Say hello to Eline, the creative mind behind Moorit favourites Läcker and Kishie! We’re so happy to have Eline (she/her/they/them) designing for Moorit and even happier to have sat down for a chat!
So, grab your favourite drink and get cosy-ed up to read more about Eline’s (founder of crochet design label Emmy + LIEN) crochet design journey.
It’s our go-to first question - but how long have you been crocheting?
A long time! I must have been about 7 or 8 when my mum taught me the basic
stitches. I would make these endless multi-coloured, double crochet scarves for
my dolls. I tried my hand at garments then, too, but with little success; I remember
that, at one point, I threw such a strop about a skirt that wouldn’t fit …
We have ALL been there! But wow, such a young age to learn. That must really instil a great passion for crochet, so when did you begin to delve into crochet design?
For most of my teens and twenties I was more interested in sewing, but I found my
way back to crochet after my first kid was born. I felt the familiar yearning to make
something with my hands, though I needed something more easily accessible than
sewing on a noisy machine. Granny squares were perfect, as you can put them
down and pick them up easily, so I started there. It escalated pretty quickly! I
realised I didn’t like making the same thing twice, that I loved to experiment, and
that I also really liked to photograph and share my creations. When I started
publishing my designs on a blog, it became clear very quickly that others liked my
work too! I launched my design label, Emmy + LIEN, in 2016. My portfolio has
steadily grown since then, through a combination of self-published designs as well
as some really nice magazine commissions.
That’s so wonderful! It’s such an interesting and organic transition from a noisy sewing machine to the calm, gentle motion of crochet. So, is this something you do full-time?
Kind of. I used to work full-time in the Intellectual Property sector as a technical
translator. It was very stressful, and I suffered from recurring periods of debilitating
mental illness (I’ve since been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder). These bouts, and
the resulting fall-out, knocked my confidence pretty hard. After the birth of my
second child in 2017 it became clear something needed to change. Over the next few years I slowly phased out the translation work and shifted my focus to designing, sloooowly and in as sustainable a way as possible. Alongside the design work I also run a community garden. I earn a lot less now, but it’s worth it – my well-being is closely entwined with my creativity, so I get much more in return than just
money.
We’re so glad you’ve been able to prioritise your health and find a balance that works for you. A lot of makers (us included) craft for it’s calming and grounding benefits, so this is definitely something we can relate to, at least on some level.
We’d love to hear about your inspiration for Läcker?
The theme for the issue is “Sweet Shop”, and my mind immediately turned to a
childhood favourite: those nibble-able, multi-coloured candy necklaces. I wanted to
create a garment that incorporated both the sense of fun as well as the contrasting
colours of these treats, while still being highly wearable.
Ah! So much nostalgia is wrapped up in childhood sweets, so it’s lovely to see those memories flood back for so many makers. You absolutely captured the sense of fun in your pattern, but what is your most favourite aspect of the jumper?
I really love the cropped, fluted sleeves. I think they elevate a basic, boxy sweater
to something fun and special. That they come in juicy, contrasting colours is just
the icing on the cake, for me!
Yum! We always appreciate a boxy silhouette, but it’s so great to have a special touch to make it that bit more fun. We know your favourite element but what, in your opinion, makes Läcker (and Kishie from Issue 1) a perfect Moorit design?
Although Läcker and Kishie differ in both style and construction, they share an
important element: adaptability. Läcker has a seamless top-down construction,
which means it’s easy to adjust it to your body shape. And although my version is
very colourful, I’d love to see it in subtler tones, or maybe in a combination of solid
and speckled yarns. There are so many possibilities!
Kishie can be styled in lots of different ways, too. I’ve made a fitted version in a size 2, but I can just as easily wear the size 4 sample for a more over-sized look. This is also the sample that appeared in Moorit 2, modelled by a very smartly-dressed chap! That sums it up for me; Since Moorit has aimed to be fully inclusive since its inception, it follows that my designs would suit as many styles, bodies, and preferences as possible.
We’re super passionate about size inclusivity in the crochet community, so it’s wonderful to work with such talented designers that prioritise adaptability, fit and customizability. Now, let’s talk yarn! Why did you choose the yarn you chose?
For Läcker, I chose to combine two bases by La Bien Aimée: Merino Singles and
Silk Mohair. LBA colourways are always stunning – you know they’ll make your
design sing, whether you go for neutrals or brights. The reason I chose two such
different bases is because I wanted to play with texture. The merino is soft and
smooth, which contrasts nicely with the sheen of the silk in the other base.
We love La Bien Aimée too and you’re right - the colours are so beautiful. Specifically, is there any particular reason that you chose the colours you did?
I wanted to showcase three contrasting sweetie-inspired colours – lilac, peachy
pink and sky blue – by combining them with a neutral. Moorit editor Alyson and I
settled on the Bone for the main colour, which is such an understated yet elegant
shade. Then Alyson really dialled up the brightness and convinced me to go for
near-fluorescent contrast colours. I think the result is fantastic.
Couldn’t agree more! There’s something really beautiful about the clash of almost-neon-brights against very delicate neutrals.
Are there any other designers’ work that you really love?
I am always blown away by Helda Panagary’s designs. She has a fantastic eye for
colour, and I love the way she combines stitch patterns. Everything looks so
effortlessly elegant.
Helda’s Nebula shawl features in Issue 3 and it is incredibly elegant. So now we know the kind of design you appreciate, how would you describe your design style?
That is such a tough question to answer… For a long time, others would say they
recognised this or that design as being one of mine, and I would have no idea how.
So perhaps it’s easier to explain what I like to focus on. I’m very interested in the
geometry of garment design – how you get a two-dimensional piece of fabric to fit
a three-dimensional body – so you’ll see me try lots of different construction
methods to optimise fit and drape. I also love to focus on small details. Those
finishing touches that make a design look professional and truly unique.
We love a small but mighty design feature! They really do make such a difference. We’ve really loved chatting to you Eline, thank you. Before we say goodbye, do you have any future designing plans you can share with us?
Sure. I’ve started working on the second part of the Balter Collection, which will
include both garments and accessories made in unspun wool. Then there’s a
scrap-busting, top-down, stripy sweater in the works. It also happens to include
lots of tailoring (I think I’ve cracked bust darts!), so it’s that perfect combination of
basic garment + great fit. I’m very excited about it. Finally, I’ve been toying with the
idea of designing a series of patterns aimed at crocheters who might’ve made
granny squares and shawls, but are new to making garments.
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We really hope that you’ve loved getting to know more about Eline and her wonderful designs. If you’d like to keep up with their designing journey, you can find them across social media, linked below:
Instagram: @emmyandlien
Facebook: Emmy and LIEN
Website: www.emmyandlien.com
