The second artist we met in Korea was illustrator Sunghee of Lemoncup.
She has collaborating with a yarn shop in Seoul called Nougatbar Knits to create knitting goods such as stitch markers and project bags. Her products and illustrations were displayed inside Nougatbar Knits, creating a warm and cute atmosphere throughout the store.
We will introduce her in the form of an interview.
- What made you start drawing illustrations?
I loved drawing from an early age and majored in fiber arts and crafts at university. After graduating, I got a job in the apparel industry, which had little to do with drawing, but drawing was always by my side. One day, when I was fed up with corporate life, I created a social media account to post illustrations focused around my love for knitting and daily life, and that led to my current work.
- When we think of Lemon cup, we think of a bear character with a round face. Can you tell us more about him?
When I first created an SNS account for my illustrations, I based my character on bears, which are the characters closest to me. I added my own personality to create Ginger, a knitting bear. Ginger is my persona in a way. Ginger lives doing only what I love: knitting, yoga, drawing, and growing plants. Ginger is always with Nougat, the cute mascot of Nougatbar Knits. Ginger and Nougat are knitting friends and good pals, and they always spend time thinking about fun things together.
- It's a happy world that makes us envious. Have you always liked knitting?
I majored in fiber arts and crafts, so I always wanted to learn knitting, but I didn't have time during my school days, so I kept putting it off.
I started knitting 10 years ago, when I had just joined a company. I was tired of work and looking for a new hobby, so I attended a crochet stuffed animal class at a yarn shop called Miela workshop in Seoul. It was a small and cozy place! That was the reason that I started knitting seriously. I had been knitting intensely for a few years, but by uploading illustrations that I occasionally drew as a hobby to my SNS accounts, I naturally started combining knitting and illustration. As a result, I now have the most fun job in the world!
- Can you tell us about your collaboration with Nougatbar Knits?
It started as a casual opportunity to collaborate on small items. Both Youngjae, the owner of Nougatbar Knits, and I love cute things, and there weren't many cute knitting supplies that we liked on the market, so we started by wanting to make them ourselves. Since then, we have developed all kinds of products together so far.
We have mainly focused on making knitting supplies that are essential for knitters such as needle cases, project bags, needle stoppers, stitch markers, and rulers. The emphasis was on cute products that are also always useful for knitters! Since we are knitters ourselves, we can quickly think of what is needed, and it is very fun to plan meetings. Sometimes, when we knit and chat, we complete a list of products we want to make. Knitters know the feelings of knitters best! When we create products, we carefully consider not only whether the design is cute, but also whether it is practical, while discussing it with the contractor. It's not easy, but it's rewarding work!
- What do you usually use to draw illustrations?
I mainly draw digitally using my iPad. I like that I can work anywhere without being tied to a specific location. Although it's digital, my style is to add warmth by taking advantage of the texture of crayon drawings and layering the texture of paper. I especially enjoy this style when drawing sweaters and knitted accessories. Even in digital art, I try to maintain the sense of warth that can only be achieved by hand drawing. Sometimes I also draw by hand using gouache watercolors or oil pastels.
- The gentle lines that look like they were hand-drawn with crayon are indeed very cute. How else would you describe your art?
I would say it's cute, familiar, soft, and warm! I try to draw playful pictures that are cozy, colorful, timeless, and playful. I also think that one of the features of my work is that I incorporate decorative designs that combine motifs of yarn, scissors, needles, etc., especially in the tin cases and paper stationery that I make myself.
- Is there anything you would like to challenge yourself with in the future?
Eventually, I would like to create knitting patterns that incorporate my own illustrations and write the patterns myself. I would also love to publish a picture book with a knitting theme. That's one of my huge goals as an illustrator!
💫Sunghee recently launched a new knitting tool brand, Goobles, with Yoonjae from Nougatbar.
The pop-up event of Goobles will be held at WALNUT Tokyo from May 3rd to 24th, 2025! This is your chance to get your hands on some special goods. For more details, please see this blog .
Lemoncup Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/lemoncupp/
Goobles Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/goobles.tools/