Miki Zanini, Sister to Santoni’s Marco Zanini, Is Such a Talented Knitter, She’s Got Her Own Waiting List
Photo: Courtesy of Miki Zanini1/13Here is part of my messy stash of yarns . . . where I shall put it all is a mystery. It takes so much space for a fashion and yarn shopaholic like me. I wonder why I have so many projects in mind, so that I buy huge amounts of wool that I cannot knit in a lifetime? Oh right: passion!
Photo: Pasquale Abbattista / Courtesy of Miki Zanini2/13This striped cashmere sweater was, I think, the very first one I ever knitted. It was for my brother’s birthday, when he turned 40. I was a beginner at that time, and it was quite a premature project for my skills. I was at the scarf stage, where to finish you only need to keep knitting and purling till the end. No increases, no decreases involved or other tricky things to know. The proportions of this sweater are improbable and kind of ridiculous, and when Marco tried it on, I was bewildered. Let’s say that flaws are the beauty of a handmade craft and they make it special and sweet.
Photo: Courtesy of Miki Zanini3/13My coffee table.
Photo: Pasquale Abbattista (left) and Emilio Tini / Courtesy of Miki Zanini4/13I knitted these traditional Icelandic sweaters for myself. They are made from the same pattern but in different wools. I was curious to see the final effect when you use various materials. The dark brown one is made with Icelandic Létt Lopi wool, and the gray one is in a very soft and airy Norwegian alpaca yarn. Here, I’m wearing the brown version, a scarf in a Kauni yarn, and a pair of striped socks with a vintage John Galliano skirt and Rochas croc, lizard, and napa accessories from the time Marco was creative director there and we used to work together.
Photos: Pasquale Abbattista (left) and Emilio Tini / Courtesy of Miki Zanini5/13I recently finished this cardigan for myself. It’s from a ’40s pattern I found in a book I bought some time ago called Knit Vintage, written and designed by Madeline Weston and Rita Taylor.
Photo: Pasquale Abbattista / Courtesy of Miki Zanini
Photos: Pasquale Abbattista / Courtesy of Miki Zanini6/13I knitted this cashmere scarf when I first met my boyfriend, Francesco. What you have to do to make an impression! Luckily enough, though, it paid off and we are still happily together and in love after eight years! In 2016 it was my turn to prepare something special for his birthday. So I decided to knit my first Aran sweater. I loved knitting it because it was quite challenging to learn so many new techniques, such as cable knitting. It took much concentration and patience; I undid it several times to succeed. I’m quite stubborn when I want to be, but love makes you do crazy things indeed!
Photo: Pasquale Abbattista / Courtesy of Miki Zan7/13I knitted this scarf and beanie on a wonderful Swedish summer holiday. They remind me of a very happy time! When I’m in Sweden, my fingers start to itch: There are so many fantastic yarn and handcrafts shops there . . . to die for!
Photo: Courtesy of Miki Zanini8/13Swedish summer holidays plus knitting equals perfection to me!
9/13A close-up of the labels I use to give a final personal touch to my knits and embroideries. The choice of yellow and blue is a noncasual reference to my Swedish origins.
Photo: Courtesy of Miki Zanini10/13Drying knitted socks!
Photo: Courtesy of Miki Zanini11/13This sweater comes from a pattern I found in a ’70s magazine my aunt gave me; actually she gave me a bunch of old knitting magazines that now I treasure! Can you spot the magazine’s pic of it?
Photo: Courtesy of Miki Zanini12/13This is Lina (my rescue dog) when she was a puppy, wearing the only coat/sweater I’ve ever knitted for her. She looks so sad and embarrassed with the coat on, that I don’t put her in it unless it’s really freezing outside!
Photo: Condé Nast Archive13/13Comme des Garçons Spring 1996
