, needles, color, etc.

Your really enjoy colorwork. Intarsia, stranded, stripes – you love it all! Tell us more about that.

I use designing as an excuse to try out different techniques. I’ve been into cables lately and finally figured out brioche.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

From looking around me. I’m always taking pictures of interesting architectural details. I love Art Deco, geometric shapes. I spend a lot of time hiking, so nature is also an influence.

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

When I was first designing, I would find a yarn I loved and try to design to fit the yarn. It didn’t work out that well. Now I try to come up with an idea, do some sketching, and then think about what yarn would work. I write patterns as I go which can make knitting the initial sample feel like it takes forever.

What made you originally choose to submit to Knotions?

I liked how Knotions makes quality content available to a wide variety of knitters.

What is your nemesis? The thing that makes you want to run and hide when you think about it.

Typing up patterns. I would rather do just about anything else.

What do you do in addition to being a designer?

I teach knitting and work part time at a lys.

What does a typical Pam-day entail?

Get up, have coffee, feed the dog and cat, get kids up and off to school, go for a walk with the dog, work (design or at store), housework/grocery shopping, kids come home, cook dinner, homework, watch some mindless tv, go to bed.

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

I like to sew and used to weave but haven’t in a long time.

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

I do have a stash. I try to buy with an end purpose in mind so I feel like I have an idea of what each skein will be used for.

We’re curious but we also added this to the end so it’s not the focus – how has your life differed due to the lockdown?

It’s not just me and the dog and cat all day.

Even though we’re a large family, everyone has carved out their own corner of the house so we all have breathing space. The kids are doing virtual school which gives a structure to the day. I’m able to knit while they’re doing classwork. I feel like I’m cooking way more.

Knotions Editor: Thanks for sitting down with us and taking the time to allow us to get to know you better!