Career In Knitting, Crochet Designing Comes From Many Generations Of Talent

Recently, we were delighted to sit down with Linda Cyr, designer of today’s featured “Pencil Afghan,” who lives in Cincinnati. Linda is a new designer for The NeedleWorks, and we talked with her about her design career.

Q. How did you become a knitting and crochet designer?

A. I’ve always wanted to have a needlework career. It comes from all sides of my family: My mother knits and crochets; my grandmother is a knitter who can reproduce complicated Aran designs without a pattern; my mother-in-law makes a baby afghan and Christmas stocking for every one of her grandchildren (12 in the past six years, plus one more on the way!); and my husband’s late Nana made him lovely sweaters and afghans.

My exasperated mother taught my older brother and me to knit when we were about 5 and 6 - to keep our busy fingers occupied! I don’t think I ever finished that first project, although I remember that my tension was too tight and my brother’s was too loose. I’ve enjoyed needlework of all kinds ever since.

After college, I began a career in marketing with Procter and Gamble. I retired two years ago when my daughter was born (13 weeks prematurely, so I made her clothes using doll’s patterns). The professional skills I developed in management help me in my design career. As a free-lance designer, it is crucial to stay self-motivated, set priorities, stay organized and meet deadlines. As a new designer, it is especially important to be proactive, accommodating and professional to get my work published.

I set about becoming a designer as I would have approached any other career change. I researched it by attending knitting conventions and meeting with some well-known, established designers. Talking to designers and making contacts (editors and yarn companies) got me started. I was also very fortunate to have been given opportunities by some really top-notch editors.

This career really suits my lifestyle. I work from home, set my own hours and have a creative and productive outlet doing something I love.

Q. Your pencil afghan is so wonderfully witty. Do you enjoy designing for children?

A. I love designing for children; I think every mother does. I’m really lucky, my son, 3, and my daughter, 2, love to wear my creations and proudly announce to all admirers: “Mommy made it for me!” The only problem is that I end up having to make two of the designs I sell - one for the sample, and one to keep!

Q. How does your designing evolve?

A. I have an engineering background and work best when I have a problem to solve. I need a catalyst to be creative, so when an editor points me in a direction with a theme, yarn or rough idea, the gears in my head really get going. I approach designing like a creative problem-solving session - I brainstorm and jot down everything that comes to mind and then go back and analyze and flesh out my ideas. I especially like creative or clever twists.

When I was working on this afghan design, I knew I wanted to do something with minimal sewing up; hence, the stripes, and the twist was making the stripes into pencils.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: PENCIL AFGHAN DIRECTIONS To obtain directions for making the Pencil Afghan, send your request for Leaflet No. 011496 with $2 and a long, stamped, self-addressed envelope to: The NeedleWorks, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 419148, Kansas City, MO 64141. Or you may order Kit No. 011496 by sending a check or money order for $24.95 to The NeedleWorks at the same address. Kit price includes shipping charges, full instructions and acrylic worsted-weight yarn in primary colors.

Linda’s charming Pencil Afghan is crocheted using seven colors of worsted-weight acrylic yarn. Finished measurements are 48 inches-by-48 inches. For kit orders only, you may call 7 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays: (800) 873-9537 to order by phone.