Friday, January 23, 2009

Indie Designer Day

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Designer: Carrie Strine
Blog: Carrie Strine's Hand-Me-Downs
Esty Shop: Carrie Strine's Hand-Me-Downs
Esty Shop the Second: Carrie Strine's Hand-Me-Downs Yarn
Rav ID: handmedowns
Some Great Designs: handmedown's Rav Designer Page

Warmth and comfort seem to emanate from Carrie Strine's knits. Beautifully designed garments and whimsies and two wonderfully stocked etsy shops leave one in no doubt of her creativity!

Pictured here is one of her more recent additions to the knit-world, Miss Alice. It's so textural and enticing!

Another show of her use of texture is the Veronique Cowl. Take a look at the projects page - the things that can be accomplished with a scalloped lace design and yarn!

Diversely talented, Carrie also has lovely examples of colourwork - take these Meredith fingerless gloves for example.

A sweet example of one of her wee whimsies is this pear pattern. I think I need a bowl-full of these. A perfect use for very special yarn remnants, methinks.

And now for something a little different!
Carrie, this week's designer, has obliged me with a couple q and a's - and she's also set up a giveaway on her blog! Surf on over to her site (Carrie Strine's Hand-Me-Downs) and enter to win. Inter-blog blogging, I love it!

Where do you get your inspiration?

A: The process is really what inspires me. Designing is all about solving a problem for me, and I think this has to do with my art background. I don’t just wake up and think “Viola, this is what I will make today!”. It’s more like wow, I’ve done a million swatches with this yarn so far what’s working and what’s not, and where would I want this on my body? Then I just slowly narrow it down into something that I would actually wear.

What sites/mags/books would you recommend for people interested in design?:

A: Selvedge is a fabulous magazine for anyone interested in textiles of any kind
I really like www.knotions.com and I think it would be a great place for someone to get some of their designs out there.
European versions or Vogue are usually really great to look at too for ideas and trends.

4 comments:

Hilary said...

Oooh...the cowl is stunning, and I think I need a Miss Alice in every color. Now I'm off to enter her giveaway!

Team Knit said...

Ooh, you're right about her designs being a texture-fest! Love love love.

- Julie

Ellen said...

I love that texture!

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for your Indie Designer Days. I have 'met' so many designers through you. Thanks so much for what must be hours!!! on ravelry to find the great ones that you post about.