ConnieLene – KnitDesigner

Mormor (mothers mother in Danish) can you knit bird pictures?

moi: yes I could, but I don’t.

Why?

moi: I don’t usually knit pictures.

Why not?

moi : Because I don’t like knitting pictures.

Why? Is it too hard for you?

moi: no, it isn’t too hard. Bird pictures are knitted using the intarsia method. I knit intarsia often. In fact, I love knitting intarsia. I just don’t knit pictures. Okay.

If you knit intarsia and that knits pictures why don’t you knit birds?

moi: Intarsia is the method I use to knit with many colours. I could knit pictures if I wanted to.

Why don’t you then?

moi: because I don’t really like knitting pictures.

Why not?

now you can see where this is going can’t you?

If you knit intarsia you could knit me a sweater with a bird on the front, couldn’t you?

moi: I could but you would not wear a sweater with a bird on the front, would you? and I don’t really like knitting pictures.

but you could, couldn’t you?

moi: yes I could but you would not wear it.

I would if you knitted me one.

moi thinking: this is a boy aged 8 going on 9 (in June) – would he really wear this sweater more than once? Would I really commit to creating one? I hate sweaters with pictures, I really do.

moi out loud: would you like me to knit you a winter telly watching blanket – that could have a kind of bird on it.

Yes it could, but I would wear a sweater with a bird on the front that you made.

moi thinking: this boy will go a long way

moi out loud: what say we stick to a telly watching blanket with a kind of a bird on it, would that be okay?

Yes it would, but I would wear a sweater with a bird on the front that you made.

moi thinking: oh no you wouldn’t.

Am I wrong? This is a boy who is passionate about birds, plants and animals. It is an honour to think that he would wear a sweater that I create with a bird on it. But he is nearly 9 and loves robots, cars, the planet, swimming, rugby and cricket and plays a mean game of sequence, tries chess, and thinks his mormor is too old to dance, climb hills and ride bikes. But he thinks I am good enough to knit a bird picture on a sweater that he will wear.

What should I do?

Thank you to everyone who read the post Sweet Shawlettes by Jean Moss and went on to make a comment.

Congratulations to Ina from the USA who has won the copy. Ina said in her comment that she is drawn to Mantilla, Twine, and Evergreen. Just in case you have not looked at the project gallery – these photos are of Ina’s favourites.

Ina I hope you send me a photograph of your shawlette sometime.

is now discontinued!!!

What to do, I have a number of patterns I sell on Etsy at Unique Boutique Knits including my Neck Warmer and Classic Beret patterns using this lovely 100% pure wool yarn.

What yarn are you using if you are creating from a pattern suggesting Naturally Vero?

Help!

Sweet Shawlettes Blog Tour

Here I am down under in New Zealand in Miranda, the Waikato leg of this fantastic world wide blog tour.

The book “Sweet Shawlettes” is by the creative designer Jean Moss and the timing is just right for us here in the Antipodes to be knitting shawls, shawlettes, capes, capelets, cowls and scarves. Why would I say that? Well, we are just heading into autumn after a rather grey, wet and miserable summer. We need something to brighten our evenings and cover our shoulders for the autumn and winter ahead.

So thank you Jean for asking and thank you for the opportunity to review your lovely book.

Now I don’t know Jean personally but you can read about her here but I do know her work and in Sweet Shawlettes I am a true kindred spirit. I love shawls, capes, capelets, scarves, cowls and in this lovely collection of accessories which range in style from hip to elegant I can see a style for everyone that I know, and that is silly because I generally don’t knit other peoples patterns, I buy them, read them, enjoy them, flick casually through the pages, and then I create my own designs.

Having said that I have decided to cast on from this book and I think it will be something for a very special woman and it has to be Enigma, very suitable for a strong special woman with its simple but elegant design, sensual yarns and it will be so easy to create.

I am digressing aren’t I – the book, “Sweet Shawlettes”; Each piece is very IN, all are smallish projects, easy to carry with one, and they cover a great range of techniques and the delicious yarns range from the very very fine Kidsilk Haze to bulky Cocoon. There is a design for everyone.

Hooked yet?

Just in case you haven’t gone and checked out Jeans website, she designs for Rowan and is published in “The Knitter” and “Vogue Knitting” (now “Designer Knitting” in Europe) as well as writing her own books including “Book Of World Knits: Design Traditions From Around The World”, “Contemporary Classics” and “Wandering Spirits”.

You can also see the full gallery of projects Jean’s Sweet Shawlettes project gallery and if you do so and come back here and leave a comment you will go into the draw for your own free copy of Sweet Shawlettes.

So now you are hooked, aren’t you?

Remember there are twenty-five designs (gallery here) all of which are made to go around your neck in some way.

What does impress me about this collection is the range of styles within the categories; Country, Couture, Folk, and Vintage and yarns are fine to bulky, and goodness then there is the entrelac, intarsia, fine lace, stranded colour-work, bead-work, cables, knit in the round, and more. There is a full range of techniques and stitches with good clear instructions and charts.

As well as sending me a copy, Taunton Press have also offered a copy of Sweet Shawlettes to give away to one of my lucky readers. So to be in to win please visit the Project gallery on Jean’s website, and come back here and leave a comment on this blog post telling me what you think of the book, or the piece you would create from it. The winner will be chosen at random from all comments on this post. Taunton Press will be sending the book, so please include your email address in the email address field so that I can contact you if you win (it won’t be published and only I can see it). The only prize is a copy of Sweet Shawlettes by Jean Moss.

The comments will remain open for 7 days and the winner will be announced on Monday 26th March, so come back and see if you were the lucky reader/commentor!

Places to buy Sweet Shawlettes include Whitcoulls Link and Paper Plus link and of course Amazon

New Zealand Yarns Stockists – Rowan and Sublime yarns include:

Wild & Woolly, 38 Victoria Road, Devonport, Auckland

Knit World New Zealand wide including Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin

Tauranga Knitting Centre, 8/152 11th Avenue, Tauranga

The Apple Basket, 1914 State Highway One, Kaiwaka, Northland

Creations Unlimited, 118 Hardy Street, Nelson

New Zealand Yarn Stockist – Louisa Harding:
Creative Outlet, 53 Grey Street, Tauranga

Berroco stockists close to New Zealand, in Australia

Tangled Yarns

Mosman Needlecraft

and tomorrow the tour continues with Just Call Me Ruby who is the featured designer in the new knit mag “Knit Now” with a capelet no less. Perfect don’t you think?

Do come back on Sunday 18th March and read my Sweet Shawlettes review and watch out for the giveway opportunity.

Sweet shawlettes, is hot off the press in North America, published by Taunton Press. Released in the UK and rest of the world at the beginning of March, why not give yourself a chance to win a free copy by following the blog tour, which kicked off on 7th March with giveaways, Q&As and reviews – lots of good stuff to read. and remember to come back on Sunday 18th March to read my book review and to follow up on the giveaway which is of course a copy of “Sweet Shawlettes” by Jean Moss to be sent to a randomly selected commentor.