Corrina Ferguson is a knitwear designer who sells patterns and blogs at Picnic Knits. She's also the author of Warm Days, Cool Knits. We talked about learning to knit after moving to Florida, knitting for the south and the genius of the flip flop dress.

About: How and when did you learn how to knit? It seems a strange hobby to pick up in Florida.

Corrina Ferguson: When I moved to Florida I quit my full-time career as a technical trainer but then my boys were both off to school within two years so I was bored.


I had always wanted to learn to knit so I took it up. Sad, though, that I didn't knit when I lived in Ohio for 30+ years where it actually got cold!

About: How did you start designing?

CF: I started teaching classes at my local yarn store and quickly realized that it wasn't kosher to use other people's patterns to teach classes without their permission. So I started designing my own patterns. And then I was able to add the details that I wanted in patterns -- like a cabled hat where the cables went all the way to the tippy top.

About: What do you like about knitting for the southern climate?

CF: I think it's easy to get stuck in the wool rut. Or even the merino-cashmere-nylon rut that so many are stuck in today. Knitting for all seasons makes you really look at some of the amazing alternate fibers that are out there. I find it amazing some of the new linens and linen blends like Anzula Breeze that are now available, and the fact that Lorna's Laces basically has a yarn that's air conditioned?

That's a big deal.

About: What's your favorite project in the book?

CF: My favorite project is probably Bayard, the yoke neck pullover in Sweet Georgia Superwash DK (pictured above). That's one of the projects where it came exactly as I saw it in my mind's eye and the color and the cable lace pattern just work so perfectly together. We don't really get fall in Florida and I miss it so, but that sweater with the color and the leaves really feels like fall to me.

About: Who are some of your favorite designers or can't miss blogs?

CF: I'm constantly fascinated by the beautiful things that Bristol Ivy designs -- her garments are almost always something I would love to wear. I don't read tons of blogs anymore, but Hunter Hammersen's Violently Domestic blog is full of her amazing creations and is a very frequent stop.

About: How would you describe your style?

CF: My style is very comfortable. My home is full of comfy furniture and my closet is full of comfy clothes. Right now I am obsessed with the concept of a flip flop dress. I found a rack of these so-called dresses the other day and realized that is what I want to wear every single day this summer. Casual knit dresses that you can throw over a swimsuit or dress up with a shawl or cardi and some nice sandals. I pretty much live in flip flops.

About: Any new projects in the works?

CF: I'm in the very, very beginning stages of proposing my second book. And I'm constantly self-publishing. I came home from TNNA with suitcases full of gorgeous yarns that I want to make all the things with -- I just have to find the time!

About: Where can readers find you if they want to learn more?

CF: I'm picnicknits pretty much everywhere -- picnicknits.com, on Twitter, Instagram, Ravelry, Facebook. I must admit that Instagram is my current favorite -- I love peeping into people's lives!

I always love talking to my fellow knitters, so find me online and chat me up! And if you see me at a festival or event (I'll be at Rhinebeck again this year!) come say hi. I always love putting actual faces to my imaginary Internet knitting friends.

(Interview published July 2015.)