Meet Kelsey

We were lucky to catch up with Kelsey recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelsey, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

I’m not sure that I have or will overcome imposter syndrome! But I have definitely become more confident and comfortable in my work. It helps to think that everyone starts as an amateur, no one becomes a master of their craft at their first attempt. And on the other side of that, there will always be someone doing their craft better than you – and that should be healthy motivation to always be improving!

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am a textile designer specializing in knit garments & home textiles. I design and make all of my pieces in my Nashville studio. I use a vintage non-automated knitting machine, which means it is completely hand powered. Each piece is fully fashioned, meaning it is shaped row by row, producing little-to-no-waste. The production method of my materials is also low waste. I knit with a really beautiful merino wool from a sustainable mill in Ireland. I love this wool for its quality and unique depth of color that is created by the traditional methods of production in this region of Ireland. I also love the relationship I’ve built with this mill over the years. Having lived in Ireland for the first 5 years of my knitting journey, I’ve been able to visit the mill and see their process myself.
I am most proud of my intarsia work. Intarsia is a technique for knitting imagery or “pictures”. It is labor intensive and difficult to re-produce on an industrial scale, making it really unique to the handmade process. I knit intarsia pieces as wall hangings and as garments. Most people know my business for garments, but I also work business-to-business with interior designers on custom wall hangings.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1. A skill that I’m really grateful to have is self motivation. For the most part, I’m motivated by things I’d like to achieve and am able to set goals for myself to find the path to see them through. I didn’t realize how valuable this quality was until working for and by myself, needing to be completely self directed. It can be daunting to know where to start in achieving a goal. I find that breaking it down into smaller tasks, and then writing those tasks down as a timeline or list, can be really helpful.

2. Having knowledge of other artistic disciplines has helped inform my style & my interests. I didn’t start out interested in knitwear specifically. I was originally working in the music industry. The business side of the industry seemed like a safe place, but I was drawn to visuals. I enjoyed creating backdrops for gigs and photo shoots & I enjoyed painting on clothing for musicians to wear in these created spaces. I’m sure that this has inspired my eventual move into creating garments and has given me a unique lens when designing.

3. Not having formal training in my industry is an experience (or lack of?) that I have learned has set me apart. I think it’s easy to be discouraged by the idea that if you didn’t go to school for something, you won’t have the proper skills to succeed in that industry. But I’m realizing quite the opposite. Because I didn’t go to school for fashion or textiles, my perspective and perceived limits are different from others. I approached my self-guided learning with curiosity and without rules. I definitely learned many things the hard way, but I don’t think I would’ve been as quick to jump in the deep end if I thought a certain skill were one I wouldn’t be able to attempt until I mastered “xyz.”

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

The biggest obstacle I face on a daily basis is the best use of my time. Being the only person in my business, I have to manage and use my time wisely. I find myself only wanting to do the fun bits, which for me is the production of my pieces. But I tend to neglect some of the administrative aspects. Time also becomes challenging when I am wanting to create new things, which is vital to my business, but doesn’t always lead to something useful. Time for play and experimentation can feel like I’m procrastinating more “serious” things, and it can be difficult to allow that for yourself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.studiokelsey.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studio_kelsey/

Image Credits

Iris Humm, Jared Minnix, SkyQuajus Turner