Are You Lookin At Me? Design Outside the Lines

While I will be the first to admit when it comes to art, I really hate over used phrases like pushing the boundaries and outside the box, or pushing the envelope, I think this picture really illustrates what to me is good design that is beyond the box, or what is expected.

Good design does not imply being something people cannot relate to, but good design does look at not reaching for what is most expected but rather what makes the design stand out. Not for shock value, but what the design needs.

That is a hard concept to articulate.

Here is another picture I have taken that I am going to have in my studio. Why I love this picture: It is whimsical, and is not your typical “my, what a beautiful bird” pose one might see. It therefore has more personality. I caught the bird in a moment, you might say. Yes, it is a beautiful bird, and the picture shows that well, but it is not sterile. There is lots of personality showing here.

Sure, the bird isn’t moving, but you can tell it is thinking about it. Just the position of the legs, with the diagonal lines, gives a feeling of movement. Contained energy.

I wasn’t all that close, as I have a really excellent zoom on my camera, so I don’t know if the bird was looking at me or something else. Whatever it was, I captured it and like it for the “differentness” of it. I love animals, and photographing them is fun when you can get a little of their personality in the photograph.

This is what I try to bring to my knitting designs as well. Every element is chosen because it suits the design, and every element tells a part of the story. If the design and the story behind the design need something that is as attention grabbing as a 300 member choir belting the Halleluja Chorus, then that is what it gets. If it needs something akin to a Japanese flute in the background of a water garden, that is what it gets. Thinking outside the box creatively demands looking at what you are trying to communicate and expressing that in ways that are both unexpected and fit the artwork in question.

Peace and Knitting, JoLene Treace

Knitting Today: HAT, CAT, or Somewhere Inbetween.

Occassionally on lists for designers, a discussion regarding Hip and Trendy (HAT, or H&T as it is also called) crops up. There are a number of designers, including myself, who dislike the term as it usually is used in combination with something like “Not Your Grandma’s Knitting!”…as is, our knitting is good, yours is not relevant.

I suppose that is human nature to some extent. I am wondering, though, how much of that is due to the influx of younger knitters (as another designer wisely pointed out there seems to be a cycle with many things when “young” or newer enthusiasts join something, and everything is new to them). We are at a point (or rather, they are at a point) where they are ready to move beyond garter stitch scarves in novelty yarn, and the desire for things that are fashionable and fresh drive marketing. The search for what is “new” and “relevant”, can be somewhat misleading. Old techniques are discovered and used in new ways when minds are open, rather than closed. Don’t get me wrong, everyone should be able to choose for themselves how simple they want their knitting to be. It is their knitting and they should be allowed to enjoy it without comment from anyone. But it works both ways. Human nature being what it is, we don’t always embrace diversity as we should.

There is a whole world of knitting out there, and we are only limited by our imagination and belief in ourselves. The desire to learn more and do more can be severely hammpered by our beleif in ourselves. Many knitters have started to search out other things in knitting beyond the garter stitch scarf in novelty yarn, and there is a return to more classic types of knitting. For the fashion conscious, this classic style is not without it’s own modern feel.

I for one am rejoicing, as I am a CAT (classic and timeless) type of designer. There is more interest in other types of knitting as a result of this swing back to basic yarns and classic styles, and there isless dependence on novelty yarns to make a project special.

I have a hard time designing with the novelty yarns myself. I think they are pretty, but I have trouble doing them justice. I think because I just never learned how to combine them or use them. This is because the kind of knitting that shows these yarns off bores me silly. In all honesty, I prefer classic yarns and classic types of knitting. The knitting itself is more challenging and is the star of the show, rather than the yarn itself being the one and only design element.

I enjoy an Aran jumper (pullover) or a fairisle jumper much more than a sweater that is knit out of novelty yarns. I can appreciate them, I just don’t use them myself.

