Tag: design process

Posted in designer collaboration, knitting patterns, Rise Up 2021 Collection

Vacillate and the Phoenix Cosy, the final patterns in the Rise Up Collection

Posted on by Carol

Hello, dear friends!  The final two patterns are now available in this year’s fabulous Rise Up Collection!  The patterns are Ruth Brasch’s Vacillate Socks and Jill Wolcott’s Phoenix Cosy.

Ruth Brasch’s Vacillate Socks especially feature a Fleegle Heel, which does not require picking up any stitches in making the heel flap.  They also feature traveling cables and alternating textures.  Very fun!!!  Ruth designs lots of socks, so you will be in good hands when making these socks!

Jill Wolcott designed this shoulder cozy, also known as the Phoenix Cosy.  The design is created using slipped stitches and German short rows.  Jill writes her patterns in a different and interesting style.  Take a look and enjoy!  I love this watercolor rendering she made of the cosy.  The final photographs will be added to the Collection soon, as will the Spanish translation of this pattern.

The Rise Up Collection is available as an e-book on Ravelry and as an all-in-one collection on Payhip.  The whole collection is published in both English and Spanish.

January 5

Mountain View from Knit Eco Chic

Alcyone from Christine Guest Designs

January 12

Emergence from Fiber Dreams

January 19

Shooting Star on Ravelry from Marcela Chang Knits on Ravelry

January 26

Garden Cowl 

February 2
Vacillate from Ruth Brasch Design
Phoenix Cosy from Jill Wolcott Knits

Soon, the individual patterns may be purchased from the independent designers a week or two after the entire collection has been released.  The Garden Cowl’s individual price will be $6.50.

I wanted to share this gorgeous version of the Garden Cowl knit by Bridget, who graciously tested the pattern for me.  Bridget used just two colors of yarn: Erika Knight British Blue Yarn in the colorway Clarissa (about 380 yards) and Malabrigo Rios in the colorway Liquidambar (about 460 yards).  Her knitting is just beautiful, and the colorways are perfect.  You can really see the use of positive/ negative space in this photo.

For all the details, like the yarn and needle sizes called for in the pattern, please see The Garden Cowl.

Thank you for your support in this fun and collaborative venture with me and with the other six independent designers.  In the next post, I will post photos of the entire collection.

Have a great week!!

xoxo

Carol

Posted in designer collaboration, knitting patterns, Rise Up 2021 Collection

The Garden Cowl

Posted on by Carol

Hello, dear friends!  I’m so excited to share that my newest pattern, The Garden Cowl, is now available as one of the seven patterns in the Rise Up Collection.  The Garden Cowl is a big bold colorful cowl featuring abstract diamonds, an original colorwork flower, stripes, and colorblocking.  Using positive/negative space, each side of the fabric is the reverse of the other.  It’s a fun piece to knit and to wear.

The cowl is knit as a tube in the round and sewn together at the end. It is long enough to wrap around twice in really cold weather. This can be a great stash-buster; approximately 75 yards each is all that is needed for four of the six colors, along with a few skeins each of the background color and the flower/colorblock color.  For all the details, like yarn and needle sizes, please see The Garden Cowl.

The Garden Cowl is available now as part of the Rise Up Collection.  Rise Up is sold as an e-book on Ravelry and as an all-in-one collection on Payhip.  The whole collection is published in both English and Spanish.

From January 26th through February 1, the entire collection is $24.  On February 2, the last two patterns will be added and the collection will be its final price, $28.  No matter when you purchase the collection, you will own the whole thing as each new pattern is added.

Here are the other designs in the collection:

January 5

Mountain View from Knit Eco Chic

Alcyone from Christine Guest Designs

January 12

Emergence from Fiber Dreams

January 19

Shooting Star on Ravelry from Marcela Chang Knits on Ravelry

January 26

Garden Cowl 

February 2 – Next Week!
Ruth Brasch Design
Jill Wolcott Knits

Individual patterns may be purchased from the independent designers a week or two after the entire collection has been released.  The Garden Cowl’s individual price will be $6.

