ConnieLene – KnitDesigner

Tag: designer

What is twitter all about – in more than 140 characters

by connie on Aug.19, 2010, under ConnieleneKnits blog, Not Knitting

For those who do not know just what Twitter is.

Mainly from Wikipedia :

Twitter is a social networking and microblogging service, owned and operated by Twitter Inc., that enables its users to send and read other user’s messages called tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters displayed on the author’s page. Tweets are publicly visible by default.

From Moi:

I realised that my twitter when used around a specific project such as my “Lake Hawea Skirt / Outfit” actually makes its own story. And because I write my stories here on the website – I thought I could use my twitter for this one – and so I have.

Just in case you thought this – NO – Twitter does not pay me, I am not advertising twitter.

I am saving writing time by using my twitter this way for this project. I need to talk to and hear from people in support of my all round craziness and doubt around this project. Twitter is doing that for me because everyone in New Zealand is asleep when I am awake here in The Netherlands. I am just adding my thoughts as I would if there was someone here for me to talk to, but in 140 characters – and that is hard for me.

Maybe the world would be a better place if we could all restrict our sentences to a coherent (nearly) 140 characters, minus full stops and spaces if necessary.

Hear that all ye politicians and all ye all round nutters. See if you could do that – you might be real and honest. WOW

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The tweets go on!

by connie on Aug.19, 2010, under ConnieleneKnits blog, Design Process

Aug 17, 10:51pm

Will I dream the skirt stitch counts? k1 – 25, slip 1, k1, PSSO, k1-25, slip 1, k1, PSSO, k1, will it work like counting sheep? snore bizzzz

Aug 18, 10:42am

Skirt is still in progress – think about the lace, not sure yet if I will add it. Maybe the lack of time will influence the decision.

12:31pm

Brain dead in the knit dept today. Skirt is at crisis point – what to do?????? stop or go on ???

12:35pm

should I be tweeting, kweeting, kneeting, knieting, knitting? I think I should, I think I could, I think I will, I think I am KNITTING now!!

2:30pm

Skirt at 200 stitches, casting off, then I will check my brain & decide what next. Brain is a little strung out just now, need colour & drama!

7:40pm

Skirt is sitting on chair saying go on, do something, do something else, go on. So I did do something. I bought yarn at De Afstap in Amsterdam

10:19pm

Thinking of top part of this outfit. Is it really called that today? I don’t know. I am to create full deal – top to toe for the parade.

10.25pm

Top design loses, bed wins. Brain is shutting down. I was skyping NZ at 1.30am my time (NL) to talk with sister at 11.30am her time (NZ)

Aug 19, 9:19am

Pile of mags, internet, knit books, ideas file, friend Meredith in Adelaide, We have to design the perfect top to go with the perfect skirt.

From Connielene – NOT A TWEET: There will be no more pictures – as I do have to keep the lid on what I am creating. I will still tweet a little of course so there may be a further chapter in the story of Lake Hawea.

Tweets for the uninitiated – can be no more than 140 characters. If you take the trouble to count the tweet characters you will see that mine here are 140 or 141 or 142. What that means is that I have added a full stop, or a space when I added them to my blog – which I ignored when I tweeted to keep the piece within the 140 characters.

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Sometimes Twitter a story makes

by connie on Aug.17, 2010, under ConnieleneKnits blog

11 Aug:
Knitting a skirt with Touch Magic Merino for socks. Will knit at least 1000 metres or 1 kilometre & up to 1,350 metres as that is all I have.

12 Aug:
Skirt is a very short frilly number right now, what to do next. Struggling with the picture in my mind which is not appearing on the needles.

16 Aug:
Sock Yarn skirt – has reached 688 stitches – far toooo many I think.

Skirt for WoolOn at the Alexandra Blossom Festival

4.30pm: A skirt knitted with sock yarn takes a very long time.

10.18pm: I have just tried the skirt on my mannequin – and it is soooo short. Why am I knitting a fullish type skirt in a sock yarn???

10.19pm: Twas the colour of course – “Lake Hawea” I found it in Hastings Knit World while I was in NZ and I was smitten.

10.21pm: I bet Touch Yarns in Alexandra have the same colour in other yarns – where I could have been knitting this skirt on 4mm not on 3mm needles.

@colorjoy – Sockyarn makes a wonderful fabric. It has great drape, is washable, bounces back. Bet you’ll love the finished skirt.

@sewknitty – It’ll be gorgeous and you’ll forget the time (I hope lol)

to @colorjoy – Thank you, just the refocus I need, as it looks lovely, problem is it is for an event in NZ, I need to knit a top, too little time.

So it is back to the needles, but this is a twittering story or is that a story by tweets – there may be more tweets or twittering to come.

I hope the news will be all good – as right now I am not so confidant.