It has been postulated that designers tend to fill niches, and I suppose in many respects that is right. I have not seen any effect in my own business related to the knitting industry (many are wondering if the bubble has burst, as there are now yarn stores closing and for awhile there, it seemed there were a lot of new ones opening). I would venture to say that is because the designs that I do never appealed to the knitters the market was courting. At the TNNA (The National Needlework Association) trade show, the market was definetly more balanced and not so heavily slated towards novelty yarns last year, and I would imagine this year will be the same.

I have always, to some extent, designed what I want and let the chips fall where they may. I think in many areas of life that is a good approach. Do what you believe is right, essentially. Or do what you believe in. I believe in designing garments I would love to wear. When it gets to the point where I am designing something to make a quick sale, that is not what I am into. Some people are and there is nothing wrong with that either. But if it isn’t right for me, then I should not pursue it.

Whatever my niche is, I am not entirely sure as I have not stopped to analyze it. I suppose I should. Janet Szabo is the queen of Aran knitting. Annie Modesitt is brilliantly creative. Bonne Marie Burns epitomizes elegant and trendy (IMHO). I just do what I like and see where it takes my fancy. And I try not to be afraid.

Peace and Knitting, JoLene Treace

How Do You Color Your World?

On one of the forums in Ravelry, there was an interesting discussion on color versus black and white photography for simple patterns for a beginning knitter’s class. As this is a topic on a forum for designers, it was interesting how the topic went in different directions.

From a marketing standpoint, at least in knitting and other crafty hobbies, color photography is seen as a higher quality. Interestingly, you are not always able to see the best detail with color photography. In the case of the thread that started the topic, they are simple patterns with (I have heard although have not seen) a very good quality black and white. One of the reasons they are given in black and white is to keep costs down for the beginner students so they don’t have to shell out so much.

Another interesting observation on the topic was how black and white photography (art photography) has value. Think Ansel Adams. Of course, we live in an instant gratification, more is more, huge is more, all the bells and whistles is more society. We do judge a book by its’ cover…or rather, color. Photography, that is. One thing that surely makes or breaks a pattern in that very small amount of time a consumer spends looking at things before picking it up and looking further. If the photography is not eye catching and well done, chances are the pattern will not be looked at.

For myself, I honestly cannot enjoy a sense of intimacy with a black and white art photo. I can appreciate it’s beauty, but I don’t want to live with it. It feels sterile and devoid of passion. Color greatly affects feeling, emotion, sense of well being. Color can make you feel energetic or languid. Color communicates, and we internalize what is communicated.

I am sure you all have seen some tone on tone rooms done in beige or off white. I know they can look sophisticated, but again it tends to not be my thing. Right now I am picking out carpeting and paint colors for my studio. I already have a sofa going into it that I am pulling colors from the upholstery, but deciding on a final color scheme has been somewhat tricky. I don’t want my studio of all places to be devoid of color, and so neutral it has a neutered feel.

The upholstery is a wonderful tapestry with ducks swimming in water, grasses and cattails, leafy trees, and some ducks flying. The ducks are mallards. There is an amazing variety of colors in this tapestry. The problem is if I have too much color on the walls and floor, the tapestry will not be a focal point. If I go with too neutral of a scheme, there won’t be enough punch in the room to look like anything but the home of someone who cannot commit, someone who doesn’t know color, or someone who enjoys an “artsy” or “sophisticated” no color kind of palette. I am none of those. I was on the Dean’s list when studying metal smithing, but I can say without hesitation that there are things about the world of fine art that are needlessly high brow.

I enjoy color. In my home, I want a peaceful environment while feeling energized. I want a welcoming environment, so I want it to feel warm. I also want it to feel like a creative space. I want it to feel like it has personality.

