Indie Designer Revisited

Designer: Kai Mistry
Blog: Yarn Mistrys
Rav ID: koolkitten11
Some great designs: Kai's Rav Designer Page
Original Indie Designer Post: August 15, 2008

Kai is the very first designer I profiled on the Indie Designer Days, and since August 2008, she's been up to lots of great things!

The pictured Tamarai is a lovely kaftan, featured in the Winter 2008 edition of The Inside Loop.

For some adorable footwear, check out her self-published Summer Tabi Anklets. I really dig the colour changes, and the sock shape itself.

Kai is also a great crochet designer. See her Azure Skies shawl, a lovely, delicate and flowing accessory that displays her great skill with crochet design.

And most recently, check out her Stark, a fantastic knit hat. It would do wonderfully for any man to whom you'd like to give a knitted gift. My personal experience is that the gentlemen in my life appreciate the more understated in their garments, and this pattern achieves that wonderfully.

Don't miss out on her blog! It's very pretty, and often features her adorable pet dogs :)

Indie Designer Day

Designer: The Jane Victoria
Etsy Shop: The Jane Victoria
Rav ID: lmariebenjamin
Some Great Designs: lmariebenjamin's Rav Designer Page

Beautiful. Elegant. Historical.
This week's designer, lmariebenjamin, has breathtakingly lovely designs.
With interesting shapes and construction, she skilfully intertwines those three aspects into each of her designs.

See the pictured Alassë Míriel Hooded Cowl. I had to include this multi-view of the piece, because of its changeable prettiness and wearability.

Next, check out Enelya Linwëlin Sleeved Mantelet. A style hearkening back to Victorian sensibilities, this piece would keep you warm and uniquely outfitted in the last chilly breezes of Spring!

Caladhiel Oronar Armwarmers are inspired by an even earlier time period. These ornate, Rococo-esque lacy pieces are dainty and wonderful; I can imagine how pretty they would look with the frill hanging out from the bottom of your coat sleeves.

Another bit of Rococo whimsy, her Isil Sáralondë Legwarmers are so cool and unique. I need to fashion an outfit good enough to compliment these legwarmers, just so that I can wear them!

Keep your eyes open for an upcoming project, inspired by Gibson girl style. The designer wrote to me, "I hope it looks as good in real life as it does in my head."
I'm entirely sure it will be! Every one of lmariebenjamin's designs take my breath away!

(Also, check out her etsy shop; she has patterns and FOs for sale. Admire and drool over the lovliness!)

Indie Designer Day

Designer: Erin Archer
Blog: erin
Etsy Shop: Start at the Beginning
Rav ID: ekatearcher
Some Great Designs: ekatearcher's Rav Designer Page

This week's designer has a style that seems to shout Spring! Soft! and Sweet!

First, see the pictured katherine. This free (!) pattern is delicate and lovely, and this photograph displays ekatearcher's pretty aesthetic, seen throughout her patterns and on her blog.

Next, see her pretty top/vest, fishtails. I love the detail of lace along the bottom, and how the line beneath the bust echos this shape.

An adorable little cabled vest, plaited, is a very cool way to use those few, much beloved buttons and a smaller amount of yarn and get yourself a stylin FO that can be worn through multiple seasons.

Finally, check out the lovely en pointe, a sweet wrap top. I'm so very in love with this pattern! It's simple and flattering - look for it to be released later this month!!

Henry, Anne and the Egg

I did promise to keep you updated on some of those various goings-on from my marathon-posting last month, and I'm happy to say there's some good news!
Early this morning, Anne laid an egg!

Below you see the happy couple side-by-side, celebrating their achievement with a spot of mutual feather preening.

The egg is about the size of my thumbnail. What will likely happen is Anne will lay one egg a day til her brood is complete - usually they consist of four to six eggs. After that, she'll sit on them for about two weeks til they hatch.
If they hatch!
When birds mate, they do it very quickly. So, I can't really be sure that these eggs are fertilized, seeing as how I never actually witnessed Henry and Anne being amourous.
If the eggs aren't fertilized, it's best to remove them after about three weeks. Otherwise the little hen will sit and sit, all for naught.

Indie Designer Day

Designer: Rue
Blog: Tinks and Frogs
Rav ID: Rue
Some Great Designs: Rue's Rav Designer Page

I really hope this designer continues to create and publish her work, because her first pattern, Larch, is so absolutely lovely!

This wee shawlette has great texture and just enough lace. It's infinitely wearable, and appears to be just the sort of knit that would be perfect for a Pure Pleasure Knit - that is, a knit where you don't have to stress, and end up with a fantastic FO to show off.

I suggest keeping an eye open for Rue's knits. If this piece is any indication, she's certainly my kind of designer!!

Tweet Tweet Twitter Twitter

Every place, every one and every thing (it seems) needs to be on Twitter, even the museum where I work.
It was after playing with this account at work that I decided dear Twitter was the bee's knees, I was keen on it, and that I needed to have one for meeeee.

If you dig it, you can see my inanity located in one, easy to use space.
Look no further than the linkage on the button below.

Indie Designer Day

Designer: Linda Skuja
Blog: eleven
Website: Eleven Handmade
Etsy Shop: Eleven Handmade
Rav ID: LindaBelinda11
Some Great Designs: LindaBelinda11's Rav Designer Page

There's many-a-time that I've heard crochet poo-pooed. The prejudice against this fibrey craft seems to be rather deep rooted and strong.
While I admit I've seen my fair share of toilet paper cozies, unnecessarily silly doll dresses and (the sometimes unsettling) holiday "decoration", I think you'll agree with me when I say that this week's designer casts away all doubt that crochet can be beautiful!

Check out her Bolero sweater with high collar (picture © Linda Skuja). I love fun and interesting pieces like this. The collar is fantastic; the shape is functional (cause I can't tell you how often my arms are colder than the rest of me!) and the lace is wonderfully understated.

A free pattern, Cardigan by eleven, is a prefect way to use crochet to great effect. The undulous structure and openwork natural to this craft adds interest to the piece; when the cardigan is belted, it exudes a casual chic that is both cozy and attractive.

Finally, for a bit of cool retro fun, check out her Hoodie by Eleven. The shell stitch and other variations, along with colour changes, make this a throw-it-on statement piece. I love the hood, the length is perfect, the U-shaped neckline dips down to just the right depth - I could go on!

So, did my attempts at a persuasive argument work? I certainly hope so - this crochet is beautiful!

But, before I go: there's been plenty this designer has been up to since I first asked to profile her! Here are some recent pieces of news:

-she's been nominated for the 3rd Annual Crochet Award as a best new crochet designer! Good luck!
-she's become a member of Crochet Guild of America; they have a design contest in September which she'll be participating in
-she's recently opened a brand-spanking-new etsy shop! Check out the link at the top of this post
-in a wonderful bit of designing delight, she's created a multi-purpose, multi-wear piece of crochet, Transformer4in1. This piece is a hood, cowl, scarf and shrug all in one! Check out her blog post here to see how she devised this fantastic design!