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Skirt for WoolOn at the Alexandra Blossom Festival

by connie on Aug.16, 2010, under ConnieleneKnits blog

The skirt on my needles is being knit in the round from the waistband. The increases and now the decreases are being managed using the hyperbolic plane method. I have used this for increases many times now, but this is the first time I have used the concept for my decreases. It will be very interesting to see it a little further on as I am unsure just how it will hang. I hope it doesn’t add a twist to the skirt. BUT I will have to continue and wait with you to see the result.

I am knitting with Touch Magic Merino for Socks which is from Alexandra and WoolOn is included in the Alexandra Blossom Festival. It is such a pity that I will not see this skirt on the stage there.

It is jumping the gun a little – I have to finish it first, and then the top, and then the capelet and the beret, maybe. It depends on time really.

I will endeavour to keep you posted.

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Fashion Trends – how come they are all so different? – yet another list

by connie on Aug.02, 2010, under ConnieleneKnits blog

Refined sophistication – buttoned up collars
Military / aviation
Lingerie as outerwear
leather clothing
the cut out / cutaway – with the cut out pieces worked directly on top of skin or ‘filled in’ with sheer fabrics, detailing can be subtle to sexy
Knee high socks or over the knee socks, or even thigh high socks
White tights
Women’s camel coat
Velvet clothing
Neo double breasted jackets
Sheer clothing /cut outs – mixed with fine laces, the sheer trend mixing elegance with sex appeal
Capes
Thigh high boots
Shoes with socks
Socks under heels
Fur boots & mukluks

I know fashion is fun, I absolutely love fashion, but I don’t wear fashion. How bizarre is that. I guess it is that fashion clothing like all clothing should be fit for purpose, and is not the purpose to keep warm in colder times?

I want wool, mohair, alpaca, knitting, crochet, weaving, colour, color, yarn, garn, woll, felt, filt, layers, and I want warmth, pleasure, comfort, and a little usefulness. I am going to create something for WoolOn that will be fit for purpose, created mainly of wool, and in many colours, and a style or shape or design which is edgy and out there. It must also be in Vogue – Somehow.

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latest pattern – Multicolour and Mixed fibre Capelet

by connie on Jul.12, 2010, under ConnieleneKnits blog, Patterns available on Etsy

This Multicolour Capelet is easy to knit – being all garter stitch. The shaping is created by knitting short rows.

It will be great worn over jeans and a Tee or Camisole, or over a party number. Warm and interesting with unique colour and fibre combinations. There will never be another exactly like the one you knit. It is a great pattern for creating a piece from your stash yarns.

Or you can knit the capelet in one colour only in a delicious sensuous yarn created to wear for that very special occaison or as a gift for a special person in your life.
Multi Colour capeMulti Colour Cape

Remember – Capes / Capelets / Shawls and Cloaks are in in 2010 – and when you knit this capelet using all your favourite colours and yarns – your creation will be unique.
This pattern is available on Etsy – click the link below.

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Jacket pattern brewing

by connie on Jun.13, 2010, under ConnieleneKnits blog, Creative Coverings

brown_earth1.jpg

This sleeveless jacket pattern will be a doddle in English but a real challenge for me in Danish as my written Danish is very very average, and then my Norwegian is, well it is really nonexistant. That is I do not really know any Norwegian. I will be bribing the requesters for the help I need with the testing and checking of the pattern.

Fortunately I know one very well (my Danish cousin) and the other I am getting to know (lovely Trine from Norway). I hope they read this – which is why I have written the words down – they will need to be my testers.

But of course I am digressing – the real purpose of this post is to tell you that I will also create the pattern for lighter weight yarns as well, as the style is classic and interesting, as you can see in the version below with long fitted sleeves and shaped peplum and without the shawl collar.

I think this jacket will work well in a double knitting (8 ply / worsted weight yarn), making it a great in between seasons jacket.

I am not committing to writing the pattern in any other languages however. I shall get the sleeveless one completed in the three languages and then see how well I survived the process and then decide.

Both versions of this jacket were included in the Colour Play exhibition held in the Randolph St Gallery, at Whitecliffe School of Fine Arts and Design campus in 2007. A Vogue Knitters Tour Group from USA hosted by Nicky Epstein and Carla Scott attended the opening.

Peplum

Curiously Peplum has two distinct and almost separate definitions. Its early origins are Greek, and peplum was simply the word for tunic. The peplum, a term dating back to the 19th century, is also a short overskirt that is usually attached to a fitted jacket. My jacket is certainly a fitted jacket with a short skirt.

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Cloaks and Capes – the in thing / trendy fashion items for the winter of 2010

by connie on Jun.08, 2010, under ConnieleneKnits blog

I am, of course, delighted to hear and to see that in fact my love of capes and cloaks is not out of line with the fashion consensus for the coming Northern Winter.

Capes can be casual and comfortable, easy to throw around the shoulders. They can also be smart and sophisticated; they can be fun and sassy, and then of course they can be seriously sexy, sensuous, and just plain gorgeous. A cape can be punk or funky, and it can be ethnic or modern – a cape be any look you want, and it can compliment any clothing style that you like or can imagine.

