Design Discussion: Red Rocks

This Aran style sweater is knit out of Black Water Abbey 2-ply Worsted Weight in Rust. Finished chest measurements are 40, 44,048, 52, &56 inches. It was designed with 4 inches of ease, and is a unisex garment.

This particular design is the first one that I did with Black Water Abbey, and is one that I did for my husband Ed. He loves the color red, and when I decided to do a sweater for him I wanted it to be a little different.

I decided to use some traditional Aran stitch patterns, and chose a hot spicy Red after some of the stitch patterns made me think of rocks and Cacti.

In choosing something that has a strong regional identity as inspiration, an important element is color. This particular design would not have such a strong Southwestern feel if it did not have colors that suggested the Southwest. If I had chosen Burgundy, for example, it would have a completely different feel. So combined with the unusual color and stitch patterns that are either not used frequently (or not frequently together) gives this sweater the feel that it has…a little unexpected, a little unusual, a little exotic.

Men tend to prefer ribbing at the bottom of their garments, and this one has ribbing too but the stitch patterns flow into the ribbing. This is a much better treatment design wise, as it leads the eye into the stitch pattern than abruptly stopping it where the stitch patterns begin.

This pattern is carried by most of my vendors.

Peace and Knitting, JoLene

Design Discussion: Hickory Hollow

This handknit cardigan pattern was designed with men in mind, but I have been told women knit and wear it too (it has been labeled a unisex garment on the pattern). The mannequin is a little small, so the neckline looks lower than it actually is - although it is lower than the armhole. It comes in finished chest measurements of 40, 44, 48, 52, & 56 inches. The sample garment was knit with Black Water Abbey Yarns 2 ply worsted weight.

This is another design inspired by a place, with memories and feelings in the mix. It was named for my grandparents cottage on Palestine Lake (you can read about that a  bit and see the picture on the post about Through The Woods, another cardigan designed and inspired for this area).  I designed this thinking of my grandfather Caroll.

His normal day wear consisted of a tee-shirt and bib-overalls, which he wore like a badge of honor. He was a a dark and handsome man, who reminded me of a loaf of french bread. Crusty on the outside but soft on the inside. Everyday, hard working. He would often delight in pulling little pranks on us, too, like the time he told us his hat was made out of Hamster fur (we had a hamster at the time). I’ll never forget the sparkle in his eye and his grin when he would do stuff like that, or my Grandma’s voice in the background tinged with exasperation uttering one word…Caroll!

He would have looked great in this sweater, on occasions where they would dress up or just to putter around outside the cottage.

When swatching this cardigan, I took a simple cable pattern and altered one end of the cable. In doing so, it changed the texture of the cable and made me think of the Shagbark Hickory. The cottage was named for the Hickory trees in the yard. That is the emotive part behind the design. Home, comfort, loved ones of all kinds.

Peace and Knitting, JoLene