A Chat with Designer, Ashley Lee
Ashley is the creative mind behind the beautiful Apple Blossom Shawl, published in Annual, Issue Four, which we have all fallen in love with here at the Mill. A Chinese-American fashion designer and knitter, Ashley graduated from the London College of Fashion with a BA in Womenswear, and now lives in Dallas, Texas, designing stunning patterns for the classes that she teaches at Knit Dallas. Here, Ashley has given us an insight into her creative process and revealed a little more about her design in our Annual, Issue Four.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started in the design biz?
I actually studied fashion design in London, but I didn’t learn how to knit until 2021! My mom, who grew up in communist China, has been knitting and making clothes since she was a child, so knitting has always been in my life, despite my mom’s attempts to teach me never sticking until now! I started designing to create the exact pattern that I want, both for myself and for the classes I teach at my local yarn store, Knit Dallas.
Tell us about your beautiful Apple Blossom Shawl design, featured in our Annual 4. What was your inspiration?
My Apple Blossom Shawl was inspired by broderie anglaise (also known as eyelet cotton), which is one of my favourite textiles. I wanted to design a kerchief that can be worn around the head while outdoors, and furthermore, is easy and fun to knit for both beginner and experienced lace knitters!
What do you get up to in your spare time, when you’re not designing?
Knit, of course! I also sew alot, and take care of over 50 houseplants.
Our Annual this year is inspired by cottage gardens, are you a gardener yourself?
Besides my houseplants, I’m experimenting with my parents’ garden, which is filled with mostly Texas natives. They grow really well in our hot climate, without me having to do any work. Although I’m not familiar with endemic British plants, I’m experiencing them vicariously through the book I’m currently reading, Derek Jarman’s “Modern Nature”.
What do you love most about being a designer, what are the challenges?
For me, designing is about filling a need- whether I need a pattern that’s written a certain way, a sweater with a certain gauge, or I just want to recreate a ready-to-wear garment that I thought looked cool. As a designer, you’re also in charge of creating a good knitting experience for the knitter, not just a good finished product. That involves putting a lot of thought into pattern writing, formatting, and editing knit patterns. With sewing, you just draw lines and cut it out!
What are your favourite things to make / design?
I love making garments! While I haven’t designed any yet, I’m currently learning pattern grading in hopes of writing my own garment patterns!
Let us know where we can find out more about you and your designs.
