In Knit&Note, you can find knitting patterns by many talented designers, and we want you to get to know them even better! Every month, we will interview one of our designers, get to know them a little better, and maybe learn a few things we didn’t already know. The designer of the month in August is Anne-Sophie, better known as Augustins.
Who are you?
I’m Anne-Sophie Nørby Velling, 33 years old, living in Aarhus with my husband and son. I’m a trained architect, but since 2020, I’ve been running my studio Augustins full-time, designing and publishing knitting patterns under my own name. Additionally, I’m the author of 3 knitting books and freelance designer for various Scandinavian brands.
Tell us a bit about your knitting journey
Handcrafting and being creative have been central to my daily life since I was a child – my mother and grandmother taught me to knit early on, and for several years I attended the Skals Design and Handcraft School during weekends, as the school was in my hometown. My knitting journey took off when I began designing patterns during my studies at the Aarhus School of Architecture, which led to what Augustins is today.
What made you start designing?
I’ve always been fond of design expressions with lots of volume, contrast, patterning, and structure – often with a historical touch encapsulated in the silhouettes. There wasn’t much of that in the market, so I began creating knits to add to my own wardrobe and wrote down the patterns along the way.
What inspires your design process?
In my process, I’m focused on creating design parametric contrasts, likely stemming from my background as an architect. I often say the approach is the same whether creating architecture or textiles – both are three-dimensional spaces that house the individual. The form components are often the same, with work on contrast, volume, draping, and density primarily filling my designs.
What do you do when you’re not knitting?
I love spending time with my loved ones the most. Our house from 1860 is situated between the beach and the forest, so we take long walks daily and enjoy the surrounding nature. I also spend a lot of time gardening, baking, and plant dyeing.
What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future?
Just before the summer holidays, my latest book ‘Stund – Pattern Knitting on Large Needles’ was released, which I’ve been working on for a couple of years. Now that it’s finished, I have more time to design new patterns for the Augustins collections, so there will be a lot of new multi-colored pattern knitting, as well as some voluminous dresses and skirts.
5 quick questions
Describe yourself in 3 words: Meticulous, stubborn, and considerate
Favorite candy/snacks: Haribo Peaches Melba
Favorite TV-series: 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice, and I’m also a huge fan of Twin Peaks
Guilt pleasure: Antiques Roadshow UK – the best show to knit along to!
Dream travel destination: Next trip is to Hadleigh, Suffolk to see Cedric Morris’ Benton End.You can find Augustins’ patterns in the library in the app
