Friday, April 27, 2012

Indie Designer Revisited

PhotobucketDesigner: Zoë Scheffy
Blog: Seaside Knitting
Rav ID: Luome-Cloudberry
Some Great Designs: Luome-Cloudberry's Rav Designer Page
Original Indie Designer Post: October 30, 2009

Looking at the list of publications Luome-Cloudberry has been a part of exemplifies, quite perfectly, my initial desire to create these Indie Designer Revisit posts.

First off are the pictured Sweetheart Legwarmers. Published in Knit Picks in 2011, these pretty leggies, simple and wonderfully decorated, make me want to: start dancing again, make more leggies, and wear different ones on each leg! I think it's cute.

In knit.wear's premiere issue, they featured Luome-Cloudberry's Ruffle Sleeve Pullover. One of my favourites from that publication, it makes perfect use of ruffles to add just the right amount of detail to a lovely, simple knit.

It's also good to see she's continuing with her self-publishing: two examples of thesesuch pieces are the Linen Stitch Tweed Hat and the unique and pretty Art Nouveau Headband. The Linen Stitch hat uses are great brim and cute wee ribbon to create personality in a very usable, classic, functional knit. The Art Nouveau Headband is, conversely, an historically inspired throwback to the early 1900s. Embellished with ribbon, button and a feather, this piece is fashionable whimsy at its best.

Luome-Cloudberry has also had the distinction (twice!) of being published in Interweave Knits. See her Latvian Braid Mitts and Nautilus Mitts. Both are wonderful examples of her style, which I think is summed up greatly in her blog name, Seaside Knitting.

Check it out! She has plenty more designs to see!

Friday, April 20, 2012

Indie Designer Day

PhotobucketDesigner: Mary Annarella
Blog: marymealittle
Etsy: maryrock
Rav ID: marymealittle
Some Great Designs: marymealittle's Rav Designer Page

My knitting friends like to joke about me and my affinity for the small-yarnned. "Oh, just wait. Teresa's gonna show up with a sock-weight onesie some day!"

I say, they shouldn't be giving me ideas. I'm very suggestable ;)

Knowing my love of lightweight yarns, it should come as no surprise to you that I'm waydeep in love with marymealittle's design style.

Tending toward the fine gauged, I've listed three here to whet your appetite:

Iolanthe (pictured) is so pretty and delicate and feminine while remaining young and fun. I'm always a bit leery of using lace in my own designs... perhaps an unfounded fear of looking "old-lady". But this lace, this collar shape, this cute succession of buttons and off-centre front opening make this a fantastic marriage of lace and youth.

Making Waves Cardigan makes use of another (sometimes) overlooked design element: ruching. Gawd I love this ruching. It's done so well in this small gauge, placed along the front edges and collar, adding just the right amount of detail to this simply-shaped cardigan. Bravo.

Finally, Posy Cowl again capitalizes on the strengths of a fine gauge. You can't get that beautiful, fine texture and cables with anything else. Stunning.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Off Off and Away

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Hi all!

I'm off, to return at the beginning of May.

Here's to hoping, with loads of fantastic stories, great stories, and wondrous yarn.

I've still got the Indie Designer posts set to go live; I won't be able to check/respond to email until my return.

Friday, April 13, 2012

Indie Designer Day

PhotobucketDesigner: Inês Sousa
Blog: seni
Rav ID: seni
Some Great Designs: seni's Rav Designer Page

This weeks' designer has an aesthetic that just feels like spring.

First up is the pictured Afago, a wonderfully textured cowl with interesting shape manipulation. How could you not artistically swoon over that collar?

Along with Afago, Eira is part of a five pattern e-book My Basic Collection Book 1. Eira is a light and airy scarf/shawl/wrap: one of those great pieces that can work in many ways.

And there's just something about Luz. I think it's the ratio between full on stockinette and lace, if find it dreamy.

Mayla is a great slouchy hat from another of the designer's ebooks, My Eco Collection - Book 1.
It's great to see a designers' style applied to a variety of garments, and I'd say this is one of the most light, spring-like berets I've ever seen!

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Paris, Berlin and Munich; Or, I remember a time when...

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This blog has become about lamenting a lack of knitting, rather than knitting itself.

And I do indeed lament wholeheartedly!

There's this and that excuse or reason (depending on your mood and inclination); at this particular moment, I'm choosing to give the reason for lack of progress as being my rapidly approaching vacation.

My countdown is on: I'll be away in less than a week, and have thus dropped all other of everything and am devoting my researching, leisure and otherwise time and efforts into detailing the minutia of travel.

Fun facts:

-"travel tips" seem, to me (and on the whole), to sound awfully close to stereotyping and racism.
-as soon as you buy your plane ticket, your airline will sound grumblings of strikes and employee strife. You then stress.
-no matter how you plan, your passport photo's gonna look terrible
-you suddenly realize how well you've squirreled away everything in home when you try to note down where all the "important stuff" is for your housesitter.

Anyhows, I figured "There's great people, knowledgeable people, who read this here blog. Maybe they'll have some great travel tips to share!"

How about it folks? I'll be heading to Paris, Berlin and Munich.
Any travel tips? Fascinating stories? Pitfalls to avoid?
____________
ps: That hard to decipher pic up top is a google maps of the yarn shops in Munich. I haz my priorities straight, I do!

