Designer Spotlight: Meet Kirsten Kapur

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Hi guys!  It’s Laura again.

A couple of weeks ago I introduced you guys to Rich Esnor.  What an inspiration, huh?   That Designer Spotlight Post really got me thinking about how I was personally inspired to become a knitter.  Or even more so, how I continually find ways to become inspired.  Undoubtedly, it led to another Designer Spotlight Blogpost.   This woman truly doesn’t NEED any introduction.  She’s legit.  We all know and love her designs.  She’s got a massive following.  And on top of that – she’s adorable.

Introducing Kirsten Kapur!

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 As a transitioning beginning knitter, I think the majority of us will agree that we don’t pick a pattern based on the designer’s name.  We pick a pattern based on what interests us about it.  (And/or what we think is achievable as we’re still learning new skills and techniques.)

With Ravelry at our fingertips, we can easily reach information-overload instantly; and as a new knitter – I wasn’t familiar with all of the great designers that were breaking ground.  I also tend to follow the beat of my own drum, so I veered towards patterns that looked exciting, challenging, and doable.  If I was going to be a knitter; if I was going to invest the time that we all know it takes to make a garment that we’re over-the-moon happy with, I was going to pick something fantabulous.

I didn’t realize that the first sweater I was ever going to attempt (and successfully finish) was actually a Kirsten Kapur pattern – Que Sera Sera offered in Knitty’s Spring+Summer 2010 Edition.   The decision to make this sweater was completely organic.  I taught myself how to knit.  I was shy to ask questions at yarn shops (for fear I sounded like a newb).  So, I researched and drew a lot of my information from blogs (such as Anne’s) and Ravelry.  I didn’t do KALs; I didn’t follow trends.  It was all happenstance that I found Knitty.com.  I saw well-written instructions, and failed to pay attention to the designer’s name.  <face palm> I was so excited!  I was simply jumping head first into my first hand-knit sweater!  That was ALL I cared about.

I actually didn’t even realize it until last night when I was researching for this post.  (That makes me a horrible person, right?  … Le sigh…) The Que Sera Sera sweater was designed by Kirsten Kapur!?!

Sometimes, I’m just a lil bit “special.”  In my defense, I knit that sweater and was so doggone impressed/disgusted with myself once it was completed.  I made a sweater that had visible flaws because of my lack of experience.  I mean, I really thought I was going to knit a cute sweater and look so cool in it.  (I know now – it’s never that easy.)  But at the time, that was extremely unsettling to me.  So, I stewed over that without even recognizing the designer that gave me the inspiration to knit my first sweater!

Pinsandstrings Autumn Leaves on Ravelry
Pinsandstrings Autumn Leaves on Ravelry

Kirsten Kapur’s patterns have surpassed their namesake.  They are staples in knitting.  Period.  I would bet a good portion of my next paycheck on the fact that probably 80.677%  (I rounded up) of Anne’s readers have knitted at LEAST one Kirsten Kapur pattern.  Those statistics are madly impressive.  And I rounded up even…

Kirsten Kapur's original Knitty Release of Que Sera Sera
Kirsten Kapur’s original Knitty Release of Que Sera Sera

And then we have my disaster of a Que Sera Sera…

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My first sweater – Que Sera Sera by Kirsten Kapur (Yes, that’s me being an over-achiever. I attempted a modified neckline/shawl collar)

One of the many things I learned?  Crappy yarn will ALWAYS behave like crappy yarn.  That’s why we knit with lovely yarn.  Best lesson I ever learned.  😉

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Que Sera Sera by Kirsten Kapur

I know.  I know.  It doesn’t look that bad.  I’m kinda talking it up to look atrocious.  This sweater was my first attempt at seaming.  I never blocked the sleeves prior to joining them to the body of the garment.  (I never blocked any aspect of this sweater.  What was blocking?!)  The button band was really distorted once I finished it and I figured if I modified it to make a shawl collar – it would look cleaner.  Trust me when I say it does.  But it doesn’t lay properly.  None of it does.  That’s the fault of the yarn.  I know this, by now.  As far as fit is concerned – that’s where I’m most impressed with my skills, or lack thereof.  The make-shift mannequin is my size and it fits her rather nicely.  By now, I’d probably add in some waist-shaping but it’s a comfy sweater and honestly, (if I’m going to be honest…)  There’s really no reason why this sweater can’t come out of its cubby-hole and be worn as a knock-around while I’m at home, knitting, and sipping on coffee.  It’s a totally functional garment.  It just… well, let’s face it – I have standards now!!  🙂

So, this is where I start to feel the effects of deja vu.  Things are coming around full circle.  I’m writing my second Designer Spotlight Post on the famous Knitspot Blog and I’m highlighting Kirsten Kapur, who designed the very first sweater that I ever knitted.  And here we have Abingdon – a beautiful play on color that Kirsten Kapur designed specifically with Bare Naked Wools yarn in mind.

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The combination of Bare Naked Wools and Kirsten Kapur’s aesthetic are beautifully executed in Abingdon; a stunning shawl that loves the idea of playing with gradients and colors.  It’s breath taking, isn’t it?  Undoubtedly, I find myself Ravelry stalking all of the people that have made the Abingdon already.  All of the versions that knitters have created are truly inspirational.  Kirsten’s version is made out of our Bare Naked Wools Stone Soup DK .  She used Slate and Marble for the color ways.

A huge digital hug goes out to you this morning, Kirsten!  Thank you so very much for being the designer that just “got me”.  You understood what I needed and you were there when I needed it.  You offered a foundation that led me to build confidence in my knitting skills and that is a great feeling.  I know I’m not alone.

Happy Knitting! L

6 thoughts on “Designer Spotlight: Meet Kirsten Kapur

  1. I like Kirsten’s patterns too, and they are always beautifully photographed. I have done one of her mystery sock KALs before and that was great fun. Is that something that knitspot might do sometime?

  2. We are having an Abingdon knit-along at Natural Stitches! So many beautiful shawls have come out of this. Robin combined a dark color of Stone Soup DK with some garnet Jackson, and the result looks like chocolate covered cherries!

    Thanks for sharing your journey, Laura!

    Happy knitting!

  3. Great Post! KK has fabulous designs and it’s so nice to see her featured on this wonderful blog, with these unique yarns.

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