One of the many things I like about my knitting enterprise (the design work, website, and blog) is how its "branding" evolves. Over the past 3 years I've changed my website format a few times, which has spawned like changes to my business cards, the pattern font and layout, etc., and each time I'm tempted to go back and change all of my prior patterns (38 published at this writing) to match the new look – but I resist. (Truthfully it's an ongoing internal dialog. I can be that kind of perfectionist.) Such would be crazy work, I tell myself, and would get in the way of my knitting.
The latest in this evolution involves the naming of my designs. Up until now I've used my family tree as source, beginning with my mum – Marlene. By now I'm running out of family names, and since I expect to never stop this work :), I need another plan.
I read recently a blog post by knitwear designer Bristol Ivy (Where the Red-Winged Blackbird Flies) where she recites a Shaker spiritual, "by turning, turning, we come 'round right." She's a wonderful writer and I found this passage particularly poetic. I've thought of it a lot since and as often happens, I notice, when timing is right ideas come together. From this I've decided to name my pieces lyrically while keeping their basis in my history and family story. It feels right, and consistent, hopefully opening up a whole world of naming possibilities – though currently I'm thinking only of the next.
Oh Johnny Lee – mum's first crush, as written in her teenage diary that I found and secretly read as a scoundrel child, then broadcast to the family, as we laughed and laughed. Mum laughed too, though I never saw that diary again. I don't think she'd mind me using the memory.
Launch of Oh Johnny Lee forthcoming.
Olive is purple
or technically crocus – #115 of Quince's color wheel.
Olive Clough begot Olive Ziegler – aunt and cousin of my grandmother Mildred, who later married Harold – brother of Olive Welch. Olive must have been a popular name back then.
Olive is also a double-breasted cardigan in chunky wool, worn so well by Juliet.
Alice, resurrected
Alice, what a beautiful name. I was pleased to find her among my ancestors in our family tree – Alice May Welch, sister of my grandfather Harold, and of Marjorie. I do love to bring my family members, to life again in this way.
I've had this color-block design in the wings for a few months – since it was graciously declined by the publication to which I had submitted. By that time I had already worked up the prototype to ensure that, if accepted, any related deadlines would be less stressful, and her styling would be just as I imagined. Recently with autumn in the air (at least in my locale) she came to mind and yesterday I posted the pattern to ravelry. I'm so happy to see my ravelry friends giving her thumbs up. Things have a way of working out... as they should? Yes, I think so.
In addition to ravelry, you'll find my Alice pattern for sale on craftsy, also linked from my website, here. Enjoy!
Paper toys 2013
It's August and time to focus on my paper toys and Hoss family Christmas gift giving assignments. Ellie and Mark celebrated their 55th(!) wedding anniversary this summer, and as soon as I opened the party invitation I knew I'd found the theme for this year's Christmas Pick announcement.
A walk through Bloomingdales a few weeks ago spawned lots of ideas for a knitted gift. I picked one and am running with it – will be posting about it by next week for sure.
July is Lena
I've got my July design nicely underway, named Lena for my great grandfather's cousin. (It's this family line – the brother of my great, great, grandfather who traveled with him from Switzerland in the late 1800's – that eventually marries into my husband's family long before I do, but that's a story for a future knitted piece that I'll get to pretty soon. Sadly I am running out of family names and will eventually resort to assigning design namesakes to those of us who are still living, though this may well please my pals. Family tree research sure has been fun!)
The design for Lena was spawned initially from my search for a lace. I ran across the Double Wing pattern in one of Barbara Walker's books. It's easily memorized (a requirement) with short repeats and I loved that there was both an open version
and a closed one.
Initially I thought they might look cool paired, but after swatching I found the open version more appealing so I stuck with it.
At this writing, Lena's bodice will be shaped, as per my usual, and with a wide scoop neck. Her sleeves will be slightly longer than those for recently published Marjorie. I like this silhouette, and lately like playing with raglan sleeves so I stuck with these design elements too. I'm working the sample with Quince chickadee, also my usual, but in the new-to-me petal color that I've found to be unexpectedly fantastic –
at first glance almost colorless in its pale-ness, but while working it has become nicely saturated. It feels quite rich to me by now, and a favorite.