Saturday, April 07, 2012

Indie Designer Day

PhotobucketDesigner: Joanne Lew-Goltz
Rav ID: Jnnlw
Some Great Designs: Jnnlw's Rav Designer Page

I couldn't wait to share this week's designer. She has two of the prettiest, most delicate patterns I've seen in a long time.

First off is the pictured Modern Juliet. Ruffles done right, I'd say! Wonderfully romantic, echoed in the very appropriate name of the knit. I really dig the asymmetry of the button neckline and pocket.

This designer has but two patterns, and both hold the same sort of whimsical delicacy that appears to be her aesthetic. Pianissimo Symphony Series is an in progress knit, and my is it lovely! The drape, the detail, the delicacy. I can't wait til this one is published!

Wednesday, April 04, 2012

Oh, the Joy of a Meme

Wheee! Meme time!
I like reading other people's memes too, so if you are creatively inspired by this miasma of "I like this" and "I hate that", then please leave a linky to your meme in the comments.
I'd like a time-kill today, folks.

1. A Picture of Me

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Super classy Instagram pic.

2. 10 Random Facts about Me

  • If you had offered me sushi three years ago, I would have vomited in revolt and charged in the opposite direction. Nowadays I can have it every night. Can I please? Anyone want to come to my place and be a sushi chef?
  • I try my best to avoid using any idioms - especially in writing, but also in everyday conversation. Not sure why - I think I enjoy the challenge of slapping other random words together to create my OWN phrases!
  • I still have items in my closet from high school.
  • Pet peeve: people who approach me at work and imply that I must be so bored and have nothing to do all day. Yeah. Thanks. That's right. I do nothing at work all day.
  • It took me six months to muster the energy and sew some curtains for the kitchen. The breaking point? It's getting warm out now, and people will be in their backyards... looking right into my kitchen... not cool.
  • I check the weather network all the time for the forecast, but never *really* believe it.
  • I want Netflix, but am currently too lazy/busy to figure out if it's actually cheaper than cable.
  • For some reason, I'm incredibly cheap when it comes to my hose/tights/whatever you wish to call them. I know they're generally rather inexpensive, but dammit, I try to repair those run, sew those holes, and scrub those evil shoe stains out so I don't have to buy new ones (what's with those shoe stains? It can't just be me.)
  • I recently read my profile in the book The Secret Language of Birthdays and was rather disturbed by its apparent accuracy.
  • The last yarn I purchased was some Rowan cotton. I felt like a shell of myself purchasing cotton - I swore I'd never do it again, and yet here we are.

3. Question Time

1. What was the first album you ever purchased (vinyl, tape, or cd)?

Well, my parents bought me the New Kids on the Block single for "Tonight Tonight". On tape. Then I think I bought myself Barenaked Ladies "Gordon". On tape.
And my first cd purchase, I believe, was Bryan Adams "So Far So Good". Canadian girl! (don't ask me what my first concerts were. You'd cringe. Laugh. And possibly never ever take me seriously again).

2. What was the first accessory you bought with your own money?

With my own money? Can't recall. Likely some sort of studded dog-collar-esque Goth nightmare. In fact, I'm pretty sure that's what it was, since I distinctly recall being oh-so-proud of my authority-defiance when, after being asked by the Vice-Principle to take off that 'dog collar', I did absolutely nothing.

3. Favourite gift you’ve ever received?

Tricky! Hm, I think I recall being very excited by the (not digital) camera my parents bought for me in high school. Also was really keen on the Simba and Nala kissing stuffed animals I was gifted in grade 8.

4. The coolest person you’ve ever met?

Pfft, my friends are all cool. Don't make me choose.

5. The item in your home with the most sentimental value?

I think it might be the house itself, seeing as how it was my grandparents' place, where my mom grew up, and I have loads of childhood memories from.

6. The grossest thing in your refrigerator right now?

There's probably some sort of veggies thisclose to rotting in the crisper. I try not to open that part.

7. Something you always purchase at the grocery store?

I went through a chocolate chip Clif Bar phase. Now I've moved on to yogurt and crap-loads of eggs (they're a superfood!)

8. One thing you hope to accomplish this year.

I have such a cool knit collection languishing in my brain. We'll see if my wrist lets me get that published this year.

9. Your current favourite song.

Too hard to pick, but I'll tell you, I've had "Summer of '69" stuck in my head since I typed that business about Bryan Adams up there.

10. What we’d eat together if I showed up on your door step today.

I do believe I just referenced sushi up there too... Want to get some? I'll take 20 piece of salmon sushi, followed by some Red Dragon rolls and white tuna sashimi!

Tuesday, April 03, 2012

Opinion Poll: Miss Manners Says Knit Knit Knit Away

PhotobucketI'm late to the party.
Again.

Oh, why do I live under the rock I live under?

Here's a link to a reply Miss Manners gave to a reader who had a problem with knitters knitting when they should otherwise be paying attention.

Generally I entirely agree with Miss Manners. There's a few exceptions, but I find most of the advice she gives seems to be common sense.

Except this nugget.

I don't happen to think it's common sensical to knit in a place where you would otherwise be expected to pay attention. In a place where your apparent (apparent, to non-knitters, of course) lack of attention is read as insulting and rude.

I know I can pay attention to the world around me and knit at the same time. I know my knitting isn't loud, I'm not moving around and creating a distraction for other people.

But, a lot of living in society, dealing with other people, and operating under the banner of politeness dictates that you must take other people's feelings into account: act empathetically.

I figure most people (especially non-knitters, but knitters aw well) would read one's harmless knitting as rude.

Your thoughts?