Take 5: Ann McCauley

What’s your favorite detail about your WP9 design contribution? I think Gehry has understated elegance, which has always been among my favorite design qualities. Arabella, my WP7 design, brought my focus to the lower sides of a sweater and made me want to explore that area further. Gehry’s side vents are the result. Any interesting techniques in the design you'd like to tell knitters about? It’s subtle, but I really love the single purl row that occurs between every change from rib to stockinette stitch. What's the most beloved (and well-worn) hand knit in your closet? The current most beloved and well-worn hand knit acknowledgement goes to Arabella. Yes, after completing Arabella and sending it to BT for photos, editing and trunk shows, I had to knit a second one because I knew I could not wait to wear it again. Three things that are inspiring you right now? Being alone in the dance studio, dancing and improvising with great music just for myself. Lots of movement, lots of random expression and a lot of ideas seem to be shaken loose in that process. Yarn. When I’m designing I love to have the yarn sitting very close to my laptop where my eyes can visit it regularly. I find inspiration manifests in highly variable ways. Quite often there’s an initial visual spark that leads to multiple possibilities.  

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  This interview is part of our Take 5 series—a collection of bite-sized interviews with designers about the inspirations behind our newest collection—Wool People 9 .