Knitters Series: Morgane Mathieu

Morgane Mathieu is 28 years old, she lives in Paris and she has loved to design since she was a child. Nowadays, after designing knitwear, she has become a great bag designer. If you want to know more about her, you can visit her website: http://morganemathieu.com/

How did you learn to knit?

My babysitter, Tata Hiette, taught me how to knit when I was a child. I was like 6 or 7 years old when she gave me my first pair of needles, and I still have them! Firstly, she taught me Garter stitch. She cast on the stitches for me, because it was a bit complicated for me at first, and then I knitted small scarves. At the beginning it was a bit difficult for me because I always forgot how to do it, and there was no Internet, so I couldn’t access the WAK website to watch knitting video tutorials. But, step by step, I learned advanced stitches and how to change colors.

What’s your favorite stitch or technique?

I don’t have any favorite stitch. I love to try new stitches. Once you know basic techniques, creative possibilities are infinite. What I really love is to knit long scarves mixing lots of shapes and changing colors. I also love jacquard.

When did you realize you wanted to work in fashion?

I always wanted to work in fashion, or at least as a creator. I started at couture when I was very young. After school, I studied textile design –and not stylism- because I was more interested in fibers than in garments. After that, I discovered the art of leather and bags, and I specialized in accessories design.

What’s your main inspiration to create your designs ?

When I create a new collection, the first thing is to choose the subject. Then, I search images about this subject, to inspire myself and to define the range of colors, textures and shapes of the collection. For example, for ‘Birdies’ collection, I chose birds pictures, and the color and shape of their feathers were my inspiration.

Do you prefer to knit for yourself or do you prefer to give your knitting as a gift?

When I started knitting, I created for myself, but now I prefer to give my creations as gifts. This Christmas I have made gifts for everybody!

What’s your favorite design for WE ARE KNITTERS? Why?

The first design I knitted for WAK was the Strelitzia Scarf. And I love the Nolita Sweater, simple and classic. It’s the perfect Chunky wool sweater!

Tell us about your future knitting challenges

My next challenge is to knit a Nordic sweater with reindeers and Scandinavian motifs using intarsia.

What’s your favorite city in the world?

Paris

What kind of music do you prefer?

It depends on the moment. I used to listen the same song on a loop during long periods. My brother works in music, so he sends new albums regularly to ask me for my opinion. Now, I’m listening two French artists that I really love: Christine and the Queens and Lomepal.

The best advice you have ever received…

‘It’s not the destination but the journey that counts’. I think it’s not worth to reach an objective if we don’t appreciate all the previous stages. We have to find objectives to make ourselves and be happy, no matter the final result.

What’s your favorite actor?

I love Kevin Spacey

What can you tell us about your future projects?

I’ve just started a training in luxury leather goods at Ateliers Grégoire, so I’ll learn how to work with leather and I’ll be an artisan. My objective is to open my own artisan leather goods workshop pretty soon.