In the end, for the carpet, I picked out a light colored neutral for the carpet. The walls will be a yellow green (a color that is in abundance in the tapestry upholstery, as is the light colored neutral). The upholstery also has some mauve, royal blue, blue green, yellow, orange,rust, and other colors. I plan on picking up some of the mauve and purple colors in accents. This ended up being a good compromise between not enough color and too much color. There is enough of a chic feel with the yellow green on the walls to fill the artistic and creative needs (I thought some orchids would be a nice touch in that room too). There isn’t such a huge wow between the carpet and walls that nothing else gets noticed either. In designing the room, I had to decide what was going to be most important and make choices based on that. Not everything can be the “subject”. In design, some things have to more important, and other things have to recede and play a supportive role.

Peace and Knitting, JoLene Treace

All I Want is Yarn

I mentioned several days ago I would write about some yarns I picked up at Stitches & Scones in Westfield Indiana. Whenever I am in Indianapolis, I make a point of going to this yarn store.

I was in search of yarns for a call for submissions from Interweave Knits for a book they have in the works. Sure, I have like a million odd balls of yarns of all kinds in my “yarn room” upstairs (it isn’t big enough to qualify as a studio, though hopefully I will have one of those by this time next year). To be honest, I wanted to play with something new. Something fresh. maybe something I really liked that I forgot about. Maybe something that I had tried but didn’t have enough of to swatch with.

I emailed Molly to ask about a few that I was looking for specifically, and when I left the store I had the following:

Savoy, a yummy silk and merino blend (in a lovely chocolate brown color and white), Wool Bamboo (two balls), Indulgence, Silke Tweed (two balls), Blue Sky Alpaca & Silk (two skeins), Linen Isle, and Princess (two balls).

Also purchased, but not at Stitches & Scones, Misti Alpaca DK 4 Ply (80% Baby Suri Alpaca and 20% silk), Classic Alpaca, Korella (a linen and acrylic blend form Gedifra), Sirdar’s Baby Bamboo, and Svale from Dale of Norway.

I don’t know if any of you remember the Bugs Bunny cartoons? I am thinking specifically of Daffy Duck when he would get in a cave with hidden treasure, and he would gleefully say “I am a happy miser!!!” I suspect that is what I looked like when I was sitting in the middle of the hotel room, trying to decide what I wanted to play with first.

Seriously though, yarn is an important design element. I know that is somewhat of a “duh” statement, but I think we can at times forget that. Not every yarn is suited to every purpose.

One of the interesting discussions going on in Ravelry is about what knitting rule you are rebelling against. It is fascinating to see what makes us all tick. Some of us have a need to rebel. For whatever reason. Maybe we don’t like being told that a particular way is the right way or the best way (regardless of whether it is or not). Maybe we have this picture in our minds about ourselves and we are exciting, chic, independent, or whatever adjective you want to insert if we are “rebellious”.

For myself I have never felt the need to rebel. Perhaps it is because I do what I feel is best for the design. I am a self taught knitter so I don’t have any preconceived ideas or influences that prod me to say so there and metaphorically shove my knitting needle in its eye. That would explain why I am particular about my knitting. As I am self taught, I have had no benefit of a teacher to help me learn what “the right way is”. I have had to figure it out on my own.

There are certain rules I have learned from reading, that I follow as it makes for better knitting. There are times where I break with tradition. Not because I need to rebel but because, again, it makes the design stronger or makes my knitting better.

For example, I love the Channel Island Cast On. Who says you cannot use it on other things besides Ganseys? Using it in other applications is more creative than anything.

I will be happily finishing up my swatching for the call for submissions tomorrow. I have a little something that I want to knit up with the Korella, and I just may use the Channel Island Cast On, paired with a lacey stitch pattern. At least one with enough yarn overs to give it a lacey feel, even though at that gauge and with the amount of yarn overs that form the pattern I don’t think there is enough to truely classify it as lace.

There just are not enough hours in the day. Thanksgiving may just have to wait this year.

Peace and Knitting, JoLene Treace

A Matter of Perspective: Design and the Unexpected

One of the things I do a little differently in knitting design, I have been told, is how I take inspiration from things and apply that inspiration to all the parts of the design process. I use a rather Fine Arts approach.