Also note, I'm tweeting!, turned on to twitter by Juliet who found, to my delight, that fellow tweeters were mentioning my designs. For those of you who tweet too, you'll find me there as @DebHossKnits. I hope you'll follow me as I post regular updates about my knitting progress, and maybe a bit more.
Ruth, you rascal :)
Great aunt Ruth married pastor Albert, my grandmother's brother. Word is that pastor Albert enjoyed watching his rascal bride Ruth vacuum au naturel. Makes me wonder how that word ever got out (hee hee!) – but oh how my mum enjoyed this story. I like to think that with her house finally cleaned Ruth might have slipped on this rascally tee to go out on the town.
Thinking of you dear Ruth – with a loving grin.
My Ruth is a cap-sleeved tee covered in scroll lace with back waistband ribbing to accentuate the curves.
You'll find this pattern now published and available from my ravelry shop, and also linked from here.
Lyrical Lillian
Great aunt Hilda's birth certificate shows her name as Lillian Hildagard, though no one ever called her that. I'm not sure why.
She was a lovely lady, hiding her lovely, lyrical name from the world – but not for long.
Here's Juliet modeling Lillian – a shapely, color-block, garter trimmed pullover, with bracelet length sleeves and a circular shawl collar.
For a closer look, you'll find this published pattern available from my ravelry shop, and also linked from here.
Jazzy Jeanette
"Fresh and modern" is how one ravelry follower described Jeanette, this latest lacy pullover – thrilling feedback to be sure! And although I'd like to take full design credit, alas, I cannot. This is the brainchild of Juliet, who wears it so well. Truly my muse, my daughter aims to keep my thinking young (while nature takes its course with all other parts of me).
Jeanette is the name of my grand-aunt Margareta's daughter-in-law (and also of her granddaughter) – appropriate namesake for this piece I'd say. With a slightly longer bodice, three-quarter sleeves, and garter trimming Margareta's been jazzed up a bit – much as, I'd like to think, my girl does for me.
Click here for pattern details. You'll find this pattern for sale on Ravelry.
Jane cowl series – an ebook
Agnes was the name of my grandmother, matriarch of dad's family, and also of her third daughter, my aunt. Turns out they shared Jane as their middle names too – who knew! Happily, me now, thanks to dad's work on his family tree.
Keeping spirits alive, I'm pleased to introduce my Jane Cowl Series, namesake of the Agnes Janes.
Paper toys 2012
Every August I pause from knit design to orchestrate something else – the Hoss family Christmas Picks.
I make paper toys that highlight an event from the past year and announce the upcoming holiday gift giving assignment for each of my dear in-laws, 16 of us in all. This year we celebrated Pam and Scott's new home.
By now it's well known that Santa Deb will deliver something knitted. And sure enough, design work is underway.
Teresa and the Bernards
Teresa married Bernard Henry. Bernard's father was named Bernard Henry too, and so was his son. His grandson they named Henry Bernard, probably because his cousin Bernard Henry had already snagged it in its original form. Confused yet? Henry Bernard's grandson – my dad – was a Bernard Henry too, and I'm pretty sure that's the end of the naming line. I know of no Bernards and Henrys within the family since then. Probably a good thing.
This sweater is named for great-great-grandmother Teresa, and dedicated to all the Bernard Henrys and at least one of the Henry Bernards I know of.
Introducing Teresa, a long-sleeved cardigan with a deep v-neckline. Worked in 2 colors (one main and its trim), Seeded Rib Check is its stitch – a simple alternating sequence of knits and purls, dense and springy, and super comfortable. Horizontal pockets positioned at the hips are lined with the color of its trim, for some secret fun. Pieces are knit flat, bottom-up, with seaming.
Versatile Teresa will surely become one of my year-round favorites. I can just tell.
Click here for pattern details. You'll find this pattern for sale on Ravelry.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
Hattie
I'm hard at work on my latest project, named Hattie. Not quite post-ready yet as there'll be a remake before I do. There's been too many changes along the way to trust scribbles without a double-check. Hattie (Harriet) was my grandmother's aunt, the youngest sibling of her mother Martha, born in 1888. I was a teenager when our paths crossed; she was in her late 70s. She appreciated my interest so I've got her knitting needles. Hattie, the sweater, has a shawl collar created as a separate piece that extends around the neckline and down the bodice front as a vertical insert.