First Person

Designer to Love: Angela Tong

September 4, 2020 March 22, 2023 | By Kay Gardiner

I can’t remember when or where I saw an Angela Tong pattern for the first time, but it was at least ten years ago, and it was undoubtedly the subject of a beautiful spread in a magazine—Knitscene, Interweave Knits, Knit Simple—and so many other magazines whose pages have been resplendent with Angela’s work over the years.

Angela Tong is a knitter’s knitwear designer—and a spinner’s, and a weaver’s. She is working at the highest level across many fiber disciplines, from needle and hook to loom and wheel. (I want to see her studio, which I imagine is packed to the rafters with fascinating gear.) Her passion for handmade textiles in all their glorious variation is the heartbeat in each of her designs for knitters.

Angela’s life is immersed in these arts, through personal practice, design, and teaching. That’s why, when I saw she was the featured artist in the proof-of-concept episode of a documentary on knit and crochet, it made sense immediately. If, like the producers of Swatched, your goal is to examine knitting and crochet through both a personal and a creative lens, at “the intersection of identity and artistic process,” you want to talk to Angela Tong. She lives at that exact intersection. She walks the walk of daily textile practice. To watch the episode profiling Angela, just click on the video up top.

From Torch to Thread

Chatting with Angela the other day, I learned that although she studied at both the Massachusetts College of Art and FIT, she didn’t learn to knit until after school, when she was working in jewelry design, wielding a torch, melting metal, setting stones. She mentioned to her bench mate that she’d like to learn to knit sometime, and her bench mate said, “I can teach you.” And that was it, apparently, to the good fortune of knitters, crocheters, and weavers.

“I love handwork,” she told me. No kidding: knitting, weaving (on a half dozen different types of looms), crochet, spinning, felting, sewing, quilting, and the list goes on—all are second nature to Angela.

A Knitter’s Sampler

I asked Angela to narrow down her impressive archive of patterns to focus on a few recent favorites.

Kawa

If you’re on the hunt for a project to show off that special hand-dyed skein, here you go.

Zoom on in to see the neat detail at the corner, where the lace section merges into the border.

Miki

A hat that will teach you mosaic knitting. One color at a time, slipping stitches, and before you know it …

… you’ve got an elegant hat with a hint of slouch. The knitter’s sensibility—and the knitter’s habit of collecting souvenir skeins of hand-dyes—is foremost in this project.

Hanikamu

I shouted at my phone when these wee worsted-weight warmers crossed my Instagram last fall. So quick, so cute—and those pom poms!

Hanikamu means I Am Dying of Cuteness in Japanese. (Actually I think it means honeycomb, but the internet tells me it also can mean bashful or beautiful, which also work.) A stack of these would take no time, and would make a person’s far-flung knitting pals super happy this holiday season. Plus: POM POMS.

Tsukimi

Here’s a theme: one-piece, one-skein, garter stitch, and a swingy, wearable drape.

Q: What’s the yarn?

A: Yowza!

Q: I know, it’s a great pattern, but what’s the yarn?

A: Yowza! The yarn is Yowza.

Q: Yes, agreed, wonderful, but what is the name of it?

Miss Babs must get that all the time. I do apologize.

Catch a Class

Angela is a prolific and beloved teacher, both in person and online.

Here are links to a few of her online classes and workshops:

Rigid Heddle Weaving

My First Mittens & Gloves

The Structures of Shawls

Creative Pin-Loom Designs

If, like me, you are inquisitive by nature and have questions such as What is a heddle, and why is it rigid?—then you really need Angela. I can’t wait for in-person classes to resume again, but thank goodness for virtual events right now. You will find Angela on the list of sessions at Vogue’s Virtual Knitting Live and elsewhere, so keep an eye out.

13 Comments

Victoria DiMartino 9/04/20 • 5:08AM

And you didn’t even touch on Angela’s pottery, or the amazing and beautiful meals she prepares! I follow her on Instagram and am astounded and charmed by her energy, enthusiasm and talent
Minimoebius 9/04/20 • 5:27AM

I am a huge fan of Angela! She was one of the first designers I discovered when I jumped back into knitting. The mitts are the best! I wore mine all last winter. Her Kumori shawl is one of my favorite things I have knitted. I was fortunate to pick up some of her lovely pottery pieces at a holiday fair. She is the best!
Christie Walker 9/04/20 • 5:52AM

This was a beautiful short film highlighting the work of this amazing person. I am very grateful to be introduced to her and look forward to learning more about her work. The film itself was excellently made and so personal. I feel like I just had one on one time with Angela. Truly an inspiring story!
Linda C. 9/04/20 • 6:08AM

Thank you for introducing me to Angela!! These designs are beautiful!! I will definitely be making some of them. Thank you!!
Chloe 9/04/20 • 6:40AM

I have always really liked her designs. So glad to hear more about her.
Janice Donaldson 9/04/20 • 8:15AM

Thank you for highlighting Angela Tong. I’ve enjoyed her designs for a long time. I first was introduced to her work on Petite Purls. Her oldest little girl was the age of her youngest little girl when I first saw Angela. So cute. It was fun to see how much she’s grown since then. I hope you will invite Angela to do a Field Guide in the future. I love her designs and can’t wait to make the little pompom mitts. Darling. Janice D.
Su1282 9/04/20 • 8:16AM

Have also been a fan for a while. And I love a hat pattern for learning new techniques! (or using leftover stash)
MLEgan 9/04/20 • 8:21AM

Plus a lovely, friendly human!
Priscilla 9/04/20 • 11:59AM

That Tsukimi shawl! I have to say I love that Yowza yarn–it is fabulous. I even designed a piece with it which was featured by Miss Babs…you can see it here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/812828991/lady-amelia-shawlette?ref=shop_home_active_1&crt=1
Iene 9/04/20 • 2:39PM

Field Guide No. ?
kcc 9/05/20 • 1:58PM

Great interview with Angela. Thanks.
karen 9/05/20 • 2:02PM

I am a huge Angela fan. Love her pottery and food pictures too in addition to her knitting and weaving which is always colorful and spectacular. Her instagram posts are fantastic. Thank you for including her.
Janet Bondanella 9/05/20 • 11:42PM

I took 2 classes from Angela on Vogue Virtual and have her 2 craftsy classes. She is a patient teacher. Her kindness and goodness shine through.