Posted originally in 2011 I took a second look at Dorothy recently and decided to spiff her up a bit. Spawned from Katherine (who, in namesake, is in fact her mother – how ideal!), here she is re-orchestrated this time, on circular needles – so NO seams! Hooray :), and so fun to knit.
Katherine – just in time
Welcome Katherine – just in time for summer! This summery shell of chevron lace is a quick knit, a perfect summer project. You'll find its 9 stitch by 8 row lace pattern repeat is easily mastered, creating just enough stitch variety to keep things interesting while flying off the needles. Add a belt for a pop of color, or wear it without accessories to reveal a sleek and slim silhouette.
"The best-laid plans of mice and men go oft awry"
This title, a line from a Robert Burn poem, describes July 2012 design activities. My intended offering, Amelia, will be August's instead... and so it goes for best-laid plans. I like to have things neat and tidy – working on one thing at a time, making lists, looking ahead, making plans – but the truth is some of my best ideas have come out of turn, out of left field, seemingly out of no where ... and when they do, happily, I've learned to let them.
Dorothy I had been hard at work on Amelia (a 2-color, raglan sleeve, lace?, garter stitch? number), when I received an email from a ravelry follower asking for more detailed pictures of Dorothy. Eager to accommodate the request (I hadn't thought of Dorothy for a while), I went back for a closer look. Still lovin' her for sure, but in the year since her release my work has taken some turns. I found myself fixated on her update. I wanted her longer, more shaped, and wasn't she a delightful candidate for reworking on circular needles? (I'm lovin' circular needles these days.) But wait... more pondering...
wouldn't a much better candidate for this all out remake be Emma? Or at least her chevron lace?? A week of trials followed. Still intrigued, it didn't take me too long to dismantle Amelia and reset sights on this new project, now appropriately renamed Katherine (Dorothy's mother) – and to modify my planning queue accordingly.
Katherine has turned out to be a chevron lace summer shell, longer than both Dorothy or Emma, with shaping more reminiscent of Margareta,and, yes, worked on circular needles. With luck (and best-laid plans), I'll have her launched next week.
And just to satisfy my however-futile, list requirement, a brief bulleted recap:
- Dorothy remains on it, needing some new pictures after gentle circular reworking,
- as does dear Amelia, who may or may not end up as I envision her now. We shall see.
On a separate note, in the midst of July's upheaval came an invitation from Robin Hunter, who asked if she could interview me for her designer-series blog. Needless to say I was delighted to accept – in the midst of reassessment, a bit of self-assessment! You'll find that conversation here.
Margareta revealed
Meet Margareta, this design the namesake of my grand-aunt, dad's aunt. She was not only my grandmother's sister, but her sister-in-law as well! How possible? Sisters of one family married brothers of another! How fun is that, and a bit risky too for relationships overall – but so it goes in matters of the heart.
Margareta is a two-color, short-sleeved tee worked in fingering-weight wool – light and airy for warm days and nights. Its sleeves and shoulders are worked in ribbon lace – an easily mastered 9 stitch by 20 row repeat – in a complimentary color that provides a fresh pop and textural companion – a bit of frosting – to the stockinette stitch simplicity of its lower bodice. This tee is slim-fitting, shaped, and extends mid-hip in length. Worked bottom-up, the lower portion begins as one piece on circular needles, until the starting point of the lace at the underarm where it splits and each side is worked separately.
Click here for pattern details. You'll find this pattern for sale on Ravelry.
And for my next number...
I've been thinking (a lot) lately about lacy tees – a series maybe – but this time made with Quince's Finch, a fingering-weight wool definitely thinner than I've been working lately but appropriate for a warm weather top.
The wool is on its way to me, and swatches are done. Aren't these fun?
I look for lace stitch patterns that are easy to knit – a simple repeat with an every-other-purl row for a bit of rest along the way. I love the lace but not a complicated process. I think others may agree.
