Heather Marshall
Meet Heather Marshall, the textile designer behind Dopeface Knitwear!
Tell us a little about yourself!
My name is Heather. I am an independent textile designer and fiber artist. My main focus is on making sustainable knitwear using domestic flatbed knitting machines, but my passion truly spans all forms of fiber art. I love weaving in my free time and am currently in the process of restoring an old barn loom. I love making fun and quirky garments that will last a lifetime. I focus on designing size-inclusive patterns and using natural yarns sourced from small businesses around the world. I am a recent transplant to West Virginia, coming from Joshua Tree, California. I am a desert rat through and through, but since moving here, I have been in awe of all that West Virginia has to offer. My family and I love exploring, hiking, and paddleboarding. Going from sand and cacti to grass and trees has been very cool. The grass really is greener on the other side, in our case, so naturally, we have been loving every bit of it.
What drew you to your craft?
Growing up, my grandmother was a huge inspiration. She is a talented artist, always making something for someone, and I like to believe I inherited my passion for the arts from her. In my early twenties, I purchased my first sewing machine. I began making clothes for myself because I was struggling to find the fashion pieces I wanted in my size. My love for sewing quickly grew to encompass all fiber art. Working an office job during the day and going home to sew into the late hours of the night, I realized I wanted a career I could be passionate about. But it wasn't until I had my son and became a stay-at-home mom that I could dedicate myself to making that happen. I found a second hand knitting machine online, dove in headfirst, restoring a vintage machine from the 60s and spending my free time learning how to use it. The domestic knitting machine quickly became my main method of creating, and now I couldn't imagine my life without it.
Describe your studio space. Where do you like to create?
I am very fortunate to have a large studio space in my home, featuring big windows, lots of natural light, and a beautiful view of the creek. It is a very relaxing and inspiring place to work. But, technically, it is a bit out of commission. We are renovating the home we purchased, and as a result, it is now filled with kitchen cabinets and new lighting, and has no electricity. So, currently, I spend my time knitting in my living room. Luckily, my knitting machines are very portable, and my living room is probably the most stunning room in my house.
What is your favorite thing you have ever made?
My favorite thing I have ever made was a cropped coat. I knit it using 100% Merino wool and featured a Double Jacquard pattern inspired by the computer icon of a person skateboarding. I have never seen anything like it, and it was the garment that convinced me I had something special to share with the world. The process of making it was challenging and time-consuming, but the result is something I am incredibly proud of.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
Growing up, I wanted to be a teacher, a chef, and a ballerina. These goals have shifted somewhat, but I think they still hold true in many ways. I love cooking for my family and dancing in my living room with my son, and I would very much like to teach machine knitting classes, as well as yoga, one day.
How would you describe your creative process?
I would describe my creative process as having two distinct parts. On the one hand, it is very immersive. I feel inspired, ideas come to me almost organically, and many times I just run with them. This side of the process is the more artistic side, the part of me that gets inspired by tiles on the floor or a vintage garment at a thrift store. But there is another side, that is equally as important but is essentially the polar opposite. This part of my process is intricate and mechanical. The steps it takes to bring those ideas to life sometimes require a lot of math. There are days I have to spend fixing my machines. Even the process of knitting the garments is very methodical and requires attention to detail. These two aspects of my process, although opposite to one another, are very much interconnected and necessary to bring my visions to life.
What advice would you give yourself 10 years ago?
Invest in yourself more; don't get comfortable; challenge yourself; say yes to all the scary things, and dream big!
Why do you love doing what you do?
I love doing what I do because it allows me to enjoy the many facets of my personality. There are days when I just want to draw and be creative, and other days when seaming up garments for 8 hours is meditative and relaxing. The knitting machine is the perfect tool for this. The possibilities are endless: I can knit something super simple and quick, with immediate results that satisfy my lack of attention span that day, or I can knit something so complex that a couple of rows of knitted stitches can take an hour, requiring a great deal of skill and precision. Both textile design and the knitting machine offer me the opportunity to be a perpetual student. There will always be more to learn, and that challenge keeps me intrigued with goals that could satisfy me for a lifetime. The process as a whole flows with my creative needs and very much feels like a natural extension of myself.
Why is it important to support local artists and makers?
I think creating a community centered around people doing what they love is how we ensure we don't lose ourselves in the hustle. Who wants to live in a world where there is no art, music, or passion? If we don't support the people keeping the arts alive, we will lose what makes being human so special. Life is short, and I know I want to spend as much time seeing the beauty in this world and helping others on their journey to live a happy life. Supporting small makers and local artists not only makes the world brighter but directly benefits our small towns and the future generations growing up in them.
You can find Heather’s wool knitwear in the shop! We have hats, neck warmers, hand warmers, apparel, and more!
