Just try to watch this without smiling....

Since 1955, Loes Veenstra has knitted over 550 sweaters and stored them in her home on the 2nd Carnissestraat in Rotterdam. The sweaters have never been worn. Until today.

Productivity

I've been really productive lately in the knitting department.  I am trying my best to catch up on unfinished projects.  Usually as knitters, we know what that means.  But it applies to other areas of my life, too.  Unfinished business, finishing what I start, follow through...it's a common theme.

In March, 2010 I started the sock yarn blanket on Ravelry, but it's also here, in case you want to make your own.  I originally thought I must have been crazy to start something like this, but I was attracted to its beauty nonetheless.  I love the novelty of seeing something off the ground, kinda getting to know what it will look like, and once I have the gist, I get bored.  The rest of the time spent actually finishing the damn thing would just be, well, a lot of repetitive work.  I'm sure there's a psychological equivalent of all this.

I think the difference now is I see the solace in those moments (or hours).  For me, it's a meditation.  I didn't used to feel this way, but I think it's all part of one's journey.  I feel a lot more connected to tradition, history, and humanity as I get older - and knitting is as much a part of humanity as the need for warmth, food and shelter.

This is the sock yarn blanket as of right now:

I've also just finished up two cowls made from Madeline Tosh yarn, one of which is shown here:

I love the color, called "Cosmos".  It's a really deep rich purple with flecks of acid green.  I will be posting the pattern on Ravelry as soon as I get some good model-y shots of it.  

The other cowl will be kept a secret until I'm ready to publish them.  They will be available as a set or individually.  

Post VK Live/Hurricane

In the aftermath of the hurricane, I hope that each of you are finding peace and hope and are making it through bit by bit.

Thank you to everyone I had the privilege of meeting over the weekend of Vogue Knitting Live! in Chicago, October 26-28.  I am deeply grateful that each of you chose one of my classes and helped make it the success it was for me and for the Vogue Knitting folks.  I know as consumers you have lots of choices, and I am very thankful you chose to take mine.  I hope you all learned something and took away things that will make you a better knitter, seamer, zipper sewer, or that you left at least feeling inspired to try something new.  I am blessed that Vogue Knitting trusts me to pass on the information I have, and I get to work with such fun, talented, passionate people.

Chicago

So another Vogue Knitting Live is upon us, and I couldn't be more nervous thrilled.  I am really looking forward to getting out of NYC, actually.

I mentioned an enormous project I finished for Vogue Knitting, so here it is:

It's from the upcoming Holiday, 2012 issue, the "Top Brass" story.  It's a really beautiful one, if you haven't checked out the patterns, the preview is online here.

I hope to see / meet some of you in Chicago - and don't be afraid to say hi!

Happy Knitting.....

New pattern: Noose

Sometimes I miss being able to just do my own designing, even though I LOVE working for Vogue Knitting as one of their designers.  It really is a great opportunity; I've met so many great people, been able to travel around the country teaching, and play with yarn.  What's not to love? 

I finally got some time to knit up some of my stash yarn into a new original design, Noose.

It really was the first time I just had fun experimenting with cables.  Now don't get me wrong, I've always knitted cables, (and in fact have a cabled beauty in the next issue of Vogue Knitting) but only exactly if I knew what i was doing, I knew how it would look, and I knew there would be no surprises.  I don't know why, but for some reason cables have always intimidated me.  There's just something so, I don't know...complicated-looking?  And if I had to rip them out?? Forget it.  But suddenly one night I just said, "Alright cables.  It's YOU AND ME."  So we had it out.  Now I'm not scared anymore.  I even got a little carried away and made a full scarf version of the scarflette above:

And you get them both with the pattern.  So download yours here and lose your fear of cables..  (if you had any).

Sometimes...on design process

I often get asked what my design process is like.  Well, here it is:

Sometimes my process is messy.  Sometimes it's very tidy and Martha Stewart-like.  And sometimes we just get in a big fight and I have to put it away for the night.  When I was in art school, my painting instructors would always advise walking away for a while.  The overnight time gives you perspective.  And then the next time the two of you meet, you will more than likely see things very differently.  I believe that.  I think that sometimes what is going on in your head with just the everyday stress can result in garment disaster.  So yeah.  All that.

Sometimes I will literally stare at the project after I've just ripped half of it out and wait for it to speak to me.  No really - I want it to speak to me.  It would more than likely just say "um..that hurt." 

Sometimes I have a clear driven idea in mind and we will walk hand in hand until the job is done.  That simple.

And sometimes I have no idea what to do and I hold the ball of yarn, staring, hoping for some sort of magical transfer from the fiber to my nerve endings.  That, for the record, has yet to happen.

But I would be nothing without my urge to explore, and my need to create from fiber that comes from animals.  Design missteps, stitch disasters, gauge imperfection aside, I hope I never lose the desire.

Happy knitting.....

Mysterious Content

I'll be presenting/teaching at The Mysterious Content of Softness, a future exhibit at the Cornell Fine Arts Museum in Winter Park, Florida.  I'm honored to be part of this show, and am looking forward to meeting all the great artists.  If you're in/around the area - stop by the show!

I just finished a MAMMOTH project for Vogue Knitting, which will be in their next issue.  I wish I could show you, but just keep your eyes peeled for my new design!

I am finishing up 2 new designs for Vogue Knitting Live, which will be in Chicago from October 26-28, 2012.  I've been working with the Long Island Livestock Company collaborating on the beginning of a series of one-two skein projects which will be available at the show.  I'm also putting the finishing touches on an exclusive for BagSmith using this yarn:

It is one of my favorite yarns, it's like braided squishy bread dough.  I was in the studio last night making final edits to the design and I'm very excited the way it has turned out.  Stay tuned, as I will post info about both designs here on the blog as they are ready to go.

Happy Knitting.....