I hope that you’ve enjoyed the Rise Up Collection so far and that you will enjoy the Garden Cowl.

xoxo

Carol

Posted in designer collaboration, knitting patterns, Rise Up 2021 Collection

The Rise Up Collection, Fourth Release: Shooting Star

Posted on by Carol

The fourth pattern in the Rise Up Collection, Shooting Star, is now available.  Shooting Star is a top-down seamless steeked colorwork sweater designed by Marcela Chang.  This is a great stash-buster and a great opportunity to learn steeking or to exercise your steeking skills.

Rise Up is sold as an e-book on Ravelry and as an all-in-one collection on Payhip.  The whole collection is published in both English and Spanish.

From January 19 through the 25th, the entire collection is $21.  The price increases as patterns are added, ending with a selling price of $28.  No matter when you purchase the collection, you will own the whole thing as each new pattern is added.  Release dates (and price increase dates) are listed below.  The collection will be a great deal all the way through (even at the final price of $28, it’s just $4 per pattern) – but it’s a super deal right now!

January 5
Mountain View from Knit Eco Chic
Alcyone from Christine Guest Designs

January 12
Emergence from Fiber Dreams

January 19
Shooting Star from Marcela Chang Knits (these links lead to Ravelry)

January 26
Garden Cowl from Knit Equals Joy

February 2
Ruth Brasch Design
Jill Wolcott Knits

Individual patterns may be purchased from the independent designers on February 9, 2021.

Jill Wolcott (Jill Wolcott Knits) has interviewed each designer, and the interviews go up on her website the same week as each designer’s pattern is added to the collection.  I’ve really loved learning about these designers and what drives their inspiration.

Marcela hails from Chile.  She is a trained fashion designer, and she is not afraid to use color!  Here, Jill interviews Marcela.  I like that Marcela’s designs are fun, just like she is!

My Rise Up pattern, the Garden Cowl, will be released next Tuesday the 26th.  I can’t wait to share it with you!

Have a great weekend!!

xoxo

Carol

Posted in designer collaboration, knitting patterns, Rise Up 2021 Collection

Rise Up Collection, Third Release: Emergence

Posted on by Carol

And now for the third pattern release of the Rise Up Collection, Emergence!  Emergence is designed by Laura Patterson of Fiber Dreams.  I love that she started with the same colorwork stitch pattern (called Abstract Diamonds) I used in my design, but she morphed it into a lace stitch.  How creative is that?  Here it is knit in a lovely gradient.

Rise Up is sold as an e-book on Ravelry and as an all-in-one collection on Payhip.  The whole collection is published in both English and Spanish.

From January 12 through the 18th, the entire collection is $18. The price increases as patterns are added, ending with a selling price of $28.  No matter when you purchase the collection, you will own the whole thing as each new pattern is added.  Release dates (and price increase dates) are listed below.  The collection will be a great deal all the way through (even at the final price of $28, it’s just $4 per pattern) – but it’s a super deal right now!

January 5
Mountain View from Knit Eco Chic
Alcyone from Christine Guest Designs

January 12
Emergence from Fiber Dreams

January 19
Marcela Chang Knits

January 26
Garden Cowl from Knit Equals Joy

February 2
Ruth Brasch Design
Jill Wolcott Knits

Individual patterns may be purchased from the independent designers on February 9, 2021.

Jill Wolcott (Jill Wolcott Knits) has interviewed each designer, and the interviews go up on her website the same week as each designer’s pattern is added to the collection.  I’ve really loved learning about these designers and what drives their inspiration.  Here: Jill interviews Laura.

I love that yarn talks to Laura, just as it does to me.  It absolutely lets us know what it wants to be – or when it doesn’t comply, what it doesn’t want to be.  And like me, she loves color.  I think her lace designs are just lovely!  You can find her website here: Fiber Dreams and here, Laura writes about Emergence.

