Spotlight on Veena Burry

How many people can say they've been doing what they love since the age of four? Veena Burry is lucky enough to have found her passion early in life - and more importantly, she still pursues it to this day.

She learned her skills from her mother, and since then her designs have evolved into beautiful, luxurious and one-of-a-kind knitwear.

Her Etsy shop, Knitting Guru, offers gloves, hats, sweaters and shrugs, cowls and capelets, shawls and wraps, scarves and neckwarmers, and knit and crochet jewelry.

If you had to choose one thing your mother taught you about knitting and crocheting as a child that you still remember to this day, what would it be?

The most important thing my mother taught me when I was a child about knitting and crocheting was to be a good craftsperson. She stressed that it was important to finish work carefully, to block knitting and crochet for a finished look, and not to be afraid to rip out errors. I always tell my own students that good knitters are good rippers! Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. The important thing is to view mistakes as learning opportunities.

As James Joyce said, "Mistakes are the portals of discovery."

What inspires you?

Many things inspire me. I'm inspired by my hometown - New York City. Just walking around the streets and seeing the constant changes is inspiring. I especially love the Garment District and all its bead, button, trimmings and ribbon stores. What a treasure that is!

I'm inspired by color, texture and pattern wherever I see it: in yarns and beads, in nature, in found objects, in architecture and in surprising juxtapositions.

I'm inspired by the arts that are so accessible here in the city: the NY Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera, the many museums, the libraries and bookstores, the beautiful parks and the people on the street.

What are your favorite colors and yarns to work with?

It's hard to narrow down to favorite colors because there's really no color I don't like. I adore vibrant bright jeweltones, but I also love pastels. Black and white are perennial favorites, and I also love colors that "clash" such as green and blue, and red and pink or purple. The yellow greens such as lime and chartreuse are also ravishing.

Yarns are easier for me to discuss. I definitely love natural fibers - wool, alpaca, Merino, cotton, bamboo, cashmere, mohair. I would have to say that Merino wool is my absolute favorite because it's a lot like cashmere but it pills less.

In my work I continually vary my scale from the tiniest 1 inch rings made with fine cotton threads to wonderful bulky wools that I use for scarves, capelets, shawls and shrugs. Changing scale in knitting and crochet is good for your hands and also for your creativity.

What is your favorite piece in your current collection and why?

Again, it's very hard to decide on a favorite. It's kind of like being asked which of your children is your favorite! It's impossible. I'm captivated by the rings I've been making every day for the Ring a Day 2010 Challenge. They're each tiny sculptures and very satisfying to create.

I'm also very much in favor of flowing garments and so I love my shawls, wraps and capelets. If I have to choose, I'd say that my Walk in the Park Wrap is my favorite because it combines my love of knitted and crocheted lace and also includes a crocheted flower brooch. It's lime green, too, which is one of my favorite colors.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

I'm really delighted that I'm able now to spend my time doing the fiber work I've always loved. It never ceases to be a thrill for me to know that people all over the world have actually bought things from me and are wearing them in the Netherlands, Australia, Scotland and so on.

How do you spend your free time?

Spotlight on Veena Burry Free time? What's that? Actually I'm in the enviable position that my work is my hobby. That's a formula for happiness.

When I'm not knitting or crocheting, I'm probably reading, enjoying the city, traveling and eating out with my husband, or watching old movies - especially those from the 1930s and 40s because they're so glamorous. I get my best garment ideas from looking at Katherine Hepburn, Barbara Stanwick, Greta Garbo and Jean Harlow, among others. Now they had style!