Tag: free form
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.
Fall/winter trends 2010/2011
by connie on Aug.02, 2010, under ConnieleneKnits blog, Design Process
I need to check properly for the coming winter trends as I have now committed to creating a piece for The Mirror WoolOn™ Creative Fashion Event at the Alexandra Blossom Festival in New Zealand.
Come and celebrate the arrival of spring in Alexandra, Central Otago, New Zealand – 24th September to 9th October 2010. I know here in Europe we are preparing for Autumn and Winter then, so why not participate in an event that celebrates the arrival of spring down under.
It is an historic Festival that has marked the arrrival of spring for over 50 years. The first festival was born out of community spirit and recognition of the special character of Alexandra, and these values remain at the heart of every subsequent festival.
There is still time to register for the fashion event that is “WoolOn” – the late entries close on 15th August 2010.
Back to the work at hand.
I really want to create an edgy out there piece, but I am not really sure what that means.
I have Touch Yarns – 4ply variegated – which I hope to incorporate – and I am thinking of something lacey, covered with something faux furry and a tight little skirt – maybe or something else – so some research is required and as I don’t really think my assessment of the Vogue Trends reports is going to help me very much; I am searching the web for the trends, and not just relying on Vogue for a view point – and I have found the following
These fashion trends suggest a poncho with long fringes and quilted patchwork fabric, over a maxi dress with a turtleneck, which is worn over wide pants which cover the thigh length boots. Finished with gloves and a military style vest with a high collar worn over the dress and under the poncho.
This does not sound like edgy out there fashion, it sounds like 60′s hippy regurgitated for this coming winter season. I am having trouble with my creation based on these trends, and there is no lace – darn; as I was hoping to show the world I can knit lace. At least my favourite knitting method – intarsia can be used to create the patchwork for the poncho.
And then there is the colour – In 2010, camel is the new black and is ready to invade the streets. It really doesn’t work for me – so it is back to the research.
What to do?? today, Friday, Knit or Iron
by connie on Jul.16, 2010, under ConnieleneKnits blog
You see we are having house guests (son and family), they are arriving from Switzerland on Sunday. Should I be preparing our small Dutch house for the influx, or should I just knit – which is what I feel doing? I am knitting capelets, I have 2 more on the needles right now as well as that shadow knitting bag (still not completed) and the red socks that I owe son and Best Beloved – that old IOU, you remember it, don’t you?
I bought son some New Zealand merino socks whilst in New Zealand recently, as a salve for my conscience – such tardiness I am expressing with regard to the knitting of socks. I didn’t discover the new “Red Socks” campaign that was held in New Zealand on July 2nd (while I was there), until today when researching “Red Socks” yet again.
Darn, I could have bought son and Best Beloved Red Socks and not have to consider knitting those all elusive socks for them myself.
And then there is the cardigan for Angelica, the poncho/capelet for Elaine, pattern for gorgeous waistcoat, and a vest for….. Damm – I would much rather knit.
Today is a cool 21c which is a remarkable temperature to be working on knitting, designing and writing. Crosby Stills & Nash are singing loudly. All is good, I have had a great coffee. I have found the connector plug to attach to my iron’s plug so that it can work here in the Netherlands. The big problem is that it wants me to hold it to do the ironing. Will son and family care if the pillow cases are ironed or not? Probably not.
While in New Zealand, I posted to myself, here in the Netherlands some more of my yarn stash – I need to sort it, work out where to store (hide) it. Well maybe I don’t need to hide it anymore – Best Beloved knows how much yarn I have . Well I think he has a general idea that there is enough yarn to knit for the lifetime of a fanatic – trouble is I have the yarn, but am running out of lifetime, having reached nearly middle age as you can tell having just raced to 63 whilst in New Zealand.
Thing is – house guests for 2 weeks – I have to be able to knit while they are here, or I will forget how, maybe (they say you forget things as you age, so maybe I am forgetting things, I just can’t remember if that is so).
So I think I will sort yarns to knit the wedding gift that I have mentioned in earlier posts. Once the yarns are sorted, it will be a doddle to knit. I don’t have to write anything down for it, I just knit.
That could be a perfect solution, sort yarns today, and then prepare somewhat for the guests. 
Too bad about the ironing
Free Pattern – baby blanket, throw or bedspread – you choose
by connie on Jul.16, 2010, under ConnieleneKnits blog, Free Patterns
Take a punt – look at those yarns you have – Gather together the yarns that you have in the weight you wish to knit, mix fibre, mix colours – and play.
Choose the correct needle size for the average yarn weight.
Play with the yarn – sort it in rows to see how the colours work together, change the order, check that you love the colours together – follow your gut feeling.
