She was right under my nose the whole time. Laura Williamson has always exuded tremendous personal style, but it wasn't until the day I stopped to ask her a question and I noticed an array of unique knits on her computer screen. Is that you?  I asked her. Yep!, I knit she replied. I immediately called Jeremy over to see what creativity lay right underneath our noses. A creative genius in many respects, her attention to detail when it comes to a ball of yarn is nothing to play with. The winter may be over but she is definitely on fire with her work.

FGlass?

I had been feeling for some time that I had something to express, but no outlet for it. Last Fall, I shaved my boyfriend’s head, which lead to his immediate need for a hat. He isn’t into buying things new, so I just picked up the wool and knit one for him. After I knit that one hat, I don’t know what happened, but I couldn’t stop knitting. I mean, I’ve been knitting on and off since third grade (when poor weather would mean indoor recess and endless pink and purple scarves), but something about this recent round of my obsession just clicked into place and FGlass Knits was born. FGlass is a reference to the Salinger character, Franny Glass. I have had this internet moniker in various forms for many years, and it just stuck.

 5 questions with Laura Williamson

CEO - Why did you start such a business?

Laura Williamson - I am a compulsive knitter.  I also have a strong entrepreneurial itch.  And Etsy exists.  Why I didn’t put two and two and two together before this year is baffling, but it was just the way it happened.  The real dawn of this idea came when I was in Barney’s in December (this was after the boyfriend hat had long been constructed), hovering around the tables of knit accessories priced from $150-300, thinking, Dang, I could knit this.  So, I started working on it and the business grew from there.

I doubt I would have done it without Etsy, though.  It’s such a great venue for independent crafters to showcase their wares and there really are some incredible designers selling through the site.  I doubt a lot of handmade-types would be selling their things if not for Etsy.  Hey, thanks, Etsy!

 

CEO - Where do you find your inspiration?

LW - It’s very simple: I make things I would want to wear.  My goal is to create a totally wearable but modern line of handmade knit products.  All of my designs are original, and many of them are one-of-a-kind. Sometimes I see something I’d like to reproduce (like the items in Barney’s), and sometimes I sit there with the yarn in my hands until an idea comes.  I also have post-its all over my desk at work where I write down the ideas that come to me while I’m there.

Unfortunately, many of these ideas are on the back-burner because this stuff just takes time!  I’d love to dedicate all of my time toward making things from yarn, but there just isn’t enough time since I have a daaaaay jooooooob (boooooooo!).

 

CEO - What are your future plans for yourself and this business?

LW - Right now things still feel experimental as I test the market with designs, colors, and pricing, but I intend to focus this Spring and Summer on creating a Fall 2009 line that OWNS.  I’m also gearing up to begin selling at craft fairs this coming Fall.  The Spring/Summer is a slow season for knitwear in this hemisphere, so I’m trying to use my time wisely.

I’m also dabbling here and there with a small line of experimental knit housewares, but I don’t anticipate it ending up that marketable – it’s more of an art project to get people into the shop during warmer months, when no one wants to buy knitwear.  It would also not be unheard of me to throw a little crochet, cross stitch, or embroidery in the mix.  I’m a real wild card.  Stay tuned.
My long-term goal is to live in a place where I can keep sheep and shear and spin my own wool, selling wool and knit products STRAIGHT FROM THE SHEEP.  I’m totally serious about this.

CEO - Are there plans to expand to any horizon or selling your idea?

LW - Knitting takes a long time and each object can take hours to construct, so the only kind of expansion I can see is having other knitters help out.  I’d like to try to maintain it all myself, though, because it’s just easier that way.  This is never going to be the kind of business that outsources labor to children in developing countries or anything, so…  I suppose I will just play it by ear at this point and if there is some kind of knitwear explosion, I’ll just have to take that opportunity to start the amphetamine addiction I’ve always wanted.

 

CEO - Describe your personal style?

LW - In an ideal world, it’s Blair Waldorf meets Jill Sander meets Ann Demeulemeester meets Suri Cruise meets Yohji Yamamoto.

LW - My knitwear can be found here: http://fglass.etsy.com