MEET THE ARTIST: ERICA
LISA AVIVA is delighted to share with you, the opportunity to meet Erica. If you have purchased one of the collection's Hand Knit Sweaters with Raglan Sleeves or the current season's Hand Crocheted Poncho, you are wearing Erica's handwork.
Meet Erica, below, through her own words.
Meet Erica, below, through her own words.
I learned to knit from my grandmother in my early 20’s, so I have been knitting more than half of my life and have been crocheting since I was about 8 years old. My grandmother was a very fast and skilled knitter and I’m glad that I started my fibre journey with her. I continued to expand my knowledge by taking classes at local yarn stores and teaching myself from books, through patterns and online and mostly just by doing and challenging myself with learning new techniques.
My knitting increased significantly when my children were small. I would could sit next to them when they became immersed in play or bring projects with me and knit while they napped in the stroller or played at the park.
I continue to knit garments and gifts for my family and friends and aim to make every stitch with intention and love.
My knitting increased significantly when my children were small. I would could sit next to them when they became immersed in play or bring projects with me and knit while they napped in the stroller or played at the park.
I continue to knit garments and gifts for my family and friends and aim to make every stitch with intention and love.
I am drawn to knitting (and crocheting) because I enjoy having a broader range of styles, colours and fibres available to me than is made commercially. I appreciate the quality garments that I can make for myself for only the cost of the materials. I make an effort to choose local and sustainably harvested and dyed materials when possible. I have picked projects because I love the look of the finished project and I have also chosen projects because of I have fallen in love with the yarn.
Knitting is meditative for me, and more than that, an act of magic. A creation appears from a string and two sticks infused with the thoughts and wishes of the maker as they create. A handmade garment like this can be personalized and tailored specifically for the wearer, whether by suiting it to their size, favorite colour or interests, which I believe is a special act of love.
Once I get into a project, I find it very hard to put down as I can get into a zone of concentration and peace that can be difficult to leave behind. I enjoy working while listening to audio books the most and television or movies for simpler patterns (or parts of patterns) that require less attention to stitch counts or other details.
Working on garments with Lisa has been exciting because I usually have only a sketch or idea of what I am making. At times, I don’t know what the finished project will look like and I am intrigued to watch the garment be revealed. With regular feedback from Lisa, I can know that what I create is the intended or hoped for result and the process of working this way has helped me grow in my craft as an artisan. Working with patterns that are being refined or with only a drawing to work from, has helped me to improvise, problem solve and trust myself and what I know.
Knitting is meditative for me, and more than that, an act of magic. A creation appears from a string and two sticks infused with the thoughts and wishes of the maker as they create. A handmade garment like this can be personalized and tailored specifically for the wearer, whether by suiting it to their size, favorite colour or interests, which I believe is a special act of love.
Once I get into a project, I find it very hard to put down as I can get into a zone of concentration and peace that can be difficult to leave behind. I enjoy working while listening to audio books the most and television or movies for simpler patterns (or parts of patterns) that require less attention to stitch counts or other details.
Working on garments with Lisa has been exciting because I usually have only a sketch or idea of what I am making. At times, I don’t know what the finished project will look like and I am intrigued to watch the garment be revealed. With regular feedback from Lisa, I can know that what I create is the intended or hoped for result and the process of working this way has helped me grow in my craft as an artisan. Working with patterns that are being refined or with only a drawing to work from, has helped me to improvise, problem solve and trust myself and what I know.
My most recent project with Lisa, I had the good fortune of collaborating on a poncho, taking it from drawing to a finished piece. Making something from an idea is exciting and I was given the trust and space to experiment and make suggestions based on my skill and knowledge.
Lisa has always treated me with respect and I feel valued in this process. This has helped me to value myself and my skills and think bigger about what might be accomplished or created. Sharing Lisa’s values of sustainable, quality, and responsible fashion, I feel a kinship to her mission and look forward to creating much more in the future!
Lisa has always treated me with respect and I feel valued in this process. This has helped me to value myself and my skills and think bigger about what might be accomplished or created. Sharing Lisa’s values of sustainable, quality, and responsible fashion, I feel a kinship to her mission and look forward to creating much more in the future!