Weigh the yarn. Divide your yarn into 2 piles, with 1/2 the weight of yarn in each pile, one pile for each half of the throw. It is important so that you can see how far the yarn goes as you are knitting and be alerted early to the fact you may need more yarn than you have to hand, early enough to add maybe add another colour on the first half if needbe.
This baby blanket was knitted using yarns left over from other baby projects. It was large enough to be folded over as a pram cover, and when used flat as the correct size for a cot blanket. Because it is knitted on the diagonal it looked great whichever way it was used.
Pattern: the throw is knitted from a corner to opposite corner.
Cast on 4 stitches
K3, YO, K1, turn
Slip 1, K2, YO, knit to end, turn
Slip 1, k2, YO, knit to end, turn – repeat this row until the side is the right width for your throw.
Slip 1 K2 YO Slip 1, k2tog PSSO, k to end, turn (decreases one side only)
Slip 1, K2 YO k to end
Continue with these 2 rows until the side still being increased is the correct length for your throw.
** At this point it is a good idea to weigh the knitting as it is halfway through, if you didn’t at the beginning that is. Check the weight of your remaining yarns and see if you need any additional yarns to complete the piece.
Slip 1 K2 YO Slip 1, k2 tog, PSSO, k to end, turn
Slip 1 K2 YO Slip 1, k2 tog, PSSO, k to end, turn
Continue with the decreases on every row until 4 stitches remain.
Cast off 4 stitches.
NOTE: note the decreases are on both edges – so that the knitting will converge at the point directly opposite the Cast on point.
It is not possible to give yarn quantities – as it depends on your yarn weight and the needle size you choose as well as the intended size of the finished baby blanket or throw.
I will set this up later as a formal pattern and provide it as a pdf – in the meantime – just give it a go.
Jacket pattern brewing
by connie on Jun.13, 2010, under ConnieleneKnits blog, Creative Coverings
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.
Intarsia – colour & yarn
by connie on Jun.08, 2010, under ConnieleneKnits blog, Intarsia
Many many years ago – I attended my first Kaffe session on colour and knitting in New Zealand. I purchased a Kaffe videotape at that time, I do not have it with me here in the Netherlands & cannot recall the title – the subject was knitting with colour, as in many many colours, and viewing your world for ideas to create new knitted pieces using many colours and shapes.
When Kaffe came to New Zealand then I had already been knitting & crocheting using many colours in freeform intarsia since the early 1970′s. I found as everyone does great inspiration in listening to him then & I continued to knit with many colours and yarns even though I was informed by others that my knitting was not normal, nor was my passion for playing with colour. I do however feel quite quite normal.
I have searched the Kaffe Fassett listings in Youtube and cannot see my video tape there. But the concepts in this new video apply to knitting as well as quilting, mosaics and other art and textile art forms.
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.
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.
A new Challenge for the Knit Sisters (Sarah)
by connie on May.31, 2010, under ConnieleneKnits blog, Intarsia
I was wandering about the internet – which is remarkably easy to do – and I happened upon a blog I have not read before and there in was the challenge. Knit Sisters Blog – A year of knitting dangerously
Excerpt from the blog: and do follow the link above and read the rest. It is good reading.
Item 1 on the list is – Learn something new
…… However, there are a couple of techniques that I’d like to tackle this year: entrelac and twined knitting. These seem worthy goals. (Please do not unkindly point out that I have not included intarsia in this list; I feel that intarsia should not be asked of anyone.)
I will not be unkind regarding the exclusion of Intarsia.
I will however take umbrage at the vague suggestion that taking up intarsia as a challenge could be somehow “unworthy”
Now I really am in a state of distress, my heart is going crazy. How could any form of knitting be considered unworthy? If you had remained silent, I would never have know of your view with regard to Intarsia.
Below are some points for Intarsia knitting which I personally regard as an important item in the arsenal of any knitter – especially the freeform colour work.
And I do have to say it again – I really want everyone to play with intarsia.
I do have to confess, even though I have done so many times before – I do have other knitting skills to be learnt on my list as well, such as the knitting of socks – (still on my to do list for 2010, and they were there in 2009 as well, and I am sad to say I have 2 IOU’s for 2 pairs of hand knitted red socks, for Best Beloved and Son) – and if you take up the challenge to knit a piece of freeform intarsia, I will add Entrelac and twined knitting to my list for 2010.
So to Knit Sister – Sarah
Take up the challenge – Knit dangerously with Intarsia please
My knitterly view of the Vogue Trend Report for 2010-2011
by connie on May.27, 2010, under ConnieleneKnits blog, Not Knitting
Vogue Trend report for Autumn – Winter 2010 – 2011
from A-Z my own comments are in italics
A-Line – easy to knit
Beehives – hard to create knitted or crocheted hats for. Me, I remember the Beehive, I will not be going there again.
