Recap of Olga Buraya-Kefelian’s Presentation to the Guild
We have concluded our international speaker tour and are back in the states for the remainder of the year (and back to the regular meeting time). Our May 4th guest was the inspirational Olga Buraya-Kefelian (olgajazzy on Ravelry), live from Alexandria VA. We were hoping to host Olga in person but must remain virtual until it’s safe to gather again.
Olga learned to knit at four years old. Her knitting career began in 2003 with the olgajazzy brand being established in 2006. Influenced by her professional seamstress mother, she learned tailoring skills and an understanding of clothing construction.
Olga creates designs by replicating patterns she finds in everyday life, drawing inspiration from industrial and architectural elements, combined with her passion of Japanese design. Olga’s knitwear is infused with innovation creating a variety of 3-dimensional knit fabric. She currently has 203 patterns on Ravelry. Her transform line offers a range of versatility with expanded wearability for each garment: the pieces provide wardrobe staples that compliment various outfits, suit multiple occasions, are wearable year-round, and will suit all seasons.
Always curious about how yarn is made, she discovered that different types could affect stitch patterns. She wants the stitches to be sturdy enough to support 3-dimensional texture but also provide fabric with a stitch definition that is easy to “read.”
Olga went to school to become a linguist which influences many of her pattern names. Knitting is like its own language and everyone has their interpretation.
Olga’s website: https://olgajazzy.com/
– Lou Wanna Katz, Programs
