First Person
Designer to Love: Fatimah Hinds
Fatimah Hinds is a superhero, basically: patient Middle School Math Teacher by day, mighty Knitwear Designer at pretty much all other times.
HERE’S Fatimah with her Garter Dollop design, PERFECT FOR one skein of Neighborhood Fiber Co. COBBLESTONE.
With more than 70 designs to her name, she is constantly cooking up new ideas.
It was great to Zoom with her the other day. Our cats met, and one of her small humans made a cameo appearance. You know, such a 2020 moment.
I’m always curious about a designer’s point of view. Given her science training (Earth and Atmospheric Science—plus a masters in middle school education), it’s not surprising that Fatimah is constantly chasing those moments of discovery. “I just start knitting it,” she says, “and if I don’t like it, I frog it. So many times I ask myself, ‘Why did I do this?’ with a chuckle.”
Her designs begin with a simple craving: she sees something she likes, but it’s not quite what she wants. All of a sudden, she’s diving into a new design.
Fatimah is all about unisex designs—pretty much everything in her Ravelry collection works for everybody. Her favorite kind of knitting is our favorite: tricky bits along with stretches where you get to rest. “I don’t want people to labor to make my designs,” she says.
My first eyeful of Fatimah’s design work came when her Pom Cubed Hat landed in the MDK March Mayhem championship of patterns.
She writes: “I wanted to create a unisex hat with texture that showcases the high contrast of the yarn. If you haven’t tried or mastered cabling without a cable needle, this hat would be a great start.”
AFTERTHOUGHT EARFLAPS: CLEVER!
Great for variegated as well as gradient or solid yarns.
There are spirally good times to be had with this hat.
I asked Fatimah about her favorite designs—the gems that have yet to be discovered. She mentioned five. They’re all great.
For a Hot Day
Her newest pattern, Adventure Tank, is all we need for this hot summer. The straps are knit first, then the tank is knit in the round to the hem. Not much finishing is required.
Knit on size US 3 (3.25 mm) needles, the fabric here is light and airy.
A Twisty, Delicious Hat
Here’s a perfect use for a skein of Spincycle’s dreamy Dyed in the Wool: Stellar Dendrite Hat.
Fatimah writes: “I’ve been really inspired by all of the heavily cabled knits that are out there. Also, I wanted to design a hat that would use up every bit of this gorgeous yarn. The three different cables are bold enough to stand up to the color changes and variegation of the yarn. With this much detail you’ll never be bored while knitting this.”
A Cardigan with Brilliant Texture
The Nether Brick Cardigan combines so many favorite elements: top-down knitting, stitch patterns to keep us on our toes, a DK-weight yarn. Fatimah writes: “I designed this lovely cardigan with comfort and wearability in mind. It’s perfect for wearing to work or for Saturday errands. I shaped and sized it for male wearers but it would be lovely on any body. I wanted something that my husband would actually wear but was also interesting to knit.”
A raglan shoulder is so cool, every time.
The clean lines work with neutrals or vibrant color.
Fatimah feels an adventurous beginner can totally make this amazing design.
One of the magic moments in knitting.
Twisty Cables
It’s Winter Somewhere Hat and Cowl show how different stitch patterns can look when used on different accessories.
She writes: “I wanted to create a unisex hat and cowl with plenty of visual interest. Traditional cables, slipped stitches, and a cable that looks like an hourglass flow smoothly from the atypical 1 x 1 ribbed brim. Stitches are cast on for the brim and then knit to the crown. The hat can easily be knit longer to create more of a slouchy hat.”
Such juicy little cables, fun to knit.
There’s so much to admire in what Fatimah is up to. Can’t wait to see where her curiosity takes her next!
Love these!! THANK YOU for introducing me to this designer. I am down the rabbit hole!!
Love these, too! Already favorited the cardigan and tank on Ravelry. I was looking for the perfect tank pattern and found it! LOVE ❤️
I agree! That tank is perfect! Covers the bra straps, isn’t see through, and has a lovely shape and drape.
I love that she has a man modeling! And such Great sweaters!! I also love the comment about giving the knitter a rest occasionally. Nice to sometimes have a project where you can just do Plain knitting. Thx!
Loved all of these and bought most of them. I have a feeling I will be swatching for Garter Dollop and the Adventure Tank momentarily. Thank you so much for featuring Fatimah and her gorgeous designs!
