Meet the designers for Laine Issue 21
In Laine 21 we present designs from ten outstanding designers from around the world. Meet Fiona Alice, Jenny Ansah, Audrey Borrego, Soraya García, Kaori Katsurada, Irene Lin, Faïza Mebazaa, Paula Pereira, Julia Wilkens and Griselda Zárate.
Fiona Alice
Texture is key to Fiona Alice’s designs: she loves using repetitive elements, a lot of slipped stitches, broken rib and twisted ribbing. Fiona is often attracted to the fibre and texture of a yarn first and tries to showcase those subtleties in her patterns. Her strong suit as a knitter is her patience: she likes the satisfaction of being able to achieve the finished look she wants even if it takes a couple of tries. Fiona lives in Helsinki, Finland, but orig inally comes from Canada. For this issue, Fiona designed the Imatra cardigan that features 4 × 2 ribbing and stockinette stitch.
Jenny Ansah
Jenny Ansah is an Afro - Finnish knitwear designer bas ed in Helsinki. Besides her design work, she’s a full - time student in a master's - level programme in theology and religious studies. Jenny describes her designs as being “close to nature, with a classic twist”. They feature muted colours and plenty of detai ls, such as bobbles, dip stitches and tiny cables. For Jenny, knitting is an outlet for self - expression and a way to uphold traditions and fight against fast fashion. Jenny’s Tsinnia shawl is a small bandana - like accessory with a 3D effect.
Audrey Borrego
Audrey Borrego is a full - time knitwear designer who lives in the south - west of France. As the weather there gets very warm, she loves designing summer knitwear with shorter sleeves and light, ope n fabrics. Audrey is drawn to ornamental, geometric textures and patterns and often gets inspiration from things she sees in art, architecture or movie costumes. For Audrey, knitting is a tool for learning new things. It’s the craft that offers her a perfe ct blend of creativity and resource-fulness. For this issue, Audrey designed the Lucienne sweater featuring geometric lace panels.
Soraya García
Soraya García — or Sori, as she is known — is a designer and teacher from Spain currently living in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Sori is constantly seeking new tech-niques and finishing tricks to offer knitters an educational and enriching experience. She is inspired by fashion, art and pop-u-lar culture — most of her patterns are named after songs. They reflect what she truly enjoys wearing. For this issue, Sori designed the Fossora top, knitted with organic cotton in a flattering A - shape.
Kaori Katsurada
Kaori Katsurada is a knitwear designer, an occasional natural dyer and the owner of an online yarn shop called Amumu. She lives in Ishikawa, Japan. Kaori often designs sock patterns that incorporate flowers, grass and delicious - looking sweets. Recently, she has grown fond of loose, ribbed socks that have a slightly “lazy” feel. Kaori is most inspired by her favourite vintage clothes, baking, and the nature of the land where she lives. Kaori’s Speculaas sock pattern was inspired by spiced Belgian Christmas biscuits.
Irene Lin
Irene Lin is Taiwanese and lives in Taipei, where she works as a full - time knitwear designer. Besides being her job, knitting is also the most relaxing activity in her life. Irene’s inspiration comes from various beautiful things in life, and her designs are both comfort-able to wear and aesthetically appealing in their silhouette. For this issue, Irene designed Quince: a top - down sweater inspired by flowers.
Faïza Mebazaa
Paris - based Faïza Mebazaa has worked as a graphic designer and a culinary author and stylist, but now she aims to become a full - time knitwear designer. For her, knitting means total freedom fro m the fashion industry: the absolute choice of colours, shapes and materials. Faïza favours slightly unusual proportions in her garments, and she loves to include several design elements in one pattern, such as colourwork, texture, interesting stitch patte rns and construction. For her Facette sweater, Faïza envisioned a garment with an easy fit and delicate colourwork.
Paula Pereira
Paula Pereira is a Brazilian knitwear designer also known for her book Textured Knits, published by Laine Publishing in 2023. She is good at combining different textures and techniques, such as cables, colourwork and embroidery. Paula likes to look at knitting like a re searcher, always excited to find a better way to make cool, beautiful and creative pieces. But most of all, she aims for a positive knitting experience. For this issue, Paula designed the Casadinho cardigan and slipover that can be worn together or separa tely, according to your liking.
Julia Wilkens
Julia Wilkens originally comes from Germany but lives in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. She designs knitwear part - time, as well as working in contemporary art. Julia published her first pattern in 2019 but has been knitting from her own designs since she was a teenager. Her work is colourful and eclectic.Julia is inspired by yarn and colours and loves experimenting with stitches. For example, knitting a stitc h pattern in two colours that is usually knitted in one, and vice versa. Julia’s Ziggy shawl features garter stitch triangles that are lined by fringes of loop stitch.
Griselda Zárate
Griselda Zárate comes from Monterrey, Mexico. She is a litera-ture professor who knits and designs in her spare time. Comfort and simplicity are central to her designs, and she loves classic stitches: garter stitch and brioche are some of her favourites. G riselda usually gets her ideas from nature, art and architecture, but sometimes she is inspired by a particular thought, a glimpse of an idea, or a feeling. Griselda’s Brisa al Atardecer is a delicate pullover worked in an all - over star lace stitch pattern.
More info:
Order your copy of Laine Magazine Issue 21
Pattern Previews for Laine 21