Camel – Colour, fabric or animal. I love the colour, I love the fabric. Camels spit.
The trend for C that I found was for capes or cloaks. Capes began to be fashionable again, or were still fashionable and in Vogue, in 2002. The hits on the Vogue Website to fashion shows which included capes showed 85 results over the 9 years (2002 to 2010). This year – there are 6 hits for summer trends and 8 for winter 2010 – 2011 so the average is under 9 a year, and this year there are 14 shows or designers with Capes in their shows so I am calling the C trend
CAPES – okay with you? I design and knit capes and cloaks.
Dryclean only please – knits are embroidered or feature colourful prints. It is good advice, but I think the trend should be
Delicate Knits to be drycleaned only please.
Expensive Simplicity – I like that statement but what does it mean for me – expensive yarn, one colour, great design – okay
Fur – If you don’t say it with fur next season then say it with feathers – knitters can knit both and I like to play with both faux fur and feathered yarns. [according to Vogue - fake or real, it’s too big to be a trend, on and off the catwalk it was more of a deluge]
Grunge Glamour – when you’re not dressing up, dress down in high quality – I not sure I understand this one, maybe it is an age thing, not understanding Grunge and Glamour together
Hairbands – I had a pattern for a knitted plaited headband from my mother-in-law. Perhaps I need to resurrect it especially as I am riding a bike often here in the Netherlands
Intricate details – beading, pleating, twisting, draping, embroidery. For me and my knitting – I love twisting (moebius), plaited (cables), Pleats with colour hidden in them and lots of colour. I have been playing a little with a bit of beading in my knitting and I am not in love yet. I have also knitted silver wire with beads. I really enjoy the challenge of that – but my results are not interesting enough as yet.
Jewellery stories – big necklaces still an outfit make – they could well be knitted or crocheted by other wonderful knitters and crocheters. like the Bloomin Neck Gardens by ScarfitUp.
Knits top-to-toe – the perfect trend for me, although socks have still escaped my needles. I have those IOU’s to complete for red socks. Leg, arm and neck warmers and dresses and even skirts and of course sweaters, jackets, vests you name it I have probably created it somewhere sometime.
I like the letter “K”, what a great trend “Knits top to toe” is
Lace – Forget the cold, it looks beautiful over goose bumps. And if you don’t like lace, buy a leather dress, possibly with pockets. Knitted or crocheted Lace is beautiful – I can, and have created shawls and scarves in lace, in simple lace that is, I do not call myself a lace knitter
Mad Men Secretaries – I do not know what this trend is really
Navy – Wear it with everything. Wear it with black. It is the new black – well all knitters and crocheters and yarn creators and dyers – I hope you are ready for the new black. Navy looks great with purples, turquoises and Red and ……..
Orange – Colour trend – Orange also will go extremely well with the new black – Navy or be bold and knit orange with actual black.
Polo Neck – great knitters style
Quantum Leap (futuristic) – knit futuristic is real
Retro hair – with a net I presume to keep it sitting soo still – great to show off the knitted and crocheted hats see Constance Willems marvellous Hats
Shearling – ……. Just about everywhere – include with your knits if you can afford it or knit loopy to fake it as faking is always an in trend
Teddy Bear fur – Faking it in true style and apparently it was everywhere – WHY?
Understated – supremely good quality but passive in colour and shape. It’s the new way to show off. My trend here would be
Unique Knits and we all understand that.
Victoria’s Secret models – Curves are back, ladies. Where did the curves go? I think this trend should be called
Vogue and Vintage knits, knitted for the real woman or it could be called Vogue Knitting.
Weather – was on display at many of the fashion shows. Me, I think of weather and knitting as
WOW, the Winter Wonderland of Opportunity to create wonderful, sexy, in Vogue, trendy, fitting, colourful and creative knits
X – was a band at the shows – Is that a fashion Trend? I think not, so lets stick with
XRX Books – The Knitting Universe
Yeti – You could knit in the Yeti Look if you wish – not for me.
ZigZags – herringbone tweeds, chevron furs – tesselations to be knitted sometime. It is on my knit radar.
The two Big Trends
1. A celebration of womanliness that will allow us to use traditional wiles and graceful curves to ….. You need to go and read it yourself.
2. Is for absolute, supreme, take-your-breath-away quality…….. I like that.
Cape knitted with mohair and faux fur fibre
Kiwi Cape Pattern is available on etsy at uniqueboutiqueknits
So that is my “in Vogue” trendy news for knitters.
I may change the information as I find new reports or items of interest.
Meantime remember that Capes are in – okay!
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Connielene - Unique Designs & Knits
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From March 10th 2010
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