ALL Knitwear

ALL KNITWEAR

ALL Knitwear is a small, vertically integrated knitwear label created by Annie Larson. The slow-growing, idiosyncratic collection of handmade sweaters and hats is an ongoing study of color and pattern realized in a series of simple shapes. Each sweater is organized to show the special rapport between its visual components. Operating on a made-to-order basis, she knits each piece in her studio before shipping to customers all over the world.

Annie was born in 1983 (Seoul) and grew up in rural Wisconsin. She lived in Minneapolis for several years, where she attended the University of Minnesota for apparel design and later went on to work in the industry. She purchased her first knitting machine in 2009 and is considered to be self-taught. In 2010, ALL Knitwear was established in a Minneapolis storefront apartment where the first days of making sweaters were situated next door to a puppet theater and beneath good friends. Annie moved the company to New York in 2011, settling into a studio in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn.

a sneak peak of All Knitwear for The Radder

Favorite Tools:

Most of the tools I use in my studio are specifically related to knitting, things I have inherited through purchasing knitting machines or items I’ve sourced on eBay. Some general must-haves in my workspace include a good looking clock radio, a few generic ball-point pens, many different kinds of origami paper, and some incense like palo santo or white sage.

Where do you find pattern and color inspiration?

I’m often attracted to simple, graphic motifs like checks, stripes, and grids–finding different ways to use them is an ongoing exercise. When I’m working through patterns and colorways, I usually have a challenge in mind, like discovering vibrating color combinations or focusing on using one or two “challenge” colors as the centerpiece. Looking at sportswear from the 1980’s is a familiar source of inspiration that feels personal and comfortable–there is a spirit in that era of dressing that I often embody in both my personal style and my knitwear designs.

You are surrounded by so many talented folks. Who are your peers you suggest we check out?

I’ve been lucky to meet many talented, inspiring people through making sweaters. Roula Nassar makes beautiful sweaters, design objects, short films, and books under the name OTTO. Mary Manning is a photographer with a lovely way of seeing the world, and the devoted author of one of the few blogs I still look at on the web (Unchanging Window). Tauba Auerbach is a contemporary artist with an impressive range of work–paintings, sculpture, and books to name a few. Frank Benson is a sculptor who occasionally dabbles in photography, specializing in extremely detailed pieces (often figurative), using sophisticated technical processes like 3-D modeling. Eric Carlson is a gifted illustrator and designer who continues to inspire after many years of friendship. Ninh Wysocan is my favorite jewelry designer at the moment–she designs substantial pieces in brass, gold, and silver with fine details under the name Quarry.

Do you have any style icons?

I don’t really have any style icons, but I have been watching Sex and the City for the first time and have been enjoying the style so much! It’s some of the best styling I’ve seen on a TV show. I’m a fan of regular clothing–jeans, t-shirts, sneakers, etc. You can do so much with basics! Versatility and comfort are key.

a good-looking clock radio

Mary Manning

Eric Timothy Carlson

snapshots of Annie’s studio in Brooklyn