DIANNA WALLA
Exploring Nordic style with this talented young designer
BASED IN Montreal, Canada, Dianna Walla is a knitwear designer, photographer and writer. She regularly contributes designs to Quince & Co., and her work has also appeared in Interweave Knits and Brooklyn Tweed’s Wool People series. Having recently spent two years living in northern Norway, Dianna is hugely inspired by Nordic culture. We spoke with Dianna about her life as a designer. Who inspired you to take up knitting? “My mother first taught me when I was young – I was always encouraged to make things, and I learned to sew at a young age as well. It wasn’t until I was a teenager that I got very into knitting, though, and by then the age of the knitting blog was in full swing. I was very inspired by the beautiful projects of others, and began sharing my own knits. The online community definitely fuelled my desire to branch out and learn new techniques.” Do you have a favourite artist, writer, poet or musician who inspires you? “There are so many! My creative work has always gone hand in hand with listening to a handful of Icelandic artists that I love: Múm, Amiina, and Ólöf Arnalds, in particular. Their music often inspires a particular reflective mood in me, and that feeling is sometimes at the root of my own creative work. To me, their music is very tied to northern landscapes, as well, and after time spent living above the Arctic Circle I really identify with that.” Which designer has most inspired you? “Kate Davies has long been an inspiration to me, not only because I love her colourwork designs, but also because of how her academic curiosity comes through in her work. Kate’s own work is very influenced by her surrounding landscapes, and I love the way that comes through in her designs and her writing.” Tell us about the colours, landscapes or architecture that inspire your design work. “I have always been drawn to Norwegian- style colourwork in particular, so it’s probably no surprise that Norway’s landscape is often at the forefront of my mind. I recently released a pattern collection called Fog & Frost, with a colour palette directly pulled from my own photos of Norway. My time spent living in northern Norway has had an influence as well, and can be seen in the colour palette of my ‘Lyngen’ pullover, named for the heather that can be found everywhere in early autumn ( lyng is the Norwegian word for heather).” What is your favourite knitting book? “It feels impossible to choose only one book, but the works of Annemor Sundbø about Norwegian knitting history have had an undeniable influence in my nd own trajectory. The first book of hers I purchased was Knitting in Art, an exploration of (Norwegian) knitting history through artwork.” What fibres do you love to work with? “Wool is the ruler of my world, and I love exploring breed-specific yarns, especially those tied to a particular locality. Norwegian pelsull or pelt wool has been a favourite for a few years, both because of the qualities of the wool, but also because I love the depth of the dyed colours, which are dyed on a natural grey base.” Which design from your portfolio are you most proud of, or is most special to you? “I will always have a special place in my heart for ‘Pine Bough Cowl’, which was my first unexpected success. It is always difficult to predict which patterns will take off, but as a newer designer at the time it was released, I never expected the wonderful response it received.” Are there any techniques or styles of knitting you’d like to explore further? “There is always something new to try. As a lover of stranded colourwork, at the moment I’m feeling very interested in the creative possibilities of combining brioche and double knitting.”