I hope you are enjoying this collection as much as I am.  This staggered release is a boon, allowing me to have time each week to really savor each pattern and to learn more about each designer.

Have a great rest of the week!

xoxo

Carol

Posted in cowl pattern, designer collaboration, inspiration, knitting, knitting patterns, Rise Up 2021 Collection, sweater pattern

Rise Up Collection, First Two Patterns: Alcyone, Mountain View

Posted on by Carol

Greetings from Oregon on a foggy Sunday afternoon!  The beautiful, saturated color of the Alcyone Sweater cheers me every time I see it, and Knit Eco Chic’s love for the North Carolina mountains surrounding her brings a smile to my lips in recognition of my own similar love for the beauty of nature here in Oregon.

These two are the first two patterns released in the Rise Up Collection, sold as an e-book on Ravelry and as a collection on Payhip.  On January 5 (through January 11) the entire collection is $15. The price increases as patterns are added, ending with a selling price of $28.  No matter when you purchase the collection, you will own the whole thing as each new pattern is added.  Release dates (and price increase dates) are listed below.

January 5
Mountain View from Knit Eco Chic
Alcyone from Christine Guest Designs

January 12
Fiber Dreams

January 19
Marcela Chang Knits

January 26
Garden Cowl from Knit Equals Joy

February 2
Ruth Brasch Design
Jill Wolcott Knits

Individual patterns may be purchased from the independent designers on February 15, 2021.

Jill Wolcott (Jill Wolcott Knits) has interviewed each designer, and the interviews will go up on her website the same week as each designer’s pattern is added to the collection.  I’ve really loved learning about these designers and what drives their inspiration.

Lindsay (Knit Eco Chic) 

Lindsay and her Great Dane Puddles are inseparable.  Here he is assisting her in choosing which one to use in a photo shoot!

Lindsay’s Rise Up pattern is Mountain View.  Lindsay uses ecologically-friendly yarns in her designs; this yarn is AppleOak FibreWorks LinCot, shown in the color Mayfly.  I love the rustic look created by the blend of linen and cotton!  It would also be really lovely in a smooth yarn, like this Amanda Hope Yarn Luxe DK in Chartreuse (80% Superwash Extra Fine Merino/10% Cashmere/10% Nylon, approximately 100 grams/246 yards).  All of her colors are fab but I’m also really drawn to this Oil Rubbed Bronze.  No matter what yarn you choose, you’ll have a winner in the Mountain View Cowl.

Here Jill Interviews Lindsay  🙂

Christine Guest’s Alcyone Sweater is the second pattern in Rise Up.  Christine’s background is chemistry with a minor in math.  The structural influence of elemental building blocks really comes through in her designs.  Here’s another photo of Alcyone, where you can see that the lovely stitch motif is carried on at the base of the sweater.

I think this sweater design is just gorgeous!  You can read more about the pattern here: Alcyone.

And here, Jill Interviews Christine. 🙂

Alcyone photos by Avi Dascaloff.

Purchase the entire collection today or tomorrow, 1/11/2021, for $15 at Payhip or Ravelry.  The collection will be a great deal all the way through (even at the final price of $28, it’s just $4 per pattern) – but it’s a super deal right now!

My pattern will be available separately on February 15, at $7.  So grabbing the entire collection is still the best way to go.

Tuesday (1/12), Laura of Fiber Dreams will be adding her pattern to the collection.  I believe she and I used the same stitch pattern, but while I used the original colorwork pattern, she morphed it into a lovely lace stitch pattern.  It’s another winner!

Hoping that you will enjoy this collection and the fun insight into the creative process in each of the interviews.

All the best,

xoxo

Carol

Posted in designer collaboration, knitting patterns, Rise Up 2021 Collection

The Rise Up 2021 Collection

Posted on by Carol

Happy New Year!!

