norman etc. staff
The Norman Transcript
NORMAN — Alexis Winslow is the quintessential story of small town girl makes good in the big city.
Her formative years were spent in Norman. After graduating in 2005 from OU, with a BFA in Ceramics and Painting, she migrated along with her husband Brian Cantrell to New York City. Winslow landed a full-time gig with Jay Franco and Sons Inc. designing printed consumer textiles.
The bedding, bath and beach wear she has designed are sold by major retailers around the world. Although this career would be enough creative outlet for many, Winslow has created her own private empire designing and selling knitwear patterns to customers around the globe. She’s the CEO of Knit Darling and is the cover story for the current edition of Knitscene magazine: “The Next Big Thing! Alexis Winslow.”
She was included on Knitting Daily’s “10 Designers to Watch in 2011.” In an issue earlier this year Knitscene wrote about her, “A painter from Oklahoma living in Brooklyn, where a loveable hipster chic has worked its way into hand-knitting design, Alexis Winslow is definitely one for the modern knitter to watch. She has some clever accessories coming up in Knitscene.”
Winslow has also contributed to the organized fiber arts community at ravelry.com. “Ravelry is a social network for knitting but they also helped me self-publish patterns that I wrote,” Winslow said. “I’ve submitted patterns to a catalogue website called KnitPicks.com. and have about 12 designs there.”
Winslow has sold over thousands of individual patterns via the internet. Five of her designs have been purchased for publication in magazines this year. Patterns for women’s gloves, sweaters and hats predominate but Winslow has designs for men and plus-sizes out. “At ravelry.com my buyers post pictures of their projects and comments about them,” she said. “I enjoy that feedback which you don’t get from the catalogue purchases.”
Alexis’ patterns will be for sale at the Anty Shanty show.
The show is sponsored by L&B Yarn Co. and Anty Shanty Vintage Clothing, both of Norman. L & B Yarn Co. specializes in crochet and knitting materials and classes. Owners Amberly and Leslie operate an attractive contemporary shop carrying yarn, needles, books, and patterns. L&B will be supplying the yarns for Alexis’ beautiful patterns. Julia and Corey Gingerich own and operate Anty Shanty, Norman’s new home for fashions of the past. These ex-Angelinos are recent transplants to Norman. Their store is the place to find top quality, vintage duds at reasonable prices.
Anty Shanty, 318. E. Main will be Winslow’s show venue. Models will display many of her newest designs, starting at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 28.
