Interview: a moment with Robbie Dulaney

When we first received The Knitster in the post, we were blown away by its unusual style! Aiming to combine the two often-related trends of knitting and, well, being a hipster, Robbie Dulaney has drawn on his blogging experience to create this gorgeous book. We caught up with the man himself for a quick chat.

So talk us through the process of putting together the Knitster…

First, I knitted every single project to be sure that the patterns were correct and that I had well-fitting samples. After that, there was months of typing and editing. Luckily, Hardie Grant was kind enough to let me take my own photos, which was exciting because I felt like I had complete creative liberty. It was super fun to pick locations and props! This was my favourite part because I finally got to see the book coming together.

What was the inspiration behind the projects?

I really love 1960s mod design, but also have an affinity for really whimsical/magical details. My boyfriend calls it ‘modern whimsy’; I call it ‘disco hobbit’.

A lot of the inspiration for the pieces in The Knitster came from vintage pamphlets and from walks in the forest. I’m attracted to bright, exciting colour and really bold graphic elements. However, I live in a place called the ‘pine barrens’ and had spent a lot of time exploring the outdoors while working on this book, so I also wanted to incorporate that woodland feel.

Mostly, I just wanted to make my grandma proud.

Do you have a favourite project from the book?

My absolute favourite are the Snowl and the Chevron Hat. The patterns aren’t overly complex, but still yield exciting results (which also makes them perfect for gift giving). They’re both so easy to toss on and run out to grocery store or the mailbox. I’ve already been absolved of all bad hair days. If I wake up late, or if the blow dryer is on the fritz, you’ll most likely find me wearing one of these two things.

Do you get tired of being labelled a “male knitter”? What would you say to the other men out there who may be thinking about taking up knitting – or unsure about publicising it?

I always have trouble with this question. I don’t let my gender dictate my interests, and no one should. That being said, I think that it’s important for men to find the same pride in being creative that they find in doing things that relate to out-dated archetypes of what it means to be a man. I cry at movies, cook dinner regularly, and I really love the Golden Girls. There’s still testosterone floating around inside of me.

Men shouldn’t be embarrassed about knitting! They shouldn’t hide it! If anything, it will make them so much more interesting. Doesn’t everyone want to sweeten the pot a little?

How important the hipster movement been? Is it an identity you take seriously?

The first rule of being ‘hip’ is to never admit that you are in fact, hip. That being said, I have no idea what you’re talking about…

A lot of the pictures are quite unusual! Why the horse’s head?

Why not?

I wanted this book to be light and fun. There are so many plain and ‘sophisticated’ knitting books to buy already! I own quite a few myself. The pictures were intended to be quirky; to encompass a sort of tongue-in-cheek, DIY/POST-PUNK/WHATEVER vibe. Nothing was off limits. We scoured thrift shops, yard sales, toy stores, and party suppliers to find props. Mostly, it just ended up being a hodge-podge of things that we thought were really fun.

Why do you think knitting has become such a huge trend amongst younger generations?

I think that it stems from a need to feel some self-reliant, but also because the digital age is becoming increasing alienating and crafting in general helps build a feeling of community that is simply disintegrating.

[bold] How important has blogging been for you over the last seven years? How would you advise someone who is just starting out?

Blogging has played a major role in getting published! It was rocky at first, but once I found my voice things started to fall in place.

My advice is to know who you are. At speaking engagements I always refer to the term ‘personal brand’; which is basically a really clinical way to say ‘be you’. There are so many copycats and re-posted blogs out there that you need to figure what makes you special and develop it.

I could have gone the easy way and just started a ‘man-craft’ blog, but there were already plenty that were successful and it would have been a waste of my time. Instead, I created a visual identity, made sure that it was pervasive and I didn’t publicise too aggressively. Let your readers know that you are a person first and a brand second.

What are you working on next?

I’m both in the process of conceptualizing a more craft-oriented book and secretly re-vamping my blog!