Behind The Stitches: Angela Mayhoe

First of all, I have SOOOOO missed doing these. I needed to take a second to recharge my batteries before I could dive into my blog and podcast again. But I’m back and I have some very special stories up my knitted sleeves for you! I couldn’t be happier that my first interview back is with one of my favorite yarnies on social media. This week we are getting to know Angela Mayhoe of @angelamayhoe and angelamayhoe.com!

“Creating something over a period of time and being a witness to its creation is pure magic!”

Sam: Where are you from and where are you currently based?

Ange: I was born in LA, raised in Houston. I’ve been back in LA for the past 23 years and reside in the Los Feliz/Silver Lake area.

Sam: Have you always been a creative person? Where do you think your love of crafting comes from?

Ange: YES! I’ve always had a creative side. I would imagine living in different worlds as a kid and was constantly daydreaming about all of the places I wanted to visit (real and pretend). I also had a hand-me-down set of Fashion Plates – I would create so many outfits and rub all of my map pencils down to a nub.

My crafting bug came from my great-aunt Margaret – she made quilts, had a green thumb, and could cook/bake anything! I would help her plant flowers and sort out her quilting squares. She would also tell me the stories behind all of her old photos – she had great style! I remember a photo of her and my grandmother decked out in hats, tailored suits, and fur stoles. They were going to the train station on a trip –  even though they came from a very humble background to me they looked like a million dollars! The creativity and dignity of that photo was imprinted on my subconscious – it expanded me to believe that I came from greatness and I would be destined to discover it.

Sam: What is your favorite thing to make?

Ange: I love projects that require a lot of time and detail. These types of projects provide me with a constant state of inspiration. Creating something over a period of time and being a witness to its creation is pure magic!

Sam: Are you more of a finished object or a process crafter?

Ange: I’m a finished object crafter. I like dedicating my time to one project, completing it, and starting fresh with another project. I’m also an anal neat/control freak crafter so my space has to be tidy to work. Too many uncertainties lying around my workspace is a no-go for me.

Sam: What are your must-have songs for the perfect knitting playlist?

Ange: Oddly enough, I never listen to music when I knit. I do, however, stream any type of BBC murder mystery/police drama show I can find and binge. I think I’ve seen ALL the shows – this can be a potential problem for my future!

Sam: You once wrote that you find it easier to “create from a clean slate than to follow a pattern”. Can you talk more about that and can you walk us through your pattern-making process?

Ange: I had a knit “Guru” teach me how to knit and along with that she taught me how to make patterns so I learned to knit and make patterns at the same time. To be fair, I do have a BFA in Fashion Design so I already knew how to make patterns for clothing construction (which btw, I loathe) so I caught on fairly quickly. I’m also a visual learner so ALL those knitting abbreviations and symbols are too much for me in a pattern – I have to admit that I’ve been knitting for over 13 years and I still don’t know what half the abbreviations mean. I prefer to sketch out a design, create a swatch and do my own patterns. Sometimes I completely wing it and figure out the pattern after the garment is completed if I need to make it again – I would highly suggest against this tactic!

Sam: What does the perfect sweater look like to you?

Ange: It’s all about the sleeves, I’m addicted to a statement sleeve. My perfect sweater would have a huge textured statement sleeve with a bracelet length (right above the wrist). It would also have a slimmer long body that I could tuck into high-waisted pants and of course, it would be knitted in a bold color!

Sam: As someone who came from the fashion industry, what is something you’ve grown to appreciate about your handmade craft?

Ange: The flexibility. I love that in knitting, I’m always working with a loose piece of yarn and my hands are constantly forming it into a creation. For me, it’s also easier to manipulate than fabric – when you deal with fabric you have to let the fabric lead the way.

Sam: What is the most meaningful crafted object that you own? It doesn’t have to of been made by yourself.

Ange: My great-aunt’s pin cushion that she crafted herself.

Sam: Your post To Be Single, Gifted And Black spoke to my soul from the disclaimer to the last sentence. When did you realize that you are a writer?

Ange: I wrote poetry in high school and for a while, I wanted to be a poet. Over time, I stopped writing and focused solely on fashion design. There were so many things that I wanted to pursue but I stuffed myself into the fashion design box. After launching my brand, I knew that I wanted to incorporate all of my interests and I found my way back to writing. At first imposter syndrome kicked in but once I trusted myself and the process – the words started to flow again! It’s definitely something that I will continue to nurture – I’m excited to see where it takes me.

“When I’m creating time stands still and I go into a meditative state. I’m relaxed and whatever is going on outside of my workspace doesn’t matter”

Sam: Can you tell us a little bit about your collections, particularly the inspiration behind your shrunken cardigan?

Ange: Since the pandemic, I have shifted my focus and the brand structure. I felt it was necessary to offer collections because that’s what you do when you have a fashion brand. I now have realized that fitting into these pre-determined ideals just doesn’t work for me. I need to do what brings me comfort and excitement. Now the highlight of my brand is to offer more custom design pieces while keeping a curated core collection to offer twice a year.

The Shrunken Cardigan resides in that core collection. I created The Shrunken Cardigan with the idea of having a “no brainer” layer for any ensemble. I selfishly chose bracelet-length sleeves because I always wear bracelets on both wrists, the sleeves are semi-full volume because for me a statement sleeve is everything! The cropped style was developed to fall right above the waist to create a streamlined silhouette. To be transparent, I designed it for me!

Sam: What has your creative process brought to your life?

Ange: Comfort, when I’m creating time stands still and I go into a meditative state. I’m relaxed and whatever is going on outside of my workspace doesn’t matter. Whether I’m writing, designing, or knitting – it all brings me ultimate joy.

Sam: What do you like to binge-watch or listen to while you craft?

Ange: I’m a HUGE murder mystery fan and the BBC is my go-to. The Agatha Christie murder mysteries are my favorite. I’m also into any period-piece dramas/movies – the costumes are a great inspiration.