Designer Sarah Schira, based in Manitoba, Canada, is known for her knitted gnome patterns that exude charm and personality. (We used her Never Not Gnoming pattern to knit our gnome alter egos!) We're excited to announce that Sarah will be guest teaching a class here at The Endless Skein this fall. More on that below!

In this interview, Sarah spoke with us about what she's like as a teacher, about her exciting new book, "The Gnomes of Grimblewood," and about the Imagined Landscapes that inspire her work. Read on!

What's your knitting origin story?

I was taught by both grandmothers as a child, but it didn’t stick. When my daughter asked me to teach her, I grabbed a few books from the library, refreshed my skills, and then passed it along to her while simultaneously igniting a passion for knitting that almost overwhelmed me. Thank goodness there was no YouTube or Instagram in those days or no one would have ever seen me again!

I found knitting very comforting and yet also very stimulating. It seemed to be there for every mood, every need, and every cold snap!

How did you get started as a designer?

There weren’t a lot of resources when I first started, and my family likes bold, fun knitwear. The patterns for men and boys were particularly dreary and uninspiring, so I started tweaking patterns almost right away. Everyone in the family has a sweater I designed just for them and don’t even get me started on the hats! What took a while was overcoming my intimidation to share the patterns with others. I won a design contest for beginners from the Playful Day podcast, and that gave me the confidence (not to mention the obligation) to get over my doubts and put out my first pattern.

The name of your website is the evocative “Imagined Landscapes.” What are some of the landscapes of your life, real or imagined?

I grew up an avid reader and sometimes need to remind myself that I haven’t been to some of the places my brain thinks I have visited! The prairies where I live are flat, open, and dry, and the landscapes I most like to visit in my imagination have burbling brooks, mossy rockfalls, and ancient forests. I’m also a true Anne of Green Gables fan, so Prince Edward Island makes up a large part of my fictional world.

My husband is German, and I relish the chance to see as much of Europe as I can. When the kids were little we went and stayed in multiple countries when Rainer had a sabbatical, and I have such fond memories of that trip. We like to travel on foot or on a bike - seeing less and seeing it slowly. We put the kids on bikes and jogged through as many places as we could. One of my favourite jog-bikes on that trip was in The Netherlands - the tree-lined, straight roads and the smell of the ocean just beyond the dikes is such a clear sense-memory.

Tell us about your book, "The Gnomes of Grimblewood." What surprised you about the process of putting together the book?

I’m so excited to be an author! I first sat down to write a book and become an author in Grade 3, so this has been a long time coming!

Writing a book is such a multi-stage process. I’m used to working alone and being in complete control, so collaborating with Search Press has been interesting (and I mean that in a good way). I’ve loved the peek behind the scenes.

I think the most surprising thing was how hard it was to choose the yarn colours. I felt like I was locking in something, narrowing it down forever, and it felt so important to getting the book right. The mood we were going for was playful but also grown up. Like the gnomes were whimsical but real.

We look forward to having you guest teach here at The Endless Skein in October. What can students expect? What do you love the most about teaching?

My teaching philosophy is all about giving people confidence and skills. I love to see people nodding and relaxing as we get into the subject matter. I always want people to laugh, to remember to relax their shoulders, and to learn something they weren’t expecting.

Students can expect boatloads of gnome puns, patience, and enthusiasm.

What’s currently on your needles?

The December mystery gnome, a gnome for Miss Babs, socks for my husband, and two sweaters that probably just need 3 hours apiece to be finished but they’re play knitting, not work knitting, so they always slip to the bottom of the pile.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Knitting is something we do in our free time for fun. Don’t forget to have fun!

Be sure to follow Sarah Schira on Instagram: @imagined_landscapes!

Sarah Schira will be teaching her Gnome FUNdamentals class at The Endless Skein on Wednesday, October 23, 2024. Sign up now and learn how to knit Gnoodles of Grimblewood, a little gnome friend of your very own!

Sarah will also be giving a free talk at Open Crafting on October 23 from 2-3pm about The Emotions of Color. Hope to see you there!