Today we’d like to introduce you to Kneil Kameron.
Kneil, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
This all started because one year, my mom got my sister, Jessie, a toy knitting machine for Christmas, and I wanted a Harry Potter scarf! (Gryffindor at the time) My sister worked on it for maybe a couple of minutes before putting it down. Being ever the persistent one, I picked it up and didn’t stop for what seemed like weeks. My family started to make funny jabs about the sound of the machine well into the night with nothing to show for it (being a toy, it didn’t really work).
By the third week, I came to the conclusion that if I had spent so much time on the toy, I might as well learn the real thing. From there, it was a wonderful black hole of youtube videos, curiosity, and persistence that led me to design my own patterns, dyeing my own yarn, and spinning wool into yarn as well! I’m worried that this point, I might start raising sheep!
This process of discovery taught me that knitting, fabric art in general, isn’t just something your grandmother makes for Christmas, it’s a versatile medium that allows you to really push your boundaries! Knitting is where applied algebraic, and geometric properties meet creative design and fashion! It was a great learning experience for me, learning from other knitters from all around the world through this youtube tutorials. I went to forums to ask questions, and was well greeted into the knitting community.
The way stitches move in the fabric, the way they fit on your body, and the unique elements are all planned, calculated, and created in a gratifyingly deliberate process. If it wasn’t for the inspirations of great fabric artists. I don’t think I would have ever come to the same conclusion, and I am so thankful for them.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The path to our ambitions are rarely well paved, and I am very grateful for that. Knitting for me was meditative, and my budding interest was influenced by some of the hardest times of my life. I was working two jobs, going to school, supporting my family– and trying my best to keep connected to the things I loved, at times it seemed impossible.
There’s something about achieving something, one stitch at a time that’s helpful when you’re unable to get ahead in any other area of your life. At times, maintaining this was hard, I could barely afford food, yet alone yarn, but desperation is the mother of invention.
Did you know you could unravel old sweaters and turn them into a TON of yarn?
From a technical perspective, the dream of something is often not the same as the reality of it. Often times, thoughts of a design in my head wouldn’t pan out because the math didn’t add up- or I’d end up knitting an entire sweater that didn’t fit.
So you would need to do something called a swatch, which is a small square of yarn knit in the same way you were hoping to. That way, you could expand on how large the fabric would be, or how your technique would interact with your yarn. I had to make a lot of them. SWATCHES save lives. Sometimes I wish I could knit as fast as I could think. It’s worth it in the end, because there’s no satisfaction like making something that’s entirely your own. Your manifesting your thoughts into reality and there is a lot of joy in that.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about KnittedKneil – what should we know?
Knitted Kneil, is a persona and a design house. I like to play with colored gradient shifts, and dyeing my own yarn helps me achieve the results I picture in my head. I also like to merge crafts, crochet- and knitting with sashiko (Japanese embroidery) and shibori (indigo dyeing).
Always dreaming, always innovating is important to me, and I hope that my brand reflects that enduring desire. I like to push the limits, at the same time as respecting the traditions, cultures, and techniques I’m influenced by. I would say that I specialize in making connections- be it colors, crafts, or communities. Through that, time-old objects like a cabled sweater, or a scarf can be modernized, bloom in diversification, and become something innovative to knitter new and old.
Knitting is also famous for its community. We are as warm as the wooled things we create, and I find that to be a perfect place to share different backgrounds and cultures with each other. You can end up with Japanese patterns, on Icelandic yarn, knitting up an object originating from South Africa! There is a lot of fear about difference nowadays, and for me, knitting is a space different people can feel safe because everyone loves handmade knitwear!
At the moment, I’m developing a book inspired by traditional Japanese folk craft, and I’m hoping to finish that soon. The resulting duffle bag I’m working on is the summation of that thought, and I am quite proud of it.
Knitting things together is what I love best, and it’s through that with the respect to others, that I hope to innovate and create things no one’s ever seen.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
My math teacher, Mr. Watson, once said that “Anything can be achieved through dedication, determination, and hard work” and I hold that very close. To me, these qualities are the summation of grit, and I believe grit trumps talent. People can be a flash in the pan, they can wow you and be spectacular, but if that isn’t followed up with putting the work in, you don’t ever become more than that. I know it’s a tired trope, but knitting really embodies the idea that slow and steady wins the race.
Along with that, I really depend on the people around me. Being able to talk to people, to relate to them, and see them are paramount to success- because people may not always remember you, but they’ll always remember the way you made them feel. Nowadays there isn’t a lot of space for talking, people are afraid of speaking out. I find that the people you meet, and friends you meet can help lift you higher. Kindness doesn’t cost anything, but the gifts you receive from being kind are boundless.
I think it’s important to be able to take your turn. Grit can prepare you, a support system can help you get there, but if you’re not willing to believe in yourself and give yourself credit where you deserve it, you may end up empty-handed. I say, trust in your work, trust yourself, and when given the chance, don’t be afraid to talk yourself up. Show people what you’re made of. It’s worth it.
Pricing:
- Hand Dyed Yarn – $29
- Knitting Patterns – $6
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.knittedkneil.com
- Phone: (952) 314-8187
- Email: contact@knittedkneil.com
Image Credit:
Location: Wollhaus, Pasadena
Photography: Jessie Crystle
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