Jen has been knitting for almost 20 years and designing patterns for over a decade. She has designed knit and crochet patterns for yarn companies and magazines and has self-published dozens of patterns. Jen is the author of 6 knitting books, including the best-selling book, Sock-Yarn Shawls. She loves to create beautiful, fun, and easy-to-follow knit & crochet patterns.
Jen dabbles in a wide variety of crafts, including cross stitch and sewing. You can follow her crafty adventures on Instagram: @jenlucasdesigns and @jenxstitcher.
Other places to find Angela Online: Ravelry, Instagram, and Her Website.
The Knitting Circle: When and how did you get started with knitting?
Jen Lucas: I started knitting after college, when a couple of my college friends gave me a How-to-Knit booklet along with some yarn and needles for my birthday. The booklet claimed you could learn to knit in one day. It took me a little longer than that to get the hang of it, but once I mastered the knit and purl, I was totally hooked.
TKC: What is your favorite thing to design and why?
JL: I tend to design what I love to knit and that’s shawls. You can make a shawl in any type of yarn with any stitch pattern. The possibilities of shawl design are endless.
TKC: What does your day look like as a knitwear designer and maker?
JL: What I love about this job is that every day is a little bit different. Some days I knit all day, some days I don’t touch yarn or needles at all. Most of the time I spend the mornings doing computer work and I knit in the afternoon.
TKC: What’s your favorite type of yarn? Why do you love it?
JL: I love merino blends. Give me a merino/cashmere/nylon yarn or a merino/silk yarn and I’m happy. I’ve also recently discovered a love of cotton/bamboo blends. I love the drape of that yarn – it’s perfect for shawls!
TKC: If you could only use one knitting technique for the rest of your life, what would it be?
JL: Only one? As much as I adore lace, I would pick garter stitch. It creates a such a squishy fabric, and you can use it to make anything.
TKC: What other crafts or hobbies do you enjoy?
JL: I enjoy crafting in general and I love trying new crafts. These days I’m really enjoying cross stitch and crochet. I’ve recently started sewing too and would love to give quilting a try.
TKC: Any quick tips/knitting hacks to share?
JL: If you are a new knitter, do not start with a scarf knit entirely in garter stitch. You’ll be bored after knitting about 10 to 12 inches. Try something small, like a dishcloth or cowl first. You’ll have mastered the basics in a small project without becoming bored!
My mom was a mastress knitter I am stuck
Hi Jen, I’m knitting your “It’s a Gnome” pattern and have a question. Where can I contact you?
Thank you for the tip!! Very useful. :)
Too funny! I see that my comment of today is following my comment of December 27, 2022. pj stitches!
So nice to meet you, Jen. I love your shawl patterns & have begun a collection of them. My Valentine's Day gift (to me) is a magnificent order of lace weight & fingering weight yarns from Bobbii in Copenhagen. I am awaiting its delivery shortly with knitting needles in hand. I was taught to knit at the age of seven & just keep adding to my knowledge of fiber arts. When I sign off as "pj stitches," it's because I do every day. A good day is one in which I put needle(s) to fiber in some way; I try to only have good days! Thank you for sharing your talent with "us out here;" I live in the middle of a 40-acre hay meadow 6 miles northwest from a small town in Missouri after growing up in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. pj stitches!
Hi! You are a whizz. Thank you for sharing with "us out here!" I've been knitting since 1957 and love it. I am a died in the wool (pun intended) fiber addict. A good day is defined as a day in which I put fiber to needles of some kind. I remain a happy camper on purpose! pj stitches! in sw Missouri where our water pipes were only frozen for 4 days. Thank goodness for mid-winter thaws! pj!
Hi there Jen, My name is Vida and I had learn how to knit when I was around 5-to 7years-old by my grandmother(my mothers -mom)and my aunt (my dads sister-in-law). But turn to crocheting instead around the same age as well too. And I stuck to that for must of the time as I could read those patterns alot easier to do. And now I want to relearn more about knitting. I have done alot of different crafts from knitting to crocheting ,to sewing to embroidery, to macramé, and other crafts. I have never learn how to knit socks and now want to relearn how to do knitted socks. Can you me out. Thanks
I would like to know pattern for your recent tutorial for a textured rib hat. I understand I may need to up grade my membership, and having trouble navigating the web site. I would like to know that the hat tutorial / pattern is available. A member posted her finished blue hat today June 5 th , saying that I was video last Thursday. Thanks I would love this to be my next project.
Hi I am looking for help with a pattern. How do I do that
I am a new member and your videos have helped me some all ready. I was impressed with the Knitting Circle when I first googled a problem I needed help with. This site seemed to have it all covered, and Experts to call on as a plus. I started crochet and then knitting in Elem. School during WWII. Our third grade teacher thought we were old enough to learn the simple stitches of crochet, and taught us to make small squares which she collected and made afghans for the military hospitals. Soon some of us advanced to knitting and she started us on knitting the body of socks, they were like knee length. She would start the sock and then hand it over to us girls, and when we got to the heel she would collect them and turn the heel, then return them to us to work to the toe. Thinking back on it, she must have been very organized. That initial learning stayed with me, and in my teens I made several pairs of argyles for all the males int the family and eventually my boyfriend. I didn't have time to do much in the next several years, one time I made a cardigan I was given a kit for, and wore it until it wore out. I didn't return to knitting until six or seven years ago when our church started a prayer shawl ministry for those needing comfort. I have knitted many shawls, of all patterns and colors. I like to change them all the time. This year I decided to make some small items for members of the family for Christmas but took on a little more than I anticipated. But with so much time being sheltered in, it was a life saver, as I never had any of the depression some people had, and always had time to think about my next project. My husband got involved in choosing some of the colors,& watching the progress. this site helped so much as I had never knitted in the round before and joining was a problem until I watched your video several times. I did the socks when I was younger, on 4 needles. but this was different.. So I am looking forward to much more knitting knowing that if I have a problem I can ask. Thank you so much. MarleneG.