SO the cape or cloak is great over an evening dress, a tank and jeans, a negligee, a summer dress, a formal dress, around the shoulders of a business suit – even over a a bikini or your sexy underwear. Capes Rock.

A cape is so easy to wear and you can wear it anywhere. It can be dressed up or down using various pins and brooches or ties – you decide how your cape should appear. It can also define itself by the yarns that are used to create the cloak or cape. Faux fur is a fashion trend for this coming winter and luxury mohairs are okay again.

It is a funny thing the cycling of yarns and garments, isn’t It? Why don’t we ever just say – “This is what I like, this is the colour I like, I am not concerned with trend reports, I am only concerned with what I love. For what it is worth – I love capes and cloaks and I love the earthy colours, the warmth and lightness of wearing a faux fur with a fine mohair or alpaca yarn, I love the purples and then the reds and then the blues and then …. well it seems I just love colour and in no particular order.

Etsy: Your place to find a Cape pattern for Winter 2010
uniqueboutiqueknits.etsy.com

There is plenty of time to find the pattern and the yarns for your cape for the winter of 2010. My Etsy shop has the Kiwi Cape available pattern now and I will be adding the multicolour cape that is in the gallery very soon. It is so easy to knit being all garter stitch and it is an easy one to play with the yarns you have in your stash. There are others and I will announce them as I complete them.

The photo gallery is of some of my capes, cloaks and some little capelet, poncho pieces as well. As I locate photographs of others I shall add them to this gallery. I do hope you will find something here that gives you an idea or a plan for your winter wardrobe.

The Cape is perfect for a newer knitter – no sleeves, simple shaping, small enough to not get bored with and frustrated by. They are also ideal for trying new yarns and colours, or to use up yarns from your stash. In these more austere times a cape will not require a huge outlay in monies, and your cape will dress up all of your current wardrobe items.

So don’t allow the winter of 2010 be the winter of your discontent because you do not already have one or two trendy, knitted capes and cloaks ready to wear by the time the weather begins to turn.

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Berets and other warm bits for winter in New Zealand

by connie on Jun.04, 2010, under ConnieleneKnits blog

Well Jeanette, The news is all good – I have finished the 2 pieces, well more or less finished the 2 pieces that I have been knitting for you to consider to go with your beret. I am finished the knitting, not quite finished with buttons and things. Now they have not taken a long time because they are big items – but they just kept me playing. You know all about that I know – me playing with yarns.

This little project was one that I planned would be a ribbed piece – with buttons to join, and big enough to double over and wear inside a jacket or over a sweater when you are out on that bicycle of yours. But I couldn’t really stop and now it is a neck piece but it kept on growing as it were – so now it is also a capelet, scarf, neck wrap, some call these things a cowl – I am not sure that that is a good term for it. I might look up the dictionary on that. It has 3 buttons at the neck but the folded over section (collar) will need to be fastened with a knit pin or brooch or even a kilt pin – to the position you wish for it.

However you choose to wear this – it will keep your neck and shoulders warm.

The other one is a single layer ribbed piece to buttoned at the neck – not as big, or as warm because it is intended as a single layer – but it will suit some situations. I haven’t sewn in some of the ends nor have I added buttons – so no photo of it yet. Both contain the colours of your chosen beret and other colours of course – as you will have expected as I created them.

When you decide which you want I will bring the beret and the neck piece to New Zealand with me now that you are there once more and winter is so nearly upon you as well. Posting from the Netherlands takes ages and costs a bundle, so I shall find room in the luggage.

So let me know – okay and I shall add it to the Etsy shop for you.

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I know I should be knitting – BUT I have started a project …….

by connie on Jun.03, 2010, under ConnieleneKnits blog

Shawl - photo taken at the old town - or Den Gamle By

The Danish Shawl, the photo was taken at the old town - or Den Gamle By


But I have started a project – The Family Tree – trying to find my extensive family from all over the world. We are so widespread – over Denmark, New Zealand, Australia, the Netherlands and the USA, and there may be other places to add where the family has or is still – such as a hint of link to France and there are some who may have gone to Sweden. Who knows what we will find out there.

I am still knitting – but the family tree has become a little obsessive – so this little post is to get me back on track.

So as I am looking at Danish things on the internet, that is the family connections and so on – What shall I do about my knitting – that is the question? I need to complete the knit projects that are on the needles – before I fly to New Zealand for a month very soon – like within 7 days even. Don’t I?

Well I could add some hints to things Danish in my knitting, like my Danish Shawls – to pull me back, to refocus me, couldn’t I?

This Danish Shawl - is created in garter stitch with Bell shaped edge of 4 ply yarns - one varigated and a fine mohair in purple

And I could also list what needs to be done in the knitting part of my life again. I could, couldn’t I.

The trouble is the list is too long just now. Maybe I will have to take my knit obsession with me to New Zealand as well.

Simple Danish Shawl

Simple Danish Shawl - Garter Stitch

Now that could work.

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