Twinkle By Wenlan

Oct. 3, 2007 - Wenlan and I paid a visit to her alma mater tonight, holding an intimate knitting workshop event for 30 FBA members at New York University, arguably one of the trendiest campuses in the country. Whilst sipping flutes of sparkling cider, the girls (and guys!) enjoyed Twinkle’s fall 2007 Fashion Week show looped on DVD, and marveled over a trunk show of Twinkle’s latest offering in chunky knitwear – a cropped seed stitch hoodie, a dusty pink cable tunic, a cream-coloured lattice cardigan, as well as a mountain of chunky scarves and berets! 

The samples provided the right amount of motivation to embark on the evening’s project – a long, chunky merino wool scarf, complete with luxurious fringe.  After choosing a skein from one of Twinkle Handknits Soft Chunky’s new fall colours, each knitter was presented with a pair of Twinkle engraved size 19 wooden needles and a beginner-friendly Twinkle knitting guide, which provided instructions on how to cast on, make a knit stitch, and bind off. 

Wenlan began the workshop by speaking to us about how knitting played a key role in launching her whimsical, ultra-feminine label, Twinkle by Wenlan.  Fashionable knitwear, she said, was due to a comeback and she would use her skills and creativity to lead the way!  It was a very risky decision. Wenlan worked hard, from single handedly putting together dozens of her first lookbook to simultaneously meeting with investors and buyers…but the payoff was worth it!  Twinkle has consistently shown, with rave reviews, at Fashion Week and the label now includes home accessories, fine jewelry, as well as a series of popular knitting books featuring key pieces that made Twinkle a hit with knitters and fashionistas.

From the looks on faces, it was apparent that many hoped some of Wenlan’s drive and ambition would rub off onto them - at least to get through the evening’s workshop. 

Patience and excellent demonstration (provided by yours truly) quickly turned rocky starts into smooth sailing, with many beginning knitters completing more than half their scarf by the end of the night.  Concentrated silence was shattered as knitters picked up the process and began chatting and knitting enthusiastically, comparing lengths, trying on their work, and admiring how a simple accessory adds style and sophistication to any outfit.  After a group photo, a much more appreciative audience bid us farewell and hurried back to their dorms, undoubtedly to complete their project. 

And so, the first ever Twinkle workshop held at NYU was a success!  Most importantly, the lesson learned was that a little hard work is needed to persevere through any endeavor, no matter how big (like starting your own business) or small like picking up a pair of knitting needles for the first time.

Keep checking back with us for the latest news on Twinkle by Wenlan’s upcoming knitting events.