Lace for the Helens
Oh, I get so excited when I launch a new piece. This one is for my aunts, both named Helen.
My Helen sweater is a shapely, lacy, v-neck pullover. Its Hexagon Fern lace – an easily mastered 18 stitch by 16 row repeat – is worked throughout and echoes the lines of its 1x1 rib trim and angled neckline. The bodice is slim fitting, extending mid-hip in length, and follows body curves. Narrow sleeves end just below the elbow, long short sleeves that feel ample. This versatile piece may be dressed up or down and layered, establishing it as one of my all-occasion, year-round favorites.
Click here for pattern details. You'll find this pattern for sale on Ravelry.
My Mary Jacket
Perfect for spring, or any season, is my latest design – the Mary jacket. I ventured into new territory this time working the oh-so-easy garter stitch on Quince&Co's Osprey aran weight wool. The happy result is this most comfortable and stylish (if I do say so myself) Mary jacket. You'll find it a snap to knit (bottom-up) with no seams (except for set-in sleeves; kitchener weaving at shoulders and back neck), and all shaping so subtle and wonderfully invisible.
What a treat to make and wear!
Taking stock
About a year ago, when I first started designing knits for publication, I thought about what to name my patterns. Up until this time I had titled them simply as cardigan with three-quarter sleeves.. and I knew this wouldn't do. Then it came to me and I named the first for my mother, Marlene. This felt right. The work is quite personal for me after all, and a family affair with daughter Juliet as top model. I continued this naming convention with each new design that followed, tapping my maternal family tree – a project researched initially by great aunt Hilda, an MIT librarian in her day.
Here's my first set of designs, in chronological order by namesake.
great great grandmother, Johanna
great grandmother, Martha,
great great aunt, Louise,
great great aunt, Augusta - aka Gussie
great great aunt, Florence - aka Flossie
great great aunt, Emma
great great aunt, Harriet - aka Hattie
great great aunt, Dorothy
great aunt, Hilda
grandmother, Mildred
grandmother, May
and finally mum, Marlene
Oh how they would have enjoyed this work.
I'm on to dad's family now and when I look at my pattern list on Ravelry I feel surrounded by kindred spirits – like a group hug :).
For you, Nelly.
Nelly was my dad's aunt and I was a little girl when I knew her. She sold newspapers in the underground subway station at Park Street in Boston. It's not likely she ever had a sweater as nice as this, but she certainly deserved one. For you, Nelly.
This is a slim fitted, lace covered pullover. Its narrow sleeves are generously long. The lace, named alternating leaf, is an easily mastered 10 stitch by 12 row repeat. Pieces are knit flat, bottom up, with seaming.
Click here for pattern details. You'll find this pattern for sale on Ravelry.
Agnes, and beyond
I'm delighted to present my latest design, Agnes, inspired by a simple long sleeved tee shirt. The fit is just right, just as I planned – for a change. Interesting how the process of design unfolds. I can count on my initial aim to take several turns during the making. That said, I've sketched out my goals for the year: 12 designs or so, one a month... The theme is mostly long and lean, like Agnes. There's a cape, jacket (double breasted), a cardigan or 2, a lacy number, some of these with a trim – fringe or ruffle, and probably a stole or cowl to round things out.
Johanna launched – happy 2012
Moving into colder weather, the diamond brocade of this cozy pullover is reminiscent of lace – winter lace. Johanna's simple brocade repeat and slim-fitted styling create a romantic silhouette. Bodice and sleeves are long. Garter bands define the waist, neckline, and hems. a 3-button placket closure at the shoulder gives easy access and a bit of additional decoration. Pieces are knit flat, bottom up, with seaming.
Click here for pattern details. You'll find this pattern for sale on Ravelry.
Johanna twice
Just under the wire for 2011, here we are wearing Johanna. Juliet's in her black and white randomly striped version and I'm in the very textural diamond brocade – or winter lace as I've come to think of it. Both have been knit with Quince & Co.'s delightful chickadee wool.