I recently received a call for submissions from a publisher whose list I am on, for designs for a book focusing on items that are simply elegant. That is a tough one for me, as I have a love of detail. Nevertheless, it can be done and I have some great ideas.

Looking up the meaning of the word Elegant is quite instructive. I love things that are a little unexpected, things with a little something different that make them special.

I haven’t shared a photo for awhile, and here is one of a Giraffe that I took at our local zoo. The composition of this photo is, in my opinion, quite unique. How often do we see Giraffes in this position? Sometimes looking at things from a different perspective or view point makes the difference between cookie cutter design and unique or artistic design.

A different perspective might mean focusing on a different part of the stitch pattern for color changes in a fairisle, or it might mean changing the way the eye is drawn through the design by changing the line of the stitch patterns (which gives a feeling of more energy or more rest, depending on what you do).

I have fun with perspective in photography, and my fun runs the gamut of extreme close-ups to different vantage points. It gives me an appreciation for detail and focus and how that affects a composition (or my designs).

Peace and Knitting, JoLene Treace

Creative Food for Thought: Knitterly Inspirations

As you know, I don’t strictly look towards the world of knitting for inspiration. I have a lot of creative things that I enjoy, including photography. I thought I would share a few pictures with you that I retrieved from my Data Recovery when my hard drive crashed this summer.

I don’t know about you, But I have been wondering where the summer has gone. I think that is why this picture speaks to me. I took this picture a couple years ago when I purchased my second digital camera (it comes with a 12x zoom and I was trying it out). We have a little more than 2 acres, and these two lawn chairs were farther from my front door than your typical suburb lot.

They are sitting in our yard, under an arbor. I think they look quite inviting, and when I edited the picture in Photoshop I could have sharpened the image more (most digital pictures need some sharpening, something not entirely noticeable unless you have worked with photoshop).

At any rate, I wanted the image to look a little soft and hazy. Soft and hazy, like a cozy memory of a lazy summer day. There is a lot of contrast in this picture, too, so the softness is important so that the picture due to the lighting doesn’t make you long for air-conditioning.

Here is a picture of a purple coneflower that I took in our yard. If you click on the image you will see a litte bigger image, which is worth a look. It is amazing how many colors there are in this picture. I kept the contrast in this picture, and applied just a little sharpening. It is worth a click just to get a closer look and see how many colors you can see. Can you picture this in a colorway? I know I can. Notice how the dark background really makes the light colors pop. It is the contrast that does this. Along with the dark greens and olives, there are some lovely pale red violets, bright yellows, orange. There are more. Sometimes I like taking closeups as they reveal the detail that our eyes somehow gloss over.

This is a picture that I took of an American Flag (duh!) that flies over an auto dealer in Fort Wayne. It can be seen on Coliseum Blvd. I wish I could give you the statistics on this flag, but I honestly don’t remember and a google search did not turn it up. I can only tell you it is absolutely huge. This shot was taken with my 12x zoom, across the road at the mall . The orginal image has more detail (there is only so much you can see at this size and resolution). Notice the strong feel of movement in this picture. I know you are thinking well, the wind is blowing it, but the diagonal lines in the picture are what gives it the feel of movement.

So what does this have to do with knitting? Nothing directly, they are just examples of expressing feeling, reflecting the world around us, and motion via design choices. And these things do relate to our knitting.

How much detail do we want? What kind of texture will certain choices give? Do those choices give the feel that we want? Do they express the energy or movement that we want? If you are a really energetic person, you might like a busier stitch pattern that has a lot of diagonal movement. Then again you might appreciate a simple stockinette stitch sweater that has some special little shaping details.

I hope you all have good days

Peace and Knitting, JoLene Treace

Design Discussion: LaMancha

This pullover is a ladies pullover, and is knit with worsted weight yarn. Chest measurements are as most of my other patterns, 40 (44, 48, 52, 56) inches. This particular design feature the Channel Island cast on, and has saddle shoulders. The design was inspired by one of the breeds of Dairy Goats we have at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo.  Our local zoo is ranked among the top 10 in the nation and we enjoy going at least once a season. 

