Sense of Fashion » Knitted jewelry by Little Purls // Interview

Knitted jewelry by Little Purls // Interview

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Posted by senseofashion

The 22 Tally Locke from north CA, the creator of original chic wool jewelry under the name Little Purls, was a carpenter to begin with. “I just love making stuff, working with my hands”, she tells Sense of Fashion. “My sister taught me how to knit one Christmas a few years back, and I soon became addicted to it.”

Q: How did you come up with the idea of knitting jewelry?
A: “I think the seasons changing had a lot to do with it. I wanted to be able to make wool pieces that would work in all weather conditions, even 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The felted chains and tiered necklaces work great - they’re really lightweight and soft due to the felting process. Another thing is that I myself have sensitive earlobes that don’t like being weighed down, but I love big, bright earrings. Felted wool is the perfect solution.”
Q: Did you study art, fashion or Jewelry making?
A: “Haha, nope. I went to school for two years studying history and B&W photography, but then dropped out to sail around the world on tall wooden ships. (Crazy, I know, but true).”
Q: Why did you name your label Little Purls?
A: “It’s sort of a play on words. A purl in knit-lingo is a type of stitch, when you knit to the front of the work instead of the back. It’s such a pretty word, purl. And everybody knows the phrase ‘little pearls of wisdom.’ I guess I just thought it was cute.”
Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: “Well starting this fall I’ll be returning for my last two years of school in Olympia, WA. During that time I intend to keep Little Purls up and running, hopefully branching out to boutique stores in the area. After that I’m really not sure, though I often dream of opening my own yarn boutique in Portland, OR.”
Q: Where, in your opinion, is the most interesting fashion scene happening today?
A: “Etsy.com! For reals. The DIY set is a seriously hip group of people. I’m consistently blown away by all the awesome stuff people come up with.”