I’m super-excited to be part of a wonderful collaboration of seven designers.  The Rise Up 2021 Collection is a collection of seven patterns, with release dates of January 5, 12, 19, 26, and February 2, 2021.  We started with a concept, a set of colors, and a group of stitch patterns.  It was great fun to see how we each interpreted the same inspiration.  The photo above is Alcyone by Christine Guest Designs.

January 5
Mountain View from Knit Eco Chic
Alcyone from Christine Guest Designs

January 12
Fiber Dreams

January 19
Marcela Chang Knits

January 26
Garden Cowl from Knit Equals Joy

February 2
Ruth Brasch Design
Jill Wolcott Knits

Individual patterns may be purchased from the independent designers on February 15, 2021.

On January 5 the entire collection is $15. The price increases as patterns are added, ending with a selling price of $28.  No matter when you purchase the collection, you will own the whole thing as each new pattern is added.  The Rise Up 2021 Collection is available on Ravelry and Payhip.

For more information, see: Knitwear by the Book

My pattern, Garden Cowl, is a big, bold, bright and colorful colorwork cowl, worked in the round in worsted weight yarn.  It very easily can be a stash buster, or mostly a stash buster, as 4 of the 6 colors require only about 75 yards of yarn.  The picture below is a sneak peek of the cowl worn doubled.  I’m so very happy with this design.  It’s fun to make and fun to wear.  I will be able to show you the whole design in a few weeks…

 

Enjoy this great collection of patterns!  What a fun way to usher in 2021!

xoxo

Carol

Lindsay Newton Photography
Posted in knitting, knitting pattern, poncho, sweater pattern

Willow, Bold, and the next thing

Posted on by Carol

This weekend, our weather app predicts 100% chance of rain.  Usually they’re not so certain and like to hedge their bets a bit, but rain must be a pretty sure thing around these parts today and tomorrow.  (And, actually, it’s pretty much been raining non-stop since I started the first draft of this post earlier this morning).

This changes my plans somewhat, but it’s always a pretty safe bet that my weekend forecast includes chance of knitting: 100%.

You may have seen that I recently published Willow.

The name Willow evokes all things graceful: willows are strong and elegant, and, well, willowy.  I find myself wearing my Willow often.  It’s great to throw on when I get home from work in the evenings; I often get chilled, but if I can get my shoulders warm, the rest of me is warm, and Willow does that for me.

Willow is worked flat using bulky/chunky weight yarn, then seamed together with two quick seams.  There’s even a tutorial for the seaming, here: Cabled Poncho Seam. This would be a great pattern for someone just starting out with cables.

Beth made this beautiful purple Willow.

I love what she says about her Willow:

I finished my Cabled Poncho test knit for @knitequalsjoy and I LOVE it! I thought I wasn’t a poncho person…turns out I just hadn’t found the right one. I knit mine in @blueskyfibers Extra, (alpaca and merino blend) which has beautiful drape and will keep me warm! And of course, it’s purple.

Such beautiful knitting!  Thank you, Beth!

Currently in testing is Bold…with undertones of chocolate.  Now, whether you interpret that as referring to coffee or to beer is up to you!

Bold is an oversized sweater knit top down, seamless, and stockinette-side-out. It took a bit of engineering to get the sweater to be reversible and to include a giant cable, so I was thrilled when I was able to make it work.  If the ends are worked in carefully, the sweater truly is reversible, and can be worn with either the stockinette or the reverse stockinette side out, depending on your whim.

The pattern will be available for 5 sizes ranging from 32-50 in. (bust measurement).  If in between sizes, one can choose from the actual finished sizes for the best fit. It’s worked on size 8 and 9 needles, so it’s a pretty quick knit.

I’ve worn my Bold to work a couple of times and have felt like a million bucks in it each time.

The pattern should be released sometime in the summer or early fall.

Finally, I’m working on a new sweater design.  I recently found this yarn by Yama Fibre Arts and was smitten by its colors and textures. This is the YAMA Merino Linen Singles in Grey Sage and Nomad B3.

