Selective Focus: Brenna del Junco’s Knit and Crochet Creations

Before moving to Duluth, Brenna del Junco ran a yarn store in Toronto. One of her creations can be found at the Museum of Human History in Ottawa, while others are modeled and worn by loved ones. Whether she is creating a knitted sweater for her dog Button, preparing a stitch pattern to share with others, or piecing together a teeny tiny gnome, she is often spotted with a project in hand. Check out the interview below about her creations and new store, Moki Stitches, that is opening in Duluth.

When did you first start knitting and crocheting? How did you first learn?

I learned to knit as a child, but I didn’t really take to it until high school, when I got majorly obsessed with all things yarn. I taught myself using a combination of a really tacky crochet book from the ’90s, Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Knitting Without Tears, and YouTube tutorials.

What do you like most about the medium?

Working with yarn is an opportunity to play with texture and color in a really interesting way. You can make any geometric or organic shape in yarn. There is a huge amount of potential.

Are you selective about the type of yarn you use for your projects?

I prefer to use wool and natural fibers, generally, in my work. I appreciate the natural qualities that different fiber contents can give. Wool is so warm and naturally elastic, for example, while linen and cotton have a totally different hand. It is interesting to play with those qualities to benefit what you’re making.

Which of your creations have you enjoyed working on or completing the most? Do you gravitate toward specific types of projects?

I really value the garments I’ve made. Keeping my loved ones warm is so rewarding. I like making less utilitarian art as well, but there is something really unique about knowing that something you spent time on is being worn, used and cherished.

What’s one of the most complicated projects you’ve created?

The most complex project I’ve ever made was a Norwegian-inspired sweater for a food truck. It required 96 unique panels to be sewn together to create a cohesive piece. Tim Horton’s commissioned the project and only gave me two weeks to complete it! So I hired around 20 knitters to accomplish it.

Where can your patterns, completed projects, work, etc. be found?

My patterns are available on Ravelry.com (a very cool pattern library and social media for knitters and crocheters). My completed works can be found in my new store, Moki Stitches. I also post online as well as on my Instagram, @Brennastitches

Can you tell me about the sweater you’ve knitted that’s in a museum in Canada?

The Gay Hair Sweater was a project that I made with fellow knitter and yarn spinner Amelia Lyon around 10 years ago. We spun and knit a sweater made of gay human hair for the Canadian Center of Gender and Sexual Diversity, as part of an ad campaign to discourage people from using “That’s so gay” as a derogatory comment. It won a bunch of advertising awards, was worn by the former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and now lives in the Museum of Human History in Ottawa.

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How has teaching knitting and crocheting lessons affected your own creativity and process?

I love teaching both beginner and advanced techniques because students ask the best questions! It really helps keep my skills fresh and encourages me to tackle a diversity of projects.

What are you looking forward to the most about running your new store, Moki Stitches, and how do you think that will impact your own creative process?

I’m looking forward to fostering community in my space the most! I really hope it will be a welcoming environment for people to craft in. Secondly, I’m excited to play with all the yarns I’ve ordered. It’s really fun to play creatively with new designs made for the colors and textures of specific yarn lines.

What advice would you give to someone who is just starting out knitting as a hobby or creative process?

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes! It can be intimidating not knowing how to make certain stitches or fix mistakes, or to know what types of projects are beginner friendly. It is part of the learning experience. Those mistakes can teach you a lot about structure and mechanics of your fabric, and you’ll do better with practice and guidance from others.

What type of knitting or crocheting events are you most excited about (either ones ran at Moki Stitches, or ones you’ve enjoyed attending)?

I am very excited to start a Queer Stitch night, as I used to run one for several years at a previous yarn shop. Queer community is hard to come by at times, and I am thrilled to have a space to foster that. I also run a general-purpose social Stitch Nights every Thursday at the shop, which is a really fun way to enjoy company while you craft. I’d love to play around with different events though — I used to host a stand-up comedy night called “Stitch, Please.” Maybe we will see some fun stuff like that, too, in the future.

What do you like the most about being involved in a knitting and crocheting community?

I love sharing my experience with those that need help with their projects. Helping someone go from stressed out to feeling relaxed and confident in their crafting is really the point of it all for me.

Moki Stitches kicks off the new store in West Duluth at 217 N. 59th Ave. W. with a grand opening on small business Saturday, Nov. 29, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The celebration includes a food truck and prize drawings, and 10% of purchases go toward the visitor’s choice of either Second Harvest or Safe Haven. To view more of Brenna’s work, visit @brennastitches on Instagram or Ravelry.com to follow along to her stitch patterns.