I have a new favorite designer! Thanks for introduceibg Fatima to us.
Wow, I can only echo everybody else: I love all of these. I don’t think I’ve ever favorited so many designs at once from one designer – and bought one immediately! I’m off to look at everything thing else on her Ravelry. Thank you!
Yet another amazing designer! I really like your take on line and shape. Awilix and Afreet Hat-Embers look very interesting to me. Lovely work.
Me, too, in the “love these department.” I’m often drawn to men’s sweaters because of the clean lines. The cardigan will be on my needles soon. And that little Garter Dollop just works! Thanks for the introduction.
I love the community you have created and continue to build. Thank you for bringing forward people’s beauty in a way that really sees them and with that creates a connected community. Very grateful. And, please pass along thanks to Fatimah for her designs and great spirit!
Love all these designs. Thanks for the introduction to this amazing designer.
Great patterns. Love the Cardigan and it wearable for me because it’s man sized. I’ll definitely need to try the tank but with some added sleeves. Don’t want my flabby arms to show. Her hays also look so fun.
Thank you for show casing this designer.
So fun.
I plan to make the tank as written but wear it over a shirt or t-shirt, I’m also self conscious about my arms 😐
Thank you for the intro to this talented designer. Loved many of her unique patterns,
“Our cats met” !!! What more can you ask for? Fatimah’s designs are fantastic.
Minecraft-themed cardy? Count me in!
I’m a sucker for a great cardigan…,and that’s a great cardigan! Thanks for showcasing this talented designer!
Ditto!
SUPER DITTO !!!!
Such beautiful designs. I love the textures on the pom cubed hat. It’s a very interesting design!
Yes please, Pom Squared Hat!
Oh, that Nether Brick cardigan: swoon!
Oh, these are gorgeous! It’s so nice to see them on a man they look great!
Love these designs! Christmas gift knitting, here I come!
Gorgeous designs!
I feel much better about frogging!
I love Fatima’s Adventure tank! I bought it immediately, and I already have yarn to make it. 🙂
Wow – thanks for bring this designer to my attention! Love so many of her patterns.
I love the variety in these pieces! I am stuck in a project of too much stockinette!! I’m putting it down for a break and heading for that scarf and hat!! Watch out stash here I come!! Fingers crossed I have the perfect yarn…if not I have resources! Wink wink! Haha!! Wonderful to find this designer! Thank you! Have fun everyone!
❤️ Adventure Tank! That’s my kind of summer top.
“Something her husband would wear but was actually interesting to knit”. Yup. There’s a challenge.
Oh!!! What nice items!! Definitely going onto raverly to check her out!! Love the tank top!! And the hats!! I have a few family members that will be asking for them for sure!!
Thank you for featuring a POC designer! I made a pledge to myself to buy a pattern every week from BIPOC, and I missed last week. Made up for it with six (6!) wonderful patterns from Fatima.
Love your designs! My Grandsons would definitely wear the sweaters, I would like to check your patterns out. Where would I go to do that?❤❤
Hi Jeri,
Just click on the red links and they will take you to the pattern pages on Ravelry.com.
Fatimah’s designs are great! I’ve knitted her Garter Dollop shawl love, love, love it!!!
Ooh, some gorgeous new favourites for my ravelry list. Thank you for this lovely article about a brilliant designer I can start getting to know. I don’t know how many of my blog and designer obsessions I can thank you ladies for, but I do know it’s a few 😉
WOW ! What a find and her designs are beautiful
I love the hats shown. A new reason to go on a yarn quest to find the yarn for them
What fun colors and patterns! And a smiling model while I am here in 90’s degree heat wearing a frowny face. This artist has so much versatility and creativity that she could fill a book! Thank you for spotlighting her.
That cardigan! Yes, please!
The garter dollop! The nether brick cardigan! Her designs are fabulous, and now I’m off to favorite several of them.
Love Fatimah’s smile and her patterns! i am starting with Stellar … its winter in Tasmania …we are the island state at the most southern part of Australia. Love your blog MDK not just for introducing me to designers, yarns and techniques, but what you write and stand for.
When I started looking at your designs and color schemes, there was something about them that really drew me in and as silly as it may sound, I think it’s because you’re a math teacher… I find myself intrigued with the math, the geometry, the creativity, and the artistry of needlecrafts and I see all of those in the uniqueness of your patterns. I just hope my abilities are up to par because I really want to knit a couple of your patterns.