One of my favorite areas in our zoo is the Indiana Family Farm. It has an area that used to be called the petting zoo. Although the name is different, the animals are the same. The goats are highly inquisitive, sometimes obtrusive, and just a lot of fun. You have to watch anything loose and dangling though, as it is likely to end up in their mouth.

Typically, even when the rest of their bodies are still, their tail is moving. Their tails are often held stiffly at attention, with a bit of a curve in them, and they swish back and forth,back and forth.

The LaMancha goat also has small nubby ears. This is a distinguishing characteristic of this goat, and I wanted to bring that into the design. I felt the Channel Island cast-on was a good choice for the cast on as adds a layer of detail as well as reflects the inspiration fo the design.

I also chose to use panels of garter stitch in the design. There are those who turn up their noses to garter stitch, feeling it is too common or plain, but I really like to use it.

In this case, it is reflective of the feel of the inspiration of the design in an emotional or intellectual sense.

Imagination is a powerful part of design. I wanted something that reflected the very utilitarian nature of the inspiration. The farm, dairy goats, things common and simple. Garter stitch is perfect for this, and it also added a textural contrast to the eyelet zig zag. The columns of garter stitch are strongly vertical while having a horizontal texture, so the more formal or lofty feel you can get from strong vertical lines is balanced by the horizontal lines of the stitch pattern.

The eyelet zig zag is also representative of a portion of the body of the goat. I feel their tails are a lot of fun and so expressive. The eyelet zig zag makes me think of their tails swishing back and forth. The diagonal lines of this stitch pattern balance nicely with the vertical and horizontal lines. Lastly, I felt the garment needed just a little more detail to round out the design.

I don’t know if you can see it in the photo or not, but it has a saddle shoulder. For those who may not know what a saddle shoulder is, it is a portion that extends up from the sleeve across the top of the shoulder. It is used in Gansey and Aran knitting, but in this case it was another detail that made the design a bit more special.

Since I was dealing with fairly simple stitch patterns, I wanted to have details that were not so simple or run of the mill. That is why the Channel Island cast on is so important to the success of this design, as is the saddle shoulder. It will not be at my vendors quite yet, as the pattern is at the tech editor right now. If all goes well, Black Water Abbey will be introducing it at Stitches East. Up North Fiber Art Supply, my American Distributor, has already placed their order. So it will be available in the shops soon.

WooHoo! I finally have a new design that is out. This is the first new pattern leaflet since I had my accident a year ago this past March. It feels so good to be productive.

Peace and Knitting, JoLene Treace

I Ain’t Dead Yet: The Joys of Knitting with Fine Yarns

You know, one thing I did not anticipate when I went back to work last November was how long it would take me to get my stamina back. I think for the most part I am back to normal now. Life has a way of getting in the way for all of us. For a part time designer, it can be challenging to balance everything between Job, Design Business, Home and everything else.

 Happily things are starting to slow down, but I don’t expect that to last. In the Spring, there are the inevitable rounds of mandatory inservices and so on that are required of all hospital employees where I work part time. Then there are the mandatory nursing things. This year I also had ACLS and PALS (Advanced Coronary Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support), both of which require study and preparation prior to the 2 day event. I had both up for renewal this year.

Now the required stuff for my job as a nurse is complete for another year, and I can turn my attention to some of the great yarns that I saw (and recieved samples of) at TNNA. Oh, did I mention that we are getting ready to do some major renovating? If all goes well, our house will be just a little more than doubled in size. I finally will have my studio, finished, with all my stuff in one place. I have yarn all over the house. Upstairs, both bedrooms. Downstairs, under our bed, in my closet, in my computer desk, under the desk, stuffed in the bookcase, and in baskets and other knitting bags downstairs.

