Stephannie Tallent, Knitting Expert and Author
Stephannie began learning crochet in junior high, from books, as she didn’t have family that knit or crochet. She set it aside after high school and picked up while in the military and stationed in Germany. In early 2000’s threw herself into it again, while doing veterinary work. Tinkering with patterns moved her on to designing.
The Josephine Mitts http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/josephine-8 were the first that she used beads in the design to enhance the motif. She started submitting designs through Knit Picks and their Independent Designer Program, Knit Circus (later she did tech editing for them), the Sanguine Gryphon (now gone), and Cooperative Press where the California Revival Knits was published. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/california-revival-knits. Later came Hitch http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/hitch-patterns-inspired-by-the-films-of-alfred-hitchcock and the Wild West books. Stephannie has a lot of patterns published through e-books, by self-publishing.
The Wild West Collection (there are three, Lace, Cable and Stranded) will eventually be 5 books. The reason for this is because everyone has different preferences, some like stranded and not cables, etc. Breaking it down makes it ‘interest specific’, you’re not acquiring patterns that you are not interested in using. The books that are out now include 4 to 5 patterns each.
Stephanies patterns for garments range in size from XS through 3X. She models most of her items, loves including waist shaping, yarn preferences are varied and wide. Like Elemental Effects for stranded work… She likes working with Bijou Basin (one of Marly’s sponsors!) She recommends Clara Parkes books about yarn, but there are a lot of resources to learn about fiber.
Her website is www.sunsetcat.com, she can be found on Twitter as @stephcat which is also her screen name on Ravelry.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2014/05/29/stephannie-tallent-knitting-expert-and-author
I can see the Southern California dessert reflected in the beautiful organ pipe mitts from the Stranded knitting patterns.
It was a treat to look at Stephannie’s patterns. Thanks for another great show Marly.
Sincerely,
Luanne Noon
Would love to meet Stephannie when next I visit my in-laws in Southern California!
What an interesting background to hear about with Stephannie! I had never heard of Stephannie’s designs before the show and really enjoyed looking at some of her designs! We used to live in Southern California (Bakersfield to be exact, which I loved even if Johnny Carson didn’t) and we loved it! Now we’ve gone to the other extreme and live in Michigan where we enjoyed a lot of snow this year. Thanks for a great show, Marly!
Awesome show as usual. I love fiber so much that I am always poking around for another podcast, but none are ever as entertaining as yours Marly. Your communication studies show. Love Stephannie’s designs and often wish I lived in Soulth California…but I guess I have way more opportunity to where my wool sweaters =)
I lived in Southern California in my early twenties. I wasn’t interested in fiber arts then even though I new how to knit and crochet at that time. From all the podcasts based out there it sounds like a vibrant fibery place. Thanks for a really interesting interview.
My son lives in Southern California and can see why she loves it there. Fun and interesting interview as always.
Ok I was thrilled to learn Stephanie was a West Point Girl …. how awesome is that! (thanks for your service BTW) I actually went to Yosemite National Park before but never Southern California….. LOVE her pattern and hope to get more on my needles..
loved the show! We’ve just returned form visiting relatives in Southern California! Thank you
I’ve never been to Southern California, but hopefully I will one day.
I visited Southern California, years ago. It was beautiful! But the California Revival architecture was one of my favorites.
I feel sorry for those in Southern California who don’t enjoy the pleasures of big wooly sweaters as often as the rest of us.
We go down to southern California about once a year for Disneyland! Hello from Oakland!
I need some new patterns to knit when I go to visit my family in Southern California!
I’m a long way from Southern California – in Atlantic Canada, but this didn’t make your conversation any less interesting! Thank you both for another enjoyable podcast! 🙂
Fun podcast again. I miss the cool nights in Southern California. No matter how hot it got during the day at least you could cool off after the sun went down. I now live in Florida and the hot humid weather of summer wears me down. No relief until fall.
My daughter in law is from southern California. I would love to go with her and get to meet Stephanie
I’m glad Stephanie is close by in Southern California, where I’ve lived as well as northern CA and the central coast. I enjoyed learning about her interesting background – thanks for a nice interview.
What a wonderful interview! I have always wanted to visit Southern California or California over all. I have lots of family out there.Thank you Marly for all your amazing guests!!!
Stephannie and her work were new to me. The podcast spurred me to check out her designs and I love them! The next time I visit Southern California, I’ll have to check out the yarn shops!
Southern California here I come!!!! Thanks for the great interview.
I love the book California Revival Knits. It’s great to see Southern California represented.