Our Knitwear Designer | In the Studio

Since joining Seasalt eight years ago, our knitwear designer Carina has become a driving force behind our range – using shape, colour and texture to thread stories of Cornwall into every piece. Today, she’s wearing one of her own designs: our Seven Stones Jumper, with a classic diamond intarsia pattern, knitted from a merino wool blend in a chunky, flecked yarn.

"I’ve always been drawn to the rich storytelling of heritage knitwear,” Carina tells us. “In particular, traditional fishermen’s ganseys where the patterns and stitches could often identify the wearer’s hometown or community. I love the idea that knitwear was once used as a way to communicate identity, heritage and a sense of belonging.”  

"Fair Isle knitwear has such a fascinating history,” Carina shares, “with motifs evolving through cultural exchange and the influence of passing Scandinavian sailors, whose decorative patterns were gradually blended into local designs.”

“What I love most is that these garments were not only practical but also carried stories, traditions and a sense of identity within their construction. That connection between craft, community, story and place continues to inspire my work.” 

Her love for knitwear started young. "I grew up in a creative household. My dad was a background artist for children's animated TV shows, my mum is a brilliant textile artist and knitter. She used to knit intarsia jumpers featuring characters from the shows my dad worked on for him to wear. My granny was also a talented hand knitter and cook. Being immersed in that environment helped me find my passion for knitting. I love that you can take a simple yarn and create your own fabric from it. It feels incredibly tactile and creative."

This passion soon became a career, one that’s taken her overseas, touching down in spots like Copenhagen and New York City to hone her skills and grow her knowledge. Carina ultimately found herself in Cornwall, where the rich landscapes and deep artistic heritage have become some of her biggest inspirations.

"I enjoy weaving details from the coast into knitted textures and patterns, whether that’s cable stitches inspired by the twisted branches of trees, or motifs that reflect the shapes and patterns of bird feathers." 

We dare to ask her favourite Fair Isle knitwear of the season. Understandably, Carina struggles to pick just one. "There are so many designs I love, each for different reasons, but I have the most fun connecting them back to the stories and themes of our collections. The Annik Jumper was inspired by the distinctive structure of dry seed heads that stand proud as we move into the harvest season."

"I chose the colours in this season’s Port Kinnis to capture that beautiful, subtle moment when the landscape begins to shift to autumn and flowers begin to fade. I always draw a lot of inspiration from our print team; the works they create help me develop colour combinations that enhance the wider collection, so everything works in harmony.”