I need to regain order in my creative space. One of the things I did to do this was purchase some of those needlework cards (”Lo Ran” Master Cards) that I think are with cross stitch or embroidery supplies. I have gone through a good part of my downstairs stash and have samples of yarn knotted on the card, with the name of the yarn printed on the corresponding line. The cards have the yarns grouped by weight and or fiber content, depending on what it is. I have all the lace weights together, for example, while I have wool by itself and grouped according to weight of yarn.

The other thing that I have done is to purchase some plastic pockets with an index tab on the side that have a front clear pocket on top, that will hold an index card. I always used plastic sleevs of some sort that are meant to put in three ring binders for designs that I am working on, but now I can take notes right where I use it, rather than thinking “oh, I will remember to write this down later” when I don’t feel like running upstairs and getting the notebook I started using for that.

This evening I had a question from my test knitter and I needed to clarify something. Mind you, I wrote 95% of this pattern over a year and a half ago and recently dusted it off so I could get caught up on designs that have been waiting to be finished. That can really be a challenge when it isn’t fresh on your mind.

I was able to take the file out of its pocket, and figure out what the test knitter needed to know, and then I pulled the index card out of its pocket and noted what the question was and what my answer was. It feels like I should be hitting a button that chants “That was Easy” (thank you, Staples, I will forever remember the easy button!).

One thing that is nice about this is I have a number of things that I am working on that is all together now. Which leads me back in a round about way to yarn overtaking my home. Out of sight, out of mind…so there it sits, where I can see it and remember what I wanted to do when I start playing with this one or that one. And right now there are a number that I am excited about.

TNNA this year had a large number of really nice fine gauge yarns. Yes! I was so happy about that. I could hug every sock knitter out there, as the news from the front is that is one reason why there are so many fine gauge yarns coming out right now (sock knitters).

I have some yarns from Naturally, one of which is a wonderful bamboo called Stella. I just love it. The only thing I have noted that is not perfect about this yarn is that you do need to be careful so that you are not splitting the yarn. I think it wants to be a tank top…but I like to have plus sizes in the range of pattern sizes that I right. Such a dilemma. I never wear anything sleeveless as I am  plus size myself. What I am swatching right now would also make a wonderful cardigan.

The other yarn I have played with is Dawn (also from Naturally), which is a wool and silk blend. It is another very nice yarn.  There is the Buffalo that I have, too (yarn). I am hoping to do some desin work for the Buffalo Gold folks.

So much yarn, so little time. Here is keeping my fingers crossed that things remain smooth sailing.

 Peace and Knitting, JoLene Treace

P.S. Today is my birthday! WooHoo! I am now 44. I went to the zoo today with my sister and her daughter, my niece Sarah. I always find the zoo inspiring. Then I went to dinner with my husband in the evening.

Just in case you are wondering, I have one design at the test knitter now, and will have LaMancha (a breed of Dairy Goat) in pattern leaflet sometime in August. Also coming, a project in Story Publishing (their 2nd one skein wonder book). Egads I am tired. Time for bed, time for bed.

Finding Inspiration: Knitting Without Boundaries

I have talked before about bringing our lives into our knitting, and looking at things around us for inspiration. While I realize for some this may not be an intuitive process, with practice it becomes easier. When walking by a blooming Magnolia, for example. Do you notice it? Look at the texture or the blossoms and the beautiful pinks and creams of the blossoms (I am visualizing the saucer magnolia off the front of our house). What is it that catches my eye about this? Well, the blooms are large and the colors are so pretty. The blooms are waxy so the texture suggested is slick and smooth. See where I am going with this? How do I feel when I look at it? What are my senses suggesting to me? They suggest lemonade or other concoctions, on a wide veranda with wicker furniture and a cool breeze. They suggest air that is heavy with the perfume of spring.

