The third artist we met in Seoul was Soumine of Knits pour moi.
We actually did not meet her in person, but through her book Knits pour moi. The beautifully bound book was stacked flat in yarn stores and bookstores in town and caught our attention. As a modern knitting book published in Korean, it seemed to be enthusiastically loved by young Korean knitters.
The author, Soumine, is a Korean designer living in Paris. We interviewed her about her designs.
Knits pour moi is both the title of Soumine's first pattern book and the name of the designer unit she started with her husband, Konkuk Lee. The name blends the English word knits with the French phrase pour moi, which means "for me." But it’s more than just knitting for oneself—it’s about the process of choosing and creating for oneself.
Soumine wearing the Christstollen Cardigan
Soumine moved to Paris, France in 2015 because her husband was studying architecture. Adjusting to a new place wasn’t easy, but the architecture and art in Paris really inspired her. What particularly caught her attention, though, was the unique and diverse fashion she encountered on the streets. Soumine and her husband walked through Paris talking a lot about fashion, art, and architecture. She uses these experiences in her designs.
The patterns in Knits pour moi are a team effort between Soumine and Konkuk Lee. Soumine comes up with ideas based on knitting, and Konkuk helps by sketching and offering design advice. They both explore the same ideas in their own ways, and when they both like the result, that’s when the pattern is finished.
At first, it was hard for him to understand knitting, and for her, it felt strange to apply architectural ideas to design. But after working together for a while, they started to understand each other’s way of thinking. Their goal is to create patterns that are simple but still have great structure and character. “I think this approach is similar to the minimalist design style often found in Japan,” Soumine said.
What does it mean to combine knitting and architecture?
“I believe the beauty of knitting lies in the process where different stitches come together to form a whole. Sometimes this whole fits perfectly as initially intended, but even when it doesn't, it offers the joy of new discoveries,” she said.
On the other hand, the beauty of architecture is similarly revealed in the process where various materials and elements are constructed according to the architect's intention. For example, when stacking bricks, one could arrange all bricks in the same way, or one might also introduce certain variations to give the wall character. In this way, she thinks knitting and architecture share similar aesthetic principles in how individual elements are harmonized and composed according to the designer's intention.
This is precisely where architectural concepts can be applied to knitting. All their designs reflect these concepts. For example, the Camélia pattern features similar yet subtly different patterns that repeat to give the cardigan its character. If you look closely, you can see that there are many variations in the shape of the flower, and it expresses the movement of flowers as they change with the wind or the passage of time. These concepts connect with various architectural approaches that modern architects have been exploring in their studies of moving architecture.
Soumine wearing the Camélia Cardigan with a motif featuring various shapes of flowers
For Soumine, knitting is a way to escape from the complexities of everyday life and have some time to herself.
Knitting is both simple and complicated for her. When her mind feels busy, she can focus on a complex pattern to clear her head. But when she works on easier patterns, she can relax and chat with people around her. Most of all, knitting has become an important way for her to recharge from her busy routine of raising her children. Raising children in a foreign country isn’t easy. Without the help of family or close friends, she and her husband have had to figure everything out on them own. When her husband looks after their children, she is able to focus on herself and knit, which is when she can let go of complicated thoughts and find her own rhythm.
Laurier Summer Top
The first Knits pour moi pattern book was created as a way to thank the knitters who love her patterns. Since both she and her husband are Korean, it was only natural that they would publish their first book in Korean. They wanted to make a physical book that could be kept for a long time, rather than just digital patterns, and they were very happy that Korean knitters were pleased with it.
Soumine wishes to share the joy of knitting with more people through collaborations. She hopes to publish books in other languages and is currently working on translating her digital patterns into Japanese.
“I’m really excited to share my patterns with Japanese knitters, and I hope this interview will lead to more connections with the knitting community in Japan.”
We look forward to seeing her success in the future and being able to knit her patterns in Japanese.
Website
https://www.knitspourmoi.com/