Meet Alicia Plummer (she/her), a knitwear designer, teacher, and author whose work is as heartfelt as it is timeless. Based on the coast of Maine, Alicia brings a sense of calm, connection, and quiet strength to everything she creates -- designing heirloom knits meant to be lived in and loved for years.
When sheโs not dreaming up cozy silhouettes and thoughtful details, sheโs outside soaking in the beauty of coastal life: kayaking, hiking, or catching the last light of a sunset. In this month's Maker Spotlight Q&A, Alicia shares the inspiration behind her most meaningful designs, her creative process, and the emotional depth that stitches her work -- and her community -- together.
Q: You describe your design style as "heirloom knits to live in": what elements do you include in your designs to help them become wearable treasures? ย
The most important aspect of a design, hands down, is the tailoring. The other details come second to that- you can have a beautiful stitch, clean selvedge, beautiful colorsโฆbut if the shaping is incorrect, a piece is outdated instantly. I pay very close attention to shaping, especially in the shoulder and neck area. The amount of time and effort we put into our handknits deserves extra care. If there is a trendy silhouette, I will take it and pare back the proportions to become more balanced. This gives the pieces longevity.ย
Other than that, I lean towards classic stitches, clean elements. I like simplicity over complexity with visuals. Too many voices can compete, if that makes sense. My pieces arenโt particularly loud, and I struggled with that for a while. I felt like maybe I didnโt stand out enough, or I wasnโt edgy or hip enough. When I turned 40 I realized Iโve never been edgy or hip, and that itโs not a bad thing! Iโve just always been me- and so I design what is reflected in that.
Q: Whatโs one of your favorite designs you've created and why?ย
I designed In Stillness 2 for my husband, and thatโs probably one of my favorites. Itโs inspired by the breaks we all need to work into our lives, but donโt. I worked so hard on the proportions for that one- getting the neckline just right in balance to the sleeve depth. That particular sweater looks good on EVERYONE who wears it, and it feels like a comfy, calming hug. We all need hugs like that.
Q. Whatโs the most-worn handknit item in your closet?
My most worn item just released! Itโs a sweater called Finest Kind - Finest Kind is a term here in Maine that means good or excellent. ย Itโs a huge, 90โs silhouetted pullover with a rich texture worked up in Harrisville Designs Shear Dorset. Think rom-com by the ocean with rolled up jeans and bare feet, but a cozy warm sweater that blocks the wind. I live in that thing! Many of my testers have also said that theyโve barely taken theirs off since finishing them, and some wore them for a few weeks before blocking!
For warmer weather, I pop the Cami tank on all the time under a button down shirt for layering, or just over a bathing suit before heading down to the ocean.
Q. Whatโs your favorite part of the design process? Where do you usually start -- the yarn, a stitch pattern, something else?
I typically start with an emotion or a memory. Growing up, I was told all the time that I was โtoo muchโ. I feel big feelings and remember Iโve had a lot of serious pain and grief in my life. Iโve also had a lot of joy, and I carry all of it in my heart. That usually spills out into my design work as an outlet for me. Not all my designs are based on happy or cheerful memoriesโฆ some are very sad.ย Campsideย was my design to say goodbye to a family camp (and the memories made there with my father), Hawthorne was my design rebuttal after divorce (if you connect the dots enough, youโll see a veiled reference to an author I studied in college).
Everything can be inspiration if we let it. Donโt let your story hold you back from expressing yourself- use it. It is powerful to use your voice to inform your art, there is no shame in that. One of the most incredible things Iโve found is how these pieces have connected me to others - our stories so similar, our experiences shared. We are all connected more than we realize.
Q. You're teaching as part of Knit Stars! Is there anything you'd like to mention about your participation?
I chose to do Knit Stars for a few different reasons, but the biggest ones being:ย
I have a chronic illness (MCAS) that's very severe right now and makes travel difficult. Recording a class where I people can watch me at home seemed like a great solution. I'm really passionate about what I'm teaching (mistakes, how to fix them, self acceptance and recovering from being hard on oneself!) so that's wonderful.
The other thing that really pushed me over the edge when making the decision was being able to donate a large sum of money to a charity of my own choosing. I chose Alcoa, which is a foundation for children of alcoholics. I have loved many alcoholics in my life and am so excited to see resources for family members, too. <3
We're so grateful to Alicia for sharing her heart, her creative journey, and some of the stories woven into her designs. Whether youโre drawn to her timeless tailoring, emotion-filled inspiration, or effortlessly wearable knits, Aliciaโs work offers something truly special for every maker. Be sure to follow her on Instagram and Ravelry for a closer look at her latest designs -- and maybe find your next project along the way.
Love,
