We're starting off the new year with a new Maker Spotlight, this one shining on Susanne Sommer of SOSUknits! Susanne's use of color and texture make her knitwear garments and accessories absolute showstoppers. Ginny Bandana Cowl Q. Your knitwear designs are full of gorgeous textures and colors, and some have unusual construction methods. Where do you draw your inspiration from when you're working on a new design? What aspects of the design (color, texture, construction, something else?) do you start with first?) I’m a maker. I love the act of creating something, of dreaming it up and making it a reality. And I think my inspiration comes from the act of making itself. The inspiration comes either from a yarn I want to make something with, a particular project I want to make, or a fun or unusual way of making something. So, each project or design has a different starting point and inspiration. I used to just cast on and see where the journey took me, but I’ve learned to sketch, swatch, and plan a project. But sometimes, I still just let inspiration take me where it may. And luckily, yarn is incredibly forgiving when the first (or second or third) try does not quite work out. What this looks like is that I sometimes start with the yarn, either because I just fell in love with it or because it’s a collaboration with a dyer. I’ll then play around with it, which sounds more fun than swatching, but really, I just swatch until I find the perfect fit for the yarn, and it tells me what it wants to be. Or I have an idea for a fun construction, want to use a technique or stitch pattern, or there is a cardigan-sized hole in my wardrobe that needs to be filled. In that case, I either have a yarn in mind that could work, or I get to hunt and gather the perfect match for my idea. So, my inspiration comes from the yarn itself and the act of knitting. I usually have the best ideas for a new design while knitting on something else. Cloudwatching Q. If you could plan your dream project, from collecting the fiber (plant or animal) to finished object, what do you think the process might look like? The sky's the limit!  I love combining my love for knitting and yarn with traveling, so my dream project starts with a trip. Yarn is the best souvenir, and while I love visiting yarn stores wherever I go, I would love to be involved in creating this dream yarn somehow. Maybe I get to visit the farm where the sheep roam free and then dye the yarn, preferably in the relaxed company of lovely people from far and wide who get together for a few days to play around with yarn and colors and enjoy each other’s company. Inspiration would strike, and I’d know exactly what I’d knit with this magical yarn, and without much fuss, I would get gauge, and all the maths would fall into place. My magical dream cardigan (you can never have enough cardigans!) would be such a joy to knit that it would be done in just a few days without my hands hurting from the strain. There would be no ends to weave in, and it would block in minutes and fit like a dream, even years later. And I would find the perfect buttons in the treasure chest I inherited from my gran. Baseline Cardigan Q. What is your favourite of all your designs and why? Is there one that holds special meaning for you? My favorite usually is the one I’m working on right now or the one I’m dreaming up. There’s a memory attached to each design, either because it’s a collaboration with lovely people, I got the yarn on a trip, or the design is connected to a time, event, or people.The Baseline Cardigan immediately comes to mind. I love a good wardrobe staple, and this design is incredibly versatile. It’s knit sideways in Garter stitch and comes with mix-and-match sizing options, different necklines, and, of course, pockets. I’m always contemplating another version. Baseline Cardigan The Shusui Shrug is one of my most popular patterns, and seeing so many happy knitters in their versions is magical. I even made a new version of the original design because it’s such a fun concept and shape (the new one is called Base Camp Shrug). This was one of my first Brioche designs, and I’m still absolutely obsessed! Shusui Shrug My last two MKAL designs, Brioche + Mystery and Brioche Mode, certainly make the favorites list not just for the design but because mystery designs are such a fun experience for knitters and designers. Brioche + Mystery My advent calendar designs (Earth, Wind & Fire, Travel Mode, and Good Things, the latest one) for German dyers Frida Fuchs hold a special place in my heart. They are designed to be knit as an MKAL, which creates complexities and restrictions that I have to work within, which makes me stretch to create a cohesive, fun, and colorful design. Each one is a bigger challenge, making me love them even more. Travel Mode The Gridlines sweaters (the original and the bulky version called Winter Grid) are among my favorites and most worn sweaters. I love all things grid, gingham, plaid, and check, and the modular construction and sizing make it such a versatile design. Gridlines  This brings me to one of my latest designs, the Ginny cardigan, which combines my love for this geometric pattern, colors, and Brioche. I’m currently working (again) on a project I started many years ago, a knit dress. It’s taken me forever to get it just right (for lots of different bodies, not just mine), and now I need to finish my sample and get the pattern ready to share. It’s a call-back to some of my first garment designs, but for me, it really shows how much I’ve grown and learned in the past ten years. And, of course, it has pockets! (Pockets!) We're so grateful to Susanne for sharing her creative process, inspirations, and passion for knitwear design with us. Whether you're drawn to her versatile cardigans, intricate brioche patterns, or bold modular designs, there’s something in her collection for every knitter. Be sure to follow SOSUknits on Instagram and Ravelry for more inspiration, and don’t forget to check out her latest patterns to add a touch of creativity to your next project! Love,

This exceptional yarn is not just a treat for knitters and crocheters but also a step towards sustainable and ethical crafting. Let’s dive into what makes this yarn so special and why it deserves a place in your stash.

Silbia Ro is the color curator, dyer, and hand-spinner behind Camellia Fiber Company, and we're delighted to feature her beautiful work in December 2024's Maker Spotlight.