I’m using the two colors together.  It’s a subtle contrast, and I love it, but I can see this sweater in so many different color combinations.

 

A few designs seem to write themselves (like last year’s Autumn Spice Pumpkin ) – and this one seems to be doing that as well. I think the color, fiber content, and spin of the yarn must suggest what will work for the yarn.  It doesn’t always happen; sometimes the yarn puts up a stubborn and dogged fight against my ideas for it, but that’s another story…

This is worked in fingering weight and small(ish) needles, so it will be in the works for awhile before it’s ready for testing.  I’ll probably be posting lots of progress pictures on Instagram, so you can catch those in either the Instagram feed or the Knit Equals Joy Facebook page.

I hope that you all have a wonderful weekend and that the chance of rain wherever you are isn’t 100%!  Maybe your chance of knitting is.

xoxo

Carol

Posted in colorwork, design, The Creative Process, The Design Process

The Creative Project from H-E-Double Toothpicks

Posted on by Carol

Over a year ago, I was struck – “hit up ‘side the head” one might say – with the inspiration and desire to design a colorwork sweater. Nevermind that I had never designed a sweater. I was confident about the colorwork; not as confident about the construction of the sweater – but I had my reference books, so I was ready to go.

I started by building a secret Pinterest board – a mood board, so to speak. It is now a public board, if you want to check it out, here: Tee Inspiration. Using it as a springboard, I began choosing colors for the tee, charted out a flower, and began swatching.

Sand, Espresso, Pickle, Black, Lagoon, Melon, Earth, Carrot, Moss, Bronze, Rose, Mist
Sand, Espresso, Pickle, Black, Lagoon, Melon, Earth, Carrot, Moss, Bronze, Rose, Mist

I know that many of you have followed me through the process of working on this design.  I’ve written about it often over the past year:  What I Learned from the Swatch, What’s in the Hopper, 2016 – Possibilities, …and we have color!, Winter Ramblings, Sweater Surgery, or How I Cut Into my Sweater and Lived to Tell About It, Just a Little Sketch, Yes, I am still working on the Colorwork Tee!, and Colorwork Tee Update.

This blog examines the design process. When I am designing, I’m not only designing and coming up with something that is (hopefully) pretty, but I am also thinking about how my mind is processing information in order to come up with that design. Basically, I’m thinking about how I think while I’m thinking. I believe this caused me some anxiety when the design wasn’t coming together like I thought it should. I was experiencing roadblocks, and I didn’t know why. I do know enough from experience to know that when this happens, I should stop whatever I am doing and let my thoughts go work on some other problem for awhile.

However, at this point, probably 9 months after the initial inspiration, I had too much invested in the design. I felt driven to finish it. Even if it didn’t come out exactly as I had hoped, I just wanted it DONE.

So, I finished it. I finished the knitting, I finished the writing, and sent the pattern for tech editing. Whew, such a relief!

I think it’s telling that what I love most about the pattern are the photos. That photo shoot was great fun and practically all of the pictures turned out well. I also loved being able to use the Kitchener Stitch with this sweater and working with the fabulous yarn.

In grasses, shading eyes (683x1024)
Love this photo from the photo shoot

Still, I don’t feel confident in this pattern. I don’t think it is ready to go out into the world yet. A friend is testing it, and I worry that it’s not going to fit correctly. I know that sometimes those worries are completely unfounded; yet, there it is.

What this tells me is that the pattern needs to go into time-out for awhile. Perhaps I won’t ever publish it. Perhaps more time needs to go by and I need to work on other projects. Then suddenly one day, something will click, and I will know what this pattern needs. In the meantime, I may make my sweater into a dress (with a feather and fan skirt) and add long sleeves in teal. –Perhaps that’s what the pattern needs. Maybe I stopped too soon by making it a tee instead of a dress.

