I love Romi. She is literally the reason I was finally brave enough to knit lace. She kept telling me over and over again, in that calm, beautiful voice of hers, “You can do it. It’s actually easy. You can totally do it.”
I’m so excited that I get to give away a copy of her new book, New Lace Knitting. Details after the interview!
Hi, friend! I know I can’t ask what your favorite design in the book is (they’re all your babies) but can you tell us which was the most fun to design?
That’s a difficult one! I think it’s a toss-up between the Talus Cardigan and the Williwaw Cardigan. I’d been fooling around the idea for Talus for quite some time and it was so much fun to see it come to fruition. It turned out exactly as I had envisioned it, though the construction ended up a bit different than what I had initially imagined. Williwaw was just so much fun. I put all sorts of little geeky details into it – my favorite. Super fun parts: the way the pattern carries across on the back, the way the lace pattern emerges on the front asymmetric opening, the way the yarn shows stitch definition. Loved the whole process!
If you weren’t a full-time knit designer, what would you be doing today?
Wow. I haven’t really thought about it! Making pretty things, for sure. But what kind of pretty things? Maybe photos? Maybe I would be a writer. Potter? Glass blower? I’m not giving up knitting design any time soon though. 🙂
What’s your favorite last minute oh-crap-I-have-make-dinner meal?
Believe it or not, our family has such a crazy schedule that we’re hardly ever together for dinner. Older son does triathlon and has a bazillion AP classes. Younger son is an amazing trumpet player and in youth orchestra, band, and steel drum band (how cool is STEEL DRUM BAND?). So, I guess the last minute go-to would be sourdough cornbread (I am into all things sourdough) and soup. If weather permits, we’ll barbeque some chicken to go with. With the soup, I cheat and do Trader Joe’s Black Bean soup with beans and corn salsa added. We aren’t much into dessert, but there’s always some fruit around and/or ingredients for a smoothie.
To enter: peruse the patterns at Ravelry and let me know which is your favorite in the comments! I’ll draw a winner randomly on January 5th and pop it in the mail!
The Secret Cove Cowl is lovely!
I love Williwaw, so many fabulous Romi details!!
They are ALL beautiful, I love Romi’s designs. I guess if I have to pick one from this new book it would be the Talus Cardigan – that would look beautiful on my daughter.
I love the Gentle Sky Cowl – so lovely! Thank you for the giveaway. I love Romi’s patterns!
All of the patterns are gorgeous but I really fell in love with Little City Tee. That’s something I could wear all the time!
The designs are all so lovely! I’ve admired Romi’s work for a while. I love the Talus cardigan.
I love the Aspenglow scarf. Thanks
gussek on Ravelry
My favorite: Bright Moments Cardigan
Lace intimidates me; I can handle small projects like socks just fine, but a lace sweater????? That being said if I win I will definitely tackle one of her sweaters.
A new Romi design, let alone book, is always a delight! Shawl person that I am I love the town square shawl.
Thank you for having this give away 🙂
I’m in love with the Salt Grass Pull. Love how the design makes such a warm texture. Looks cozy, but not too heavy. Beautiful!
I’m kinda crazy about the Fallen Leaf Shell –great layering piece!
Hard to decide but Bright Moment is my first pick to start.
ohh. the Bright Moment Cardigan. I bet THAT would be an easy start for a beginner, huh? 🙂
The town square shawl. Such pretty details
Gentle Sky Cowl. So pretty!
Secret cove cowl speaks to me. All the other designs look wonderful too.
I like the skirt. Have forgotten the name but it has the word flounce in it.
I love sweaters with just a bit of lace accent — so Little City Tee is my favorite!
love the little city tee. perfect to go with so many things!
I too was very intimidated by lace but made a tunic last summer and it was stunning. Reminded myself that every other row was just plain knitting and I can do that, right? Beautiful patterns in this book! I also love the Willisaw cardi and that Towne Square shawl is gorgeous!
I think the Manzanita Tee is my favorite.
Not a contest entry – I’m trying not to acquire any new knitting books just now, until I actually knit some things from the ones I already have.
But wanted to thank you for tweeting about Yoga Camp – I was just trying to find something like this earlier today!
I could see myself wearing the Talus but actually knitting Winter Wheat.
It’s a toss up between Little City and Manzanita tee. All of them are lovely!
I really liked the Manzanita Tee.
They are all so lovely! I think I’m most drawn to the salt grass pull. I’d love to add that to my wardrobe!
Little City Tee! Thanks for the giveaway. 🙂
The Gentle Sky Cowl is beautiful!
The Little City Tee is my favorite!!!
I love the Secret Cove Cowl.
Little City Tee. I would knit that in a heartbeat.
