ConnieLene – KnitDesigner

Funky Fashionable Feather and Fan Fingerless gloves are back on etsy

I have spoken at times of the cloak that I created back in 1992 – very nearly 20 years ago. This cloak has been in exhibitions, it has been tried on by many people, it has been photographed on many people. Sadly it is showing its age.

I am attending the knit retreat “Knitting in Nature beginning tomorrow, and I am taking my “Island” The Great New Zealand cloak with me to show to the other knitters there. Why? Well I am teaching a workshop on Intarsia Knitting and this is one of the best examples I still own of my intarsia creations. I hope that seeing it will still inspire someone of the group to try freeform intarsia knitting after they complete the workshop.

In late 1992 or early 1993 the cloak was in an exhibition at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand. The judges there decided that it was not suitable to be sold due to the fragile nature of the creation. I think 20 years of display and wearing is not bad for a creation of a fragile nature, using around 90 or so different yarns from wool, mohair to linen and a variety of fancy fibres. I actually think it has done rather well. And I am so glad it was not listed for sale as my family and I have loved it and worn it, as well as exhibited it.

I think “Knitting in Nature” may well be its last journey because it is rather thin and frail in some sections now, and we will store it away gently on our return to New Zealand and hope that we can still bring it from time to time and say “we remember this piece very well” and put it away again.

I am feeling rather sad that this piece that has been such a big part of my life is not going to be worn again BUT that does mean that it is time for another creation.

I love knitting skirts and this one was delivered to Angelica in Switzerland last week and has already travelled to Prague to be photographed.

The yarn is Bombay from Katia and is lovely to work with and the colours are gorgeous. This pattern will become available – probably after we return to New Zealand as there is too much to manage right now. It will available in 3 lengths.

Bombay is 100% Mercerized Cotton.
100 grs. – 3 oz 1/2 | 230 mts. – 251 yds.
Size of needles: 3 – 3 1/2 USA 4 – 5
Number of shades: 12

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.