This kind of process goes on in all of the arts. Museums, art galleries, architecture, public gardens, a walk in your neighborhood perhaps (even a stroll through a grocery store) can lead to interesting design dialog. Artists are constantly looking at the world and reinterpreting it in their work. For an interesting look at this very subject, you can check out the Easter Eggs that are sent to the White House for Easter. Granted, there were some that I did not care for as I felt they could have been a little better done. But it is interesting to see how artists took on the chore of representing their state in a decorated egg.

If you were to design a sweater around your state, how would you do that? I would begin by asking myself what I think of when I think about my home State. What comes to mind? What images are in your head, what memories do you have, what smells do you remember and what sounds do your hear? What do those memories feel like and what do they mean to you? Next I would also look at a little history of my State. What is the State known for, who are some important people from the State. Weigh what is most important to you to communicate. It may be a feeling, a place, and event, someone well known to the public, or someone well loved by you. All are valid design points.

For Indiana (my State) I would choose something fairly humble and utilitarian like a cardigan. There is a lot of agriculture in this state. My daddy grew up on a farm. Both of my parents came from families that were hard working and humble in origin. My mother’s father worked at Bendix, as did my dad’s father. Dad grew up on a farm, but grandpa purchased the farm to give his kids something to keep them out of trouble! There were lots of chores to do. My mom’s family came from Bourbon, Indiana, and Dad’s family was from Etna Green. Both very small communities.

So, my cardigan would be comfy, homey,  and not “up-town”. It would be probably in a cotton blend, like Rowan’s Wool Cotton, or one of the other wonderful blends that are out there. A texture, perhaps, like a basket-weave or some other texture that makes me think of Indiana.

I of course could focus on the Indiana 500 if I chose, and that would be equally valid. Or, maybe I wanted to focus on other things that are found in Indianapolis. Fort Benjamin Harris is in Indianapolis (well, very close to it). I could focus on a little history about Benjamin Harris if I wanted to. For me the most powerful imagery centers around my family. Catching fireflies at night with the insects singing in the background. Spring and summer nights. Summer and county fairs. Family picnics and gatherings. For me, it all revolves around my family and the memories I have of them, year round. It is all about home.

What would you choose for your state?

Peace and Knitting, JoLene Treace

Design Process: Forest Park Dresser Scarf

Hot of the design table, here is Forest Park…a dresser scarf knit out of Suri Elegance (a laceweight alpaca). This design was submitted to Storey Publishing, for the call for submissions for the second One Skein Wonder book. The design came about from my desire to have a piece of lace for my dresser, that would be antique looking as well as modern.

I took for my inspiration the works of Frank Lloyd Wright, as seen in Oak Park, Illinois, and River Forest, Illinois. His first home and studio (as an adult, married man) was built in Oak Park, and this home as well as many of his other early works can be seen in this neighborhood.

His early works were not in the Prairie style, but were more in the prevailing style of the day. His work evolved into what we know as Prairie Style. There was a connection between the home and the land it was situated on in Wright’s style. His own home overlooked what was in the time it was built undeveloped prairie.

In choosing a yarn, I wanted something that was delicate and airy, so I knew I would want a true lace weight yarn. I also wanted a luxurious natural fiber. The natural fiber would be necessary as a design element in that it reflected the aesthetic of the Prairie Style that Wright pioneered. Since this was a decidedly elegant and fancy piece, in that it is finery for my dresser, I wanted it to have a bit of an opulent feel. The lace weight Alpaca thus satisfied the need for a natural fiber and the luxurious feel that was wanted. The yarn has a little bit of a fuzz as well, which gives it a different feel than if it had been a slick yarn such as silk. It is at once elegant and casual, and fits in perfectly in my 100+ year old home.

The fuzz gives it a warmth that fits in well here. If I had a sleek modern apartment, I would probably have gone with silk, depending on my furnishings. This will eventually come out in pattern, whether it appears in the new book or not. I have not heard back yet whether it will be included or not. A lot depends on what other items are going to be in the book, as a submission may be beautiful but just not fit with the other items that were chosen. I will let you know when it will be out, but until then you can enjoy the picture.