That Manzanita Tee is lovely! I’m not sure I’d knit it, as I tend to look funny in boat necks, but I’d be very tempted!!
So hard to choose! I guess gentle sky but it’s really unfair to ask to choose just one favorite! I love all of romi’s designs. Her patterns are so well written and lovely to knit up! Thank you so much for the chance to win!
Wow they are all beautiful! If I have to choose, I guess the Manzanita tee – evidently the publishers thought so too since it made the cover. Thank you so much for giving us a chance to win!
Williwaw Cardigan is so beautiful!
So many pretties! I love the Manzanita Tee…it looks so wearable!
I would love to knit and wear the virginia city cloche. All the designs in the book love lovely.
Oh, the shawls are goggles gorgeous! the one that I can really see myself wearing, though, I’d the Little City Yer. So comfy-pretty and would go with everything.
Love them all, but if I had to pick it would be the manzanita tee!
The Williwaw Cardigan, for sure! So interesting and great for layering!
I’m torn between the Talus Cardigan and the Crystal Bay Shawl.
Love them all but something about Salt Grass Pull just does it for me.
All beautiful…although I am particularly drawn to Salt Grass Pull.
They are all beautiful, but I think the Town Square Shawl is the most stunning. If I don’t win this book, I’m definitely going to have to buy it.
Bright Moment Cardigan is my favorite. It might even push me to try a sweater again.
I’d have a hard time choosing. But maybe I’d do the Little City Tee first.
Really difficult to pick a favorite. I love her patterns. Will say Bright Moment Cardigan, but would love to knit the whole book!
So excited to leave a comment I misspelled my own name. LOL.
The Town Square shawl is beautiful!
test but if anyone actually sees this – HALLO!
I’m totally loving the Fallen Leaf Shell.
It’s very hard to pick just one! These days I mostly buy books on technique or design rather than pattern books. But this book is the exception. I guess the Williwaw cardigan, I also love the skirt.
Williwaw cardigan is beautiful and I would wear it a ton. Love!
Plenty to love in this collection but I have to say Crystal Bay Shawl is probably my favorite, I’ve always loved the Print ‘o the Waves lace pattern.
I love the Salt Grass Pull. Love the design and interesting stitches.
Williwaw – but they all look great
They are all pretty but I like the Bright Moment Cardigan best.
Aspengold Scarf, all the way – it’s gorgeous!
I love Romi’s patterns! Choosing just one is hard, but tonight it’s her Bright Moment Cardigan. Happy New Year!
How on earth am I supposed to pick? They are all amazing but if I had to it would have to be the Talus Cardigan. That is oh so beautiful.
The Salt Grass Pull is lovely and I really love the Fallen Leaf Shell.
Manzanita tee. It has a delicacy to it but with a structure.
Romi’s designs are always beautiful. If I had to pick one, I think it would be Neoma, since I particularly like 2 colour shawls at the moment.
Little City Tee!
The Town Square Shawl.
Salt Grass Puli is something I’d love to make. I don’t use worsted all that much but at least one of the Ravelers used DK and since I knit loose I know I could get gauge in DK. So I’m putting this one on my list to do.
Hope Valley Flounce. They are all beautiful.
One of my first true lace projects was a Romi design and I was so proud of it. The designs in this book are exciting, and make my fing er s itch got needles in hand. My hands down favorite is the Williwaw with all its cook modern elements but I bet the first I’ ll make is the Salt pull.
OMG, love the Town Square Shawl!
Fallen Leaf shell or Manzanita Tee, I can’t decide.
I love knitting lace, and Romi’s right, it is easy! As long as you can keep count, that is.
I think the Manzanita is my favorite, though it was hard to pick just one.
Williwaw Cardi is such a beautiful piece! The shape should be flattering on most figues.
I’m going with Little City Tee, too – so pretty and so wearable.
Manzanita for sure although there is a LOT I want to make.
I LOVE the Virginia City Cloche and Cowl so much!!! I often wish I had more accessories that matched.
Williwaw for the win!
Love Aspengold scarf
Wow, so many beautiful designs. But I’d probably knit the Little City Tee first.
I love the Williwaw Cardigan. It’s so unique – so Romi.
The Aspengold scarf is absolutely divine!
Hard to pick one, but the Bright Moment Cardigan looks like something I would wear.
Oh man, how to pick!? I am going to call it a tie between Williwaw and Hope Valley Flounce – there’s something about a new year that is giving me the confidence to knit a (lace) skirt! Thanks heaps for the giveaway!!!
So many to choose from! I think I like the Oak Flat Road shawl the best – the double panels on the back are so striking!
I love the Salt Grass Pull
I love all the new designs. I think Bright Moment is my favorite.