July 2025 - Vanessa Pellisa
July’s Beanie Brigade is here with Baby Fluff DK, an ultra-soft blend of 80% alpaca and 20% nylon. This yarn is light and oh-so-squishy with a beautiful halo that gives your project a little glow. It creates a breathable fabric that feels cozy without being too heavy, making it ideal for the Nygatan Beanie by Vanessa Pellisa.
Since Yellowstone has become such a staple show in (and out) of Montana, we knew this month’s colorway had to be named Beth Dutton, after our favorite powerhouse. Just like Beth, this shade is bold and moody. We wanted a color that felt as iconic as her, something that captured her grit and glamour, and this color felt like the perfect fit.
We are excited to share with you a wonderful discussion with Vanessa about her inspiration for the Nygatan Beanie and the wider story behind her designs and creation process.
July Designer: Vanessa Pellisa
Q: Can you please take a moment to introduce yourself?
A: Hello! I’m Vanessa, I’m a professional knitwear designer based in Spain! I’m the mom of a sweet little 2-year-old, and I’m married to my favorite singer-songwriter. I’ve worked in the music industry for many years and as a cultural critic for a few others. I love restaurants, sewing, cross-stitch, and… clothes! I love thinking about them à la Becky Malinsky. I came to knitting as a kid, but fell head over heels for it when I spent a year in Sweden almost 25 years ago. There, I discovered circular needles and a set of books by Elizabeth Zimmermann, which changed the way I thought about the craft and the possibilities it held. Knitting was no longer just a pastime; it was the means to create the wardrobe I wanted. There was no turning back! Knitting has been part of my life on and off since then, and I just can’t think of a day without spending some time with yarn and needles in my hands. I love textured knits, ganseys, and cables, but I’m also very comfortable with very well-fitting basic pieces. I am obsessed with fit and ease and spent many hours trying to make sure that my designs are well-proportioned and scaled across sizes.
Q: The featured Beanie Brigade pattern, the Nygatan Beanie, is interesting, featuring both bottom-up and top-down instructions. This gives knitters the option to pick the instructions they like best and you’ve also included this option for some of your re- released patterns. If you had to choose, which is your preferred method? Why?
A: Honestly? Both! I think it depends on your mood when you are about to cast on. Do you need a project for a trip and will spend the first part of your knitting aiming for a mindless, no-counting project? Then, bottom-up is the way to go. On the contrary, are you super excited to cast on and feel mega-motivated to move into it? Top-down is your choice! (Also perfect when you know you’ll be playing yarn chicken!)
Q: Many of your designs are inspired by literature, which we love! What is your favorite book or piece of literature?
A: I loooove reading! I studied literary criticism at University and spent many years reviewing books and interviewing authors for various papers and magazines in Spain (I feel very fortunate to have been able to spend so much time working with two of my biggest passions, music and books!). I do read a lot less now, for obvious toddler-related reasons, but I have found great solace in audiobooks, which I use to re-listen to reads I have loved in the past, like Ruth Reichl biographies. I’m celebrating Jane Austen’s 250th anniversary by listening to all of her novels as I get ready in the morning, and it’s such a joy to rekindle with these novels I love and know to heart! I adore anything published by Persephone Books, particularly Dorothy Whipple (my absolute favorite is Someone at a Distance) and their funniest books like Miss Buncle’s Book by DE Stevenson or Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson- I have yet to meet someone who doesn’t love Pettigrew. This book is a riot! I also love everything published by Slightly Foxed! I read a lot of contemporary writers too: Esther Rutter, Alexandra Harris, Elizabeth Strout, Michael Chabon... It’s great to be able to read contemporary authors and see what happens to their literature in REAL TIME.
Q: If you could be transported into a fictional world, which book/novel world would you like to enter?
A: Not fictional, but you know what I’d like to be transported into? The tapestry rooms at the Bauhaus school in the 1920s. Such creativity, such resourcefulness! I would love to spend a term there, just watching Anni Albers doing their thing, despite all the challenges they had to face and the difficulties of the world they lived in.
Q: Can you explain your process of inspiration to the finished project? From getting that first spark of inspiration, how does that thought turn into a completed pattern?
A: I know many designers are inspired by yarn and materials, but I’m often more inspired by ideas that turn into clothes in my mind, and then, only then, I search for materials to make the idea come true. I also love imagining the kind of clothes that fictional characters would wear (some of my favorite designs were born this way). I have been afraid of color for many years- in that, I’ve found mixing colors and visualizing them in a finished garment a true challenge. This has changed so much recently, and now I’m genuinely excited about color - which can be found anywhere in Spain! Architecture, good design, and beautiful food can spark so many good ideas! I often visualise the garment first and then sit down to write the pattern, because words are my go-to tool. I know some designers feel more comfortable with sketching and swatching, but for me, words and numbers feel like a natural first step. Then, I sit down to swatch and test yarn ideas, and quickly move on to working on the actual sample. I’m the worst possible time manager, and I would much rather waste hours knitting than planning ahead!
Q: You took a bit of a pattern release break to focus on reworking some of your previous patterns. Can you tell us a bit about that process or what brought it on? What have you learned in the process of looking to your past work that you are taking into the future of your pattern releases?
A: I am so happy that I did that! (if anyone is wondering about the whole thing, here’s more info about the big Stop-And-Think project). It was a risk- but I’m so glad I decided to take it and go for it. This process of re-editing, rewriting, re-mastering my previous work has been instrumental into my growth as a designer - and it has given me such clarity into the process of designing a garment that is fun to knit, and not just to wear! Not only am I a better designer/pattern writer now thanks to having done this, but also I think, a better knitter. I look forward to using everything I’ve learned in the process in my new designs for the forthcoming season.
Q: Barcelona is a much different climate from what we experience here in Montana (at least I’m hoping you don’t have to deal with a foot of snow!), do you feel like your more mild winter changes or affects the kind of knitwear that you design?
A: It should, shouldn’t it? But the very sad truth is that I love wool, so MUCH. I find ‘Summer’ yarns to be a tad bit less inspiring… Although I must admit, this is beginning to change and it is getting easier to find, beautiful and sophisticated breathable yarns! Also, It can get a bit frustrating to spend many hours knitting a beautiful sweater and not be able to wear it because of the weather so I’ve taken to wearing my knitwear as outerwear! and it WORKS!
Q: Kiss, Marry, Kill knitters style: What is a technique you’d like to try more, one that you could do for every project and never get bored, and one technique that you’d be happy to never have to do again?
A: I love textured knitting- so I can never have enough of it! Knit-and-purl combos are my thing! I love cables, double knitting, and stranded colorwork as well. I am not the biggest fan of brioche- although I do love the result, I find the process a bit too much- But I love it! Really! If you ever want to make me happy, gift me a beautiful brioche shawl! It’s just not something that I do, I guess?
Vanessa's Socials
Hi Venessa,
If possible could you send me the Coco Pillow Set pattern to my email address. Kindly let me know how to make the payment. I tried to order the pattern but everything was in Spanish, so I did not succeed. I can pay more than the requested 6 euros. Hope to hear from you. Best, Marit
This yarn is so beautiful! More please! Will it be available to order more soon? ❣️🧶🥢
I would love more of the Beth Dutton (BB July 2025) yarn. Is that possible? TIA
I don’t see anything in the
Blog about preordering more of July 2025 yarn? I’m in love with it and want more!
Wonderful interview and especially love that she speaks to me about the Bauhaus school. Thank you for such lovely yarn and the color is amazing!