Sunday Visit is our interview series that invites you to settle in with a cup of tea as we sit down with a visionary from the natural dye, textile, and art world. This week, we’re thrilled to share our conversation with Lindsay Degen, founder of DEGEN knitwear, whose playful approach to knitting and bold, geometric motifs have made her a standout in contemporary craft. Like all our Sunday Visits, this interview dives deep into Lindsay’s creative journey-from her earliest stitches learned as a child, to her innovative partnership with Botanical Colors exploring the painterly possibilities of natural dyes. We hope you enjoy getting to know Lindsay and are as inspired by her curiosity, tactile sensibility, and fresh take on color as we are. The new collection launches May 22nd, so save the date!
Firstly, we are so excited about our collaboration and we would love to share your story with our audience. You started knitting at just three years old! How has your approach to knitting changed over the years, and what keeps you excited about it?
My grandmother taught me how to knit when I was a child but we lived across the country so I only learned in little weekend stints. Because of that I did not have any concept that a sweater was the same thing I was doing. Like many beginners I was stuck making rectangles and it wasn’t until college when I got more adventurous and started making garments. The thing that excites me the most about knitting is that there are only 4 actions you can do (knit, skip, slip, and purl) but you can truly do infinite things within those limitations. I am very inspired by those limitations.
As the founder of DEGEN, how do you balance your DIY roots with more traditional knitwear techniques in your designs?
Because there are only the 4 actions I mentioned before, the difference between traditional and DIY knitting is very minimal. Often the thing that makes something look DIY is just its aesthetic and the yarn used to make it. Knitting tends to look more DIY when its something intricate that feels very personal to the knitter. All of my pieces aim to have that connection to craft whether they look more traditional or not. Traditional is a thing because it was and still is good, but there is also room for the creativity of people who are making pieces for themselves.
What drew you to this partnership, and what are you most looking forward to? What about natural dyes drew you to the collaboration?
I am so excited about this collaboration because dyeing is its own time-honed craft that takes a lot of skill and knowledge. I love to collaborate with people, like Kathy, who have that level of expertise in their craft. It’s also fun to see how someone else’s vision can come to life within the world of DEGEN. In knitting it’s not possible to get organic looking swaths of color – all color work is based on the stitch or pixel so curved shapes end up being stair stepped. In this collaboration, we got to see what DEGEN knitwear would look like if it could be done up in painterly natural color.
Coming from a textiles background rather than traditional fashion design, how does this influence your creative process when working with natural dyes, and approaching your practice?
Everything I do starts as a textile and the textile informs the silhouette. Working with natural dyes (and therefore knitting blank garments) allowed me to envision the pieces as colorless first, the texture was everything before even addressing the color. That process is pretty unique for me in this collaboration because typically all color decisions are made at the yarn level and therefore its the first thing I have to decide as I design a new season.
You’ve mentioned starting with more masculine silhouettes that end up feeling feminine. How might this evolution play out in your work?
I guess I actually don’t think about gender so much as I design. A tee shirt and classic crew are timeless wardrobe staples regardless of who wears it. Then it’s up to the drape, color, and texture of the material and if the wearer connects with the garment in a personal way. I want my wearer to feel like the garments help explain who they are to the outside world- at least my identity is wrapped up in how I dress.
Are there any recurring themes or motifs in your work that you find yourself continually drawn to? What do you think attracts you to these elements?
I’ve always been drawn to bold geometric shapes but with a hand drawn feel. I want my garments to feel handmade because they are. I also recently have played with some floral motifs that adorn the front of sweaters in a playing card – like a layout where the orientation flips halfway through. Its been fun to experiment with this idea across several floral designs.
What’s an early memory or experience that sparked your passion for knitwear design?
I think the reason I fell in love with knitting relates to my parents who are in science. I think I learned about working within limitations and being curious in general from very early on. Unlike my parents though, I always needed to touch stuff. I had really visceral reactions to textures. My stuffed animal leopard had these mono filament whiskers that I would touch to comfort myself and velvet makes my skin crawl. I think it was just meant to be.
Are there any rituals or practices you engage in to cultivate creativity and invite inspiration?
I hate how I draw so I like to set up little drawing challenges for myself. Rule 1: you cannot rip anything out of your sketchbook but you can infinitely cover it up. Sometimes the challenge is only working with ripped paper or sometimes it’s a time constraint. I also like to light a little candle and get in the mood to knit by being cozy.
Looking ahead, how do you see this collaboration with Botanical Colors influencing the future direction of DEGEN and your personal work as a designer?
Maybe I’ll get up the courage to try indigo dyeing myself. I haven’t played much with dye since I was in college and I was always a bit intimidated. Botanical Colors is such a valuable resource in learning so I hope I’ll just jump in.
Okay, Last song on your playlist.