Pattern will be posted on Ravelry by tomorrow – if the Fates allow – though I'll likely toast its launch tonight! I just can't wait.
Thank you family, friends, and Ravelry fans, for inspiration, motivation, and support. It's been a fun year of happy knitting.
Winter lace?
Here's a peek at my next piece, Johanna, named for my grandmother's grandmother.
I just love the delicate texture of this diamond brocade that feels like lace to me without the holes. Juliet and I collaborated on the sweater design, but she wanted stripes – random stripes! and although her wish is my command I feared random stripes might intimidate prospective knitters especially in light of shaping and buttoned cuffs. (I'll admit to being a bit intimidated myself!) So I've made her version first, serving the groundwork for dimensions and sizing. It looks fabulous on her and we'll certainly get a picture during our next photo shoot. Meanwhile my work continues, happily, on this – aiming for a December pattern launch. Stay tuned!
Flossie stole
The generous dimensions of my all-season Flossie stole serve the wearer well - as a neck wrap fending winter winds or around the shoulders for gentler breezes.
Answering my search for a simple yet interesting lace, is this 11 stitch by 20 row repeat of zigzag vine. Briefly trimmed with garter stitch, you'll find this an enjoyable project to make and most luxurious to wear.
Augusta - aka Gussie
Great aunt Augusta, better known as Gussie, was a bit of a wild child I'm told and I'm intrigued – the ideal namesake I feel for this sassy knit.
Here I offer the lace and shaping of my Louise cardigan re-imagined slightly shorter with elbow length sleeves and a broad neckline scoop, making for a perfect all-season topper. Wide garter stitch bands that trim its edges create a calming balance for the active diagonal of its lace. Most flattering, it may easily be dressed up or down, shown here fashioned with a favorite belt. Pieces are knit flat, bottom up, with seaming.
Click here for pattern details.
Introducing Louise
Juliet introduces Louise in Quince's wonderful birds egg blue chickadee wool.
Lace translated for a cardigan in this piece is trimmed and "waisted" with wide garter bands. Styling features include slim fitting three-quarter sleeves and a broad banded neckline. Unbuttoned it's a casual hip skimming topper, or button it up to reveal hour-glass shaping with blousy elegance. No worries - the 10 stitch by 16 row repeat of its lace is easily mastered. Pieces are knit flat, bottom up, with seaming.
Click here for pattern details.
Birds Egg
This color makes my heart sing.
And is what Louise, my next design offering, will be wearing. She's almost done, launched hopefully by week's end. Quince & Co. does a fine job with colors, and the gauge of their chickadee yarn line suits my aesthetic.
I've been working on Louise for the past several weeks, on its knitting and its documentation simultaneously, and have been struck along the way with how the writing has served the designing – 2 halves of the whole, the what and how – keeping my process honest and text most simply put. Its stitch and row calculations have at times been complicated to work out, which should not be apparent to those who give the project a go. That's my goal.
Marlene revisited
Marlene was the first pattern I published on Ravelry, named for my mum, who is forever in my heart. She'd be delighted too.
Hilda's up!
I had intended to launch Gussie next – the third in my summer lace series, but just as I was gearing up to do so notice of Patternfish's 10,000th design competition arrived by email. Gussie, I feel, would be a worthy submission, so I've paused on her launch for now to give Hilda the spotlight – in good time for fall planning.
Thank you CEY
Classic Elite Yarns contacted me last week OUT OF THE BLUE asking permission to use May in their new webletter just out today. Needless to say I agreed.
I've used their Wool Bam Boo (50% wool-50% bamboo) exclusively for the past several years. I'm accustomed to its gauge and attracted to its texture, each stitch so delineated. The drape is perfect for my styling. For my next project I'm using Quince&Cos Chickadee wool, and loving that too.