ConnieLene – KnitDesigner

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.

I went into Amsterdam today to visit the Physiotherapist – who is helping me deal with some structural issues. On the way back to the railway station I went to walk past de Afstap – a little yarn shop in the heart of Amsterdam. And then I just could not help myself, I walked into de Afstap to have a look at their knitting and crochet books, and of course their yarn.

Rowan Colourscape Chunky - Maybe Jungle

Today a hank of Colourscape Chunky just flew off the hook on the wall into my hand and I bought it. I just couldn’t help myself.

The label, which I read on train has separated from the hank – so I had to check on the Rowan site to see what I have in my hot little hands.

So it is Colourscape Chunky – shade : well that I am unsure of – it could be “jungle”.

Colourscape 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.
Needle size : 7 mm
Tension / Gauge : 14 sts to 18 rows
Stiches per 10 cm : 14
Meterage / Yardage : 160 m / 175 yds
Yarn Specification : 100% lambswool

Now the next issue for me is “what does one create with one hank of Colourscape?” Any ideas out there please?

I have not knitted with the yarn previously. I do not often knit with this yarn weight and how far does 160 metres really go, yes I know it goes 160 metres. But when knitting a hat or a cowl or a scarf.

Thank you Kaffe for the colours in the hank.

Every time I have visited de Afstap (and that is quite often) I have walked past this yarn, sometimes I have stopped and looked at it, touched, taken it down (smelt it, felt it against my face) and put it back. Maybe this a new colour, maybe it is just the first time this colour has been hanging there in my view as I walked in the door. Maybe I was just ready.

Now I have it and I must create something!

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.