We're excited to be hosting a window installation by local fiber artist Steffanie Goodman of Heirloom Culture!

Steffanie designs and makes unique wall hangings and accessories. Her company, Heirloom Culture, provides unique decor for the chic and artful collector.  

Steffanie's work is beautiful and unique! We had an opportunity to ask Steffanie some questions about her work. 

My work is eclectic- contemporary and refined, yet organic and playful. I am always exploring new techniques, materials, styles and color combinations. My color story is often bright jewel tones with whites and gold, but I also work with neutral pallets. Those decisions are often based on my mood, design trends I find inspiring, or my clients' needs.  I create unique wall hangings and women's accessories, and also do commercial art installations on occasion. I work primarily with natural fibers, and often incorporate repurposed or industrial materials like metal, leather or wood. For example, I create meaningful art for clients by repurposing sentimental materials and weaving them into the piece. I love exploring the qualities of fiber- it's texture, permeability and color, and the balance of soft and opaque, against the shine and durability of metals, or wood.  

Natural and synthetic yarns (wool, wool roving, cotton, linen, silk, metallics, rayon, Tencel, jute), leather, metal chain and metal bars, wood, and even plant matter! Am I leaving anything out? Well, when I create memory pieces for clients I will repurpose the materials they provide me and weave them> I've woven horse hair, fishnet stockings, maps of Cuba- you name it! I often hang my work on metal dowels or clear acrylic dowels. Sometimes I frame them.

I find inspiration in art (I stop into galleries and museums as often as I can, and read art blogs online), fashion (lots of window shopping and reading fashion blogs online), interior design (I love home decor!), nature (beach scapes and flower gardens are the best sources!) and through my travels. 

5. Do you do other types of work with textiles?

I am currently working on weaving a few pieces for a home that will be featured in a design magazine, I am designing new pieces for my next installation at a boutique in Hayes Valley this summer, and I am felting silk scarves for commissions for Mother's Day gifts! 

Stop by and check out Steffanie's work in our window!  It's colorful and playful and just makes you smile! 

Click here to see more of Steffanie's work. 

Photos courtesy of Heirloom Culture.  

We're thrilled to be hosting an installation in our window by fiber artist Sheila Halali of Halali Studio!

Sheila's 'Mini Hoop Series' was recently on display at the Abrams Claghorn Gallery in Albany. Her work is simply stunning!

We had an opportunity to ask Sheila a few questions: 

We're thrilled that ImagiKnitter Jules Lustenader has her pattern published in Twist Collective January 2018. Congratulations Jules!

Cabrillo is simply gorgeous!  

Many of you may remember Jules. She worked at the shop a while back and is still knitting away here in San Francisco! 

We had an opportunity to ask Jules a few questions. 

1. How did you learn to knit and how long have you been knitting?

I first learned how to knit from a best friend in high school, but quickly forgot. It wasn't until college when I relearned backstage at a play I was in and I haven't put the needles down since! That was roughly 5 years ago. 

2. When did you get interested in colorwork?

Not sure when or how it started, but when people ask me to imagine "knitting", I always see a classic Fair Isle sweater first. Not sure why, it's just glued there in my head. My first colorwork project was coincidentally my first sweater project and I still wear it every Winter. 

3. When did you start designing?

I started designing knitwear a few months into working at Imagiknit in 2013. Being surrounded by yarn and patterns all day was more than enough inspiration. My first design was a Valentine's Day hat called Hearts on Repeat. It was published on my birthday in 2014 and it's still one of my favorite patterns. (Shout out to Diane for testing it for me!)

4. Where do you find inspiration for your designs?

Now that I'm not in the yarn store every day, I find inspiration from my yarn stash. It may sound silly, but when I see a skein of beautiful hand-dyed wool, I can't help but picture what it wants to become, even what it needs to be. 

5. What are your favorite things to knit when you are not designing?

I adore sweaters, which is ironic because I live in San Francisco where we hardly need them! When I see a sweater design I love, I have to knit it regardless of how the weather is outside. I also enjoy knitting socks and hats for loved ones. 

6. What do you have in the works for the future? 

We can't wait to see your next published patterns!  

Click here for more designs by Jules (Juliana Lustenader Designs). 

Her instagram is @knitbyjules.

Again - congratulations Jules!  You've come a long way in such a short time!