Meet Ashley Jane McIntyre | Fiber Artist and Executive Director of CRAFT Guild, CLT.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashley Jane McIntyre and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley Jane, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
I ventured into the world of fiber arts as a hobbyist and over the years transformed my passion into a career. The transition all started with my desire to connect with other crafters and to create community. During the pandemic, many people were turning to knitting and crocheting as a solitary way to pass the time, but one of the great joys of creating is sharing your work with other people! When the lockdown period passed and we were able to venture out for small, open-air gatherings, I started inviting other crafters to join me at brewery patios for a “stitch-n-bitch.” These gatherings grew in size and in meaning. Other crafters started opening up and using this space as a time to create, and a time to heal. Seeing the impact this was having in people’s lives, I gathered up some of the original attendees to formalize us as a non-profit called the CRAFT Guild (Charlotte Region Arts, Fibers, and Textiles Guild). As a guild, we have grown to nearly 100 members, and we promote and foster interest in the fiber and textile arts through educational opportunities, community outreach, and charitable endeavors.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
In addition to working with the CRAFT Guild, I’m so fortunate to work in the fiber arts industry, where I can continue to explore my creative passions. While I dabble in knitting and spinning, I primarily crochet and have been growing my skills as a crochet designer. Kntiwear design is challenging because there is not one clear path to learning the process, nor is there a standardized way to present your patterns and have them be appropriate for all audiences. There’s not a degree or typical career path to follow, but instead there are books and passed-down knowledge from other designers. Luckily, the majority of people in this industry want others to succeed, and I found some fabulous mentors along the way.

You can write patterns for garments, accessories, or homewares, and each type of pattern will be different. You can write for a company, a publication, or as an independent designer, and the formatting for each will be unique. The approach to each new garment comes with its own learning curve, from tailoring the fit, and researching body types and sizing. The fiber used for each design will also impact the finished piece. Plant-based fibers vs wool will have different types of stretch, drape, and longevity. Each will take dye and color differently. Some are suited for the home, while some feel great against the skin as a garment.

Each new design is an opportunity to learn and improve my skills. It’s also an opportunity to engage with the fiber community to get feedback and connect over what’s desirable and fun to make. The best part about working in this industry, for me, is the full-circle moment of coming back to the community to admire each other’s work, squish the yarn, get excited over color choices, and celebrate finished projects. When one of those projects is an item that I designed, the joy is simply indescribable.

If there is one thing that I’d want readers to take away from my experiences, it’s that your success is rarely your own. Whatever you are working towards, there are people there who want to support you and celebrate with you – rising tides lift all boats!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Charlotte is wonderful! There is always something going on in the city if culture and arts is your thing, but there’s also access to parks and outdoor recreation if that’s more your speed. I would take friends to a blend of both! Uptown, I’d take them to the Mint Museum, the VAPA Center, and the McColl Center to enjoy a variety of art. Then, we would walk around and check out the Knights Stadium and the French Quarter. I would for sure take them climbing at Inner Peaks, out to the White Water Center, and for a hike at Crowders Mountain to catch a view of the city. On a Wednesday night, I’d take them to Petty Thieves Brewery to hang out for Stitch-n-Bitch and enjoy a brew. For food, I’d tour them around Optimist Hall, bop around Noda, and go to Camp North End to stop at Seemingly Overzealous for some vegan ice cream. For some relaxing moments, I’d take them to get a bottle of wine at Substrate, or at Rosie’s to enjoy the garden while we drink!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to shoutout Rachel Brockman. She is a talented knitwear designer who saw my work with community building in the fiber arts, and offered me an opportunity to shift my career full-time into the yarn world.

Website: https://fromyarntostitches.com

Instagram: @fromyarntostitches

Image Credits
Salt Paper Studios, Universal Yarn.