“I was raised by highly creative women, who, at some point earned a living from their crafts. There was always some knitting or sewing going on at home”
Sam: Where are you from and where are you currently based?
Noma: I am based in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Sam: Have you always been a creative person?
Noma: Yes – I was raised by highly creative women, who, at some point earned a living from their crafts. There was always some knitting or sewing going on at home, so I learnt early.
Sam: What is your craft of choice?
Noma: Definitely knitting!!!
Sam: Where do you think your love of crafting comes from?
Noma: I love creating something new and different that has never existed before – that’s the most thrilling experience ever.
Sam: When did you decide to start creating your patterns? Was that an easy jump for you to make or did it take a little convincing?
Noma: I had always created my own patterns even as a child. Somehow, I struggle with following instructions, so it was easy for me to do my own designs. I started designing earnestly in 2013 when I was expecting my first child.
Sam: How would you describe your aesthetic?
Noma: I love minimalistic modern designs that are practical and can be worn with a variety of outfits.
“I love creating something new and different that has never existed before – that’s the most thrilling experience ever”
Sam: Your Khwezi Throw is one of my favorite new patterns. Where did the inspiration come from for that knit?
Noma: An idea just pops up in my head mostly…..I go through stitch dictionaries quite a lot and because I’m interested in the texture of the fabric when designing, stitch dictionaries are my best source of inspiration.
Noma: Yes definitely, I learnt a lot from Very Pink Knits (YouTube channel) by Staci Perry when I got back to knitting a few years ago. I’d also recommend the Fruity Knitting Podcast – it’s very informative and loaded with knitting information, tutorials, history, and interesting interviews.
Noma: I have a couple of sweaters in the pipeline. These are some spring/summer designs I’m very excited about. I get to work with a variety of fibres including linen and silk – which I haven’t designed with in the past.
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