ConnieLene – KnitDesigner

Sunday just over a week ago I was extraordinarily lucky.

Why?

Well; a few weeks before I was making a purchase at De Afstap in Amsterdam when I noticed on the counter a reference to an upcoming workshop/presentation by Christel Seyfarth.

Now you know where I am going from here, don’t you?

I have seen Christels work on the internet as many of us have, and I never thought I might see her work and hear her speak.

And now I have.

And what can I say – WOW!!!!! the photos don’t do her or her creations justice. But still WOW!!!!!

It was magic to hear her speak of her design process, her colour use, and the drivers from her natural environment on the island of Fanø off the coast of Denmark, and in particular the sea.

And of course I love that she starts something and is not always sure where it is going. Now that I really understand as that is very often what I do.

I also knit in the round.

I also knit with many many colours.

I have also said “not sure if it is working – then add some more colours, just keep going”

That however is as close as I get.

I never ever knit in the round and cut my work and finish it in the way that I saw on Sunday. STEEKS – EEEKKK.

I have never ever created a piece with a steek.

I have never ever cut my work.

I don’t even knit fair isle. That is nearly untrue, in the past I have knitted fair isle – when I had a knitting machine, ever so long ago. I also tried hand knitting fair isle when my kids were still kids, again a very long time ago. I abandoned it as a method when I discovered intarsia.

I did knit a waistcoat with facings, again many many years ago. I have never done that since.

But Christel is so passionate about her creations, her methods, her colours, and the sea that she might even draw me towards facings and steeks (eeekkk), but not fair isle. I already love the sea and colour.

And then there is that reef knot. I am not going to tell you about that though.

Do you know that even the shawls are knitted in the round with steeks? I am amazed by her skill, her finishing, her trims, edges, facings and the colours. I love the colours.

If you ever get the chance to listen to Christel speaking, and to see and touch and marvel at her designs, as well as to view her wonderful photographs of her island – Fanø, and of China and other places and things which have triggered designs for her. Then you must take up that opportunity. I am so glad that I did.

But then I have been a very lucky person.

but steeks…..

Christel Seyfarth gallery and Fanø Knit Festival 23-25 September 2011

I have been cogitating over which words to use for this neck warmer / shoulder warmer / gaiter / cowl etc etc. I have decided to stick with “Cowl”. Why, because in this case it has a nice ring to it and the word rolls off the tongue so well.

I am quite certain; that is I am cocksure that the name of this piece should be ……

what am I talking about?

Well the “Connie Colourscape Cowl of course

And I think it is codswallop to call it a gaiter.

Anyway – it is knitted in the round. It is similar to Sean Sheep Armytage cowl. In the original cowl I started my increases close to the neck edge, in this one I knitted it without any shaping for about 14cm before beginning the increases.

It has been created with one hank of Colourscape chunky, knitted on circular needles. I am still not absolutely certain which colour it is as I left the label on the train, but still think it could be Jungle #447.

Rowan Colourscape Chunky is a roving type yarn with an artisan look and rustic appeal which is spun and made in Britain. Designed by renowned textile artist, Kaffe Fassett each hank gives a single repeat rainbow like effect. 100% Lambswool.

So you too could create a cowl like this one with only 160 m or 175 yards of a chunky yarn.

Angelica is a very tiny lady and this piece was created specifically for her and was intended for Christmas.

Angelica is from Chile, and is the partner of my son Morgan so this neck warmer was to be one of her Christmas presents from us.

Problem was the train to Switzerland was overcrowded. All the seats were reserved on the first train from Amsterdam which we caught because the conditions for travelling were so bad the weekend before Christmas that we couldn’t risk not getting there and so we stood from Amsterdam to Frankfurt. We were not even able to get a coffee, fortunately we had food and water with us. The journey was so difficult that I didn’t manage to finish the piece, nor did I complete it at their home in time for Christmas.

It is done now and I will give it to Morgan for Angelica when he visits Apeldorn in the Netherlands at the end of next week.

Neck Warmer in Feather and Fan stitch

The neck warmer is knitted in the round. The shoulder section is knitted in Feather and Fan stitch, the neck section (hidden) is k2 p2 rib with the folded down neck section is also in Feather and Fan. I began with a provisional cast on and knitted the rib down followed by the feather and fan stitch. I then knitted up from the rib in the reverse direction so the feather and fan would sit correctly when folded down.

I did check the sizing on Angelica while we were there with them in Switzerland – she sat with her eyes closed while we checked it out and it looked great. The colours of it look great against the beautiful colour of her skin, eyes and hair. I hope she likes it when she receives it.

If I receive a photo I shall post it here.

I am still working on the ultimate pattern as have knitted this in 8ply and in 12 ply – one with rib neck and one with Feather and fan neck. I am not sure yet which I love the best.

Neck and Shoulder Warmer / Gaiter

In winter 2008 I had very little yarn here with me in the Netherlands. I had purchased some odd yarns at a fleamarket and had bought some bits and pieces at local shops here in Haarlem and in Amsterdam and Maastricht.

The yarns really were just a bit odd, and I didn’t have anything in mind to make/create.

BUT I was cold.

So I played with a design and created a neck warmer for myself out of these odd yarns. I wore it on my journey to Switzerland for our sons 40th birthday in Dec 2008 and I was very grateful for this very warm item of clothing that I had created. Sadly there are no photos of it as a neck warmer though.

In Switzerland there was an Angelica.

She saw the thing (the neck warmer / my neck warmer) and became rather excited. Now Angelica speaks Spanish, German and some English so it was said with a great deal of excitement and in halting English and dramatic Spanish that she wanted to try it on. We (Best Beloved and I) speak English, a hint of Dutch, me, almost reasonable Danish and no German and NO Spanish.

Fortunately our son who speak excellent German, English and understands some dramatic Spanish – translated.

And she did try it on – only not around her neck but around her body. She was adamant this was a perfect tunic dress.

My Neck Warmer as a dress! WOW

Angelica is a very tiny lady, maybe 4’10″ in her high heels. I said I would knit some straps and send neck warmer and straps to her to attact at the correct position. Which is what I did do.

And this last Christmas 2010 I saw the result for the first time.

Yes I know; Gaiter(s) used to describe a neck warmer does not feel quite right to me as yet. But then language is always developing, as it should. So who am I to say that the leg protector word cannot be used for a neck warmer or neck protector.

Neck and Shoulder Warmer / Gaiter

Anyway this is my gaiter for Natascha or my latest neck and shoulder warmer with my most recently rediscovered favourite stitch – good old Feather & Fan.

When I first knitted with feather and fan it was all baby matinee jackets and shawls and so on. Now I am using it for neck warmers, arm warmers, cowls, waistcoats etc. I love it.