Interview with Ann-Kathrin Stoll

As part of our Month with MAJO, we’re excited to share a conversation with Ann-Kathrin Stoll (@ann.ka.thrin) - a knitwear designer whose patterns many of you know and love, and who has worked with MAJO yarns in several of her designs.

In this interview, she talks about her path into knitwear design, what she looks for in a yarn, how MAJO fits into her creative process, and what inspires when designing.

@ann.ka.thrin

1. Could you tell us a little about your design journey? How did you start creating knitting patterns?

I worked for some years as fashion designer before I finally came to hand knitting. It was 2020, Covid pressed pause on everyday life and I suddenly had a lot of time, because the company I was working for reduced my working hours. Then I randomly stumbled upon the Instagram knitting community and started with testing for other designers. In 2021 I made my first attempts to design myself, never thinking about what it might become.

2. What drew you to MAJO yarns originally?

They were pretty new in the business and I loved the aesthetic of their content. The colours were gorgeous and the yarn looked promising. I tried Fine Merino and Pearl Mohair back when they were the only available qualities and knitted the Basicribset. Still very much in love with them!

BASICRIBSET MADE WITH FINE MERINO AND PEARL MOHAIR (photo credit: Ann-Kathrin Stoll)

3. What qualities do you look for in a yarn?

Natural fibers! I don’t touch blends with synthetic fibers. The ethical and environmental aspects ares also important. How were the animals treated? How many natural ressources (like water for cotton) are needed to create the fiber? I prefer brands with short delivery routes. But I guess most important is that it has to be a joy to knit with it!

4. What comes first for you - the yarn or the idea?

I guess I don’t have a routine when it comes to designing something new. Sometimes I start with a quality I really want to try and then the design develops. Sometimes I have a design in mind and then try to find the perfect matching quality.

5. Which MAJO base is your current favorite to design with, and why?

That’s a hard one! Probably Honea Alpaca. It’s unbelievably soft!

6. Is there a pattern of yours that you feel is a perfect match with a MAJO yarn?

The ones that were designed using it for sure! Basicribset, Nobasicsweater & Nobasicsweatermini and Summerbreezejacket & Summerbreezejacketmini. The Cozycottagecardi will also work in Puno Fine held double.

(photo credit: Ann-Kathrin Stoll)

7. What inspires your designs the most?

Anything, sometimes I see a texture, a picture, a painting or anything else and have to scribble.

8. Are you currently working on any upcoming designs that use MAJO yarns?

The cozycottagebeanie is still on my to do list for pattern writing. And then there will be something new growing slowly within the next weeks in tweed supreme.

9. Do you have any advice for knitters who want to start designing their own patterns?

Gain experience by knitting different techniques, maybe test knit to get an idea of the process and be gentle to yourself and ask for help if needed. Especially grading sometimes isn’t easy and there are wonderful tech editors, who can help! And most of all, don’t expect to much. It’s the most wonderful job I’ve ever had and I love it, BUT it’s a hard business

10. One final question — when you put your needles down, what do you love doing in your everyday life?

I’m a self-employed mum of a toddler, I don’t understand the question. 😉

Quick Q&A

Favorite MAJO colorway? Banana, Ivory, Sand
Softest MAJO base? Honey Alpaca
Stockinette or texture? Both! I try to always have two WIPs, one in stockinette stitch and one with texture. So I can always decide if my brain capacity is enough for textures or if I better pick the stockinette stitch WIP for mindless knitting.
One word to describe MAJO yarns? Impossible to choose only one. Here are some more: high quality, one of my favourite yarn brands, prettiest colour palette, love it!
Must-have knitting tool? You know that I also sell handmade stitch marker?

We truly enjoyed this conversation with Ann-Kathin and her honest insights into design, materials, and the creative process.
Her knitting patterns are available online: annkathrinknits.com where you can explore both her adult and children’s designs.

Ann-Kathrin has also just opened the preorder for her new book, Mirror Knits - a collection of everyday knitwear designs for adults and children, guided by one shared idea of connection through knitting. The book will be published in English and German.