I’ll conclude by saying that now that I have finished writing the pattern, I feel incredible lightness. My brain cells are freed to think in other directions and about other designs. I had felt as if the life had been sucked out of me – and now it is back.

…more to think about in the design process…when something takes over like that and becomes nearly an obsession, perhaps that is the time to drop it and turn in another direction. Or perhaps one must pursue it to its conclusion to learn whatever lessons there are to be learned.

Note: This post was written a couple of months ago, in July. The pattern is still in time-out. Other patterns have been written. Is it time to move on? We’ll see…I’m still considering other methods of construction and other variations for the colorwork sections – kicking those ideas around to see if they will coalesce into something new.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by and to read about my experience with the project from H-E-Double Toothpicks!

Posted in art, design, knitting, knitting patterns, The Creative Process, The Design Process, Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday: Sketches

Posted on by Carol

Sketches.  Used to capture and make more concrete the wispy impressions of design ideas.  Or used to convey them to others in a third-party submission.  Some of these morphed into something else, perhaps recognizable to you.  Others, well, they were just thoughts.  A look into a sketchbook.Colorwork Cowl Sketch (2)

 

A sweater sketch

 

Route 66 Mitts (3)

Route 66 Mitts Blue (3)

 

Hat prototype

Timberline Scarf - p

Posted in design, inspiration, Oregon, photography, Salishan, The Coast, The Creative Process, The Design Process, Wordless Wednesday

Beach. Texture. Love.

Posted on by Carol

If you have followed my blog for long – or read my “about me” page – you know that I LOVE the beach. Part of what draws me to the beach is the endless variety of texture to be found there.  Especially here on the rugged Oregon Coast, the objects to be found on the beach are richly varied, always interesting.  I’m always looking for something unusual, something new, something lovely or striking.

barnacles

Texture strikes me.  It draws my attention.  It is beautiful in its order and in its variety. Visually, as light moves over the surface of an object or vista and the eye detects changes in line and shape, this is texture.  As light plays over differences in density within an object, and we see these differences, we see texture.  And when the eye travels over a surface and, along the way, discovers changes in the nature of that surface, we recognize this as texture.

Ebb pattern by Susan B. Anderson

The pictures in this post were originally published in a Wordless Wednesday in August 2015. There were reasons for choosing these specific photos, so I wanted to revisit them  – and to think about the nature of texture.

During a ridiculously long walk along this section of the beach in Newport, which I paid for later with complaining, swollen ankles and aching muscles (note to self: no more beach hikes wearing flip flops!) I was the winner in finding amazing textures, such as those in the barnacles and driftwood above.

And what about these wind shadows?  I found them enchanting – sand protected from the wind by small items on the sand blocking the movement of air.  This interesting textural phenomenon was all around that day.sand shadows

Fascinating: an object masquerading as something quite different in nature from its own nature.  shell as leaf

And finally, when I was heading back on that Newport hike, I came upon this impromptu sand and driftwood sculpture.  Well worth the price of admission!

Squirrels

I finally explored the Salishan Spit in August 2014, after having been curious about it for years.  It can be seen across the Siletz Bay from the highway, but I had never been there – I couldn’t even figure out how to get there! Finally I did my research, took the eight mile hike, and was mesmerized the entire time. There was something new to discover every bit of the way, from the dark sand (called “tar sand” by some locals) to a desolate “tree graveyard” filled with sunbleached, craggy remnants of an ancient forest.

DSCN5820

Lovely, delicious, intriguing, ubiquitous texture:
DSCN4822

DSCN5053

DSCN5795

When I returned to Gleneden Beach the following February to photograph the Salishan Cowl for the completed pattern, I was reminded again why this place had inspired this design.  The organic, curved shapes were everywhere, from the clouds in the sky to the patterns in the sand.

Salishan Cowl

DSCN5050

As my eye finds textured nuances like these, they are filed away in my brain under “inspiration.”  And some day, hopefully, bits and pieces of them will reconnect and reemerge – as a new and pleasing design.