Rodeo Knits ~ A Special Interview

07 Dec Rodeo Knits ~ A Special Interview

Today we have a special interview with Steven Hicks of Rodeo Knits. Anyone who has been around the ‘knit’ scene for awhile knows that while only men were allowed to join knitting guilds during the Renaissance ~ many folks are surprised to find men who not only knit today-they knit very, very well. People are surprised when they discover men who knit, or crochet or do any other type of fiber arts.

Steven is a wonderful knitter – and designer. As a fellow participant in the Ravelry Indie Design Gift A-long, I’ve had the chance to get to know Steven better ~ and he’s a really fun person. So I’m pleased to present this special interview with him…..and in conjunction with his interview, Steven is giving away a copy of his “Carriage Trail” scarf pattern – it’s lovely and one of my favorites of Steven’s designs. Learn how to enter the giveaway at the end of Steven’s interview………

Tell us a bit about yourself:  I learned to knit when I was about 7 years old and it was only one in a long line of arts and crafts. Honestly, I was a whiz with plastic canvas first. Knitting has greater appeal, though.

How did you get started with selling your designs?  I started teaching knitting classes six or seven years ago at my local yarn store, Kanawha City Yarn Company in Charleston, WV. It started with a series of scarf classes based on scarves I designed for friends. After that, I just kept designing and that turned into selling the patterns at Kanawha City Yarn Company and, with a little push from friends and family, on Ravelry.

What do you see as your design style?  Right now my design style is “whatever strikes my fancy.” I’m all over the place but I do seem to stick with scarves and hats. I like classic shapes and interesting color combinations.

What influences your designs?  I’m very influenced by necessity: I need a new scarf, I need a new hat, I need a gift for a friend’s baby, I need a sweater for my nephew. First the necessity and then the yarn. I often design because I find a yarn I want to use.

What do you enjoy most about designing?  I love solving a problem and finding a new way to work a project. And then, of course, I do love seeing other people knit my designs and enjoy them as much as I do.

Quarry Creek Scarf ~ Rodeo Knits

Do you have any projects coming up that you can share or give us a sneak peek of?  I just finished the first draft knitting a new cowl called Hale Cowl using a very light fingering weight yarn or heavy lace weight yarn. It’s a very simple stitch repeat and lays so lightly around your neck. It’ll be coming in the next couple weeks.

Do you get to do much knitting for yourself?  In a way, yes. Most of the things I design I end up keeping the first iterations for myself or using them as gifts for friends and family. They sure love when I make something to give away.

What prompted you to participate in the Indie Gift A-Long on Ravelry?  Ravelry is such an incredible community and resources for knitters and crocheters and the Gift A-long just struck me as a way to give back and meet new people.

Has the GAL met your expectations?  Absolutely!

Would you like to see the GAL become an annual event?  I think it’s a great idea and I’ve found so many talented people.

Where can folks find your designs?  My patterns are available through my Ravelry store, and on my blog.

Carriage Trail Scarf ~ Rodeo Knits

To enter the giveaway for a pdf copy of Steven’s “Carriage Trail” scarf pattern – comment on his interview by midnight MST, December 12th. A random drawing will be held  on December 13th from all the comments received. In order to win you must include your email address in your comment – if we can’t find you we can’t get the pattern to you. 🙂

Happy Knitting! Jean