CRAFTNICITY

Learning from Lace

Today, I'm excited to be part of Donna Druchunas' blog tour for her soon-to-be-released book, Successful Lace Knitting: Celebrating the Work of Dorothy Reade. My knit pullover, inspired by Indian tunics, is one of the knit designs featured in the book, each design an interpretation of one of Reade's lace patterns.

Each designer was allowed to choose a lace pattern. When I first saw the lace swatch, I envisioned a woman standing with her hands outstretched in triumph or celebration. Once I started knitting, the floral pattern seemed to reveal itself.

I prefer to make things that I'm drawn to or connect to in some way. For me, this beautiful lace patten was about celebration and renewal.

The lace in the pullover I designed mimics the detailed embroidery generally found on the yoke and hemline of traditional Indian tunics. I pulled out a simple eyelet pattern from part of the lace and used it to add a little interest throughout the body. Although the lace is more of an accent in the pullover than the main feature, I think it still makes a statement.

I wanted to create a sweater that felt light, so I chose to work with skinny yarn. I chose Jagger Spun, The Maine Line yarn in fingering weight. Unlike a lot of knitters, I don't have a huge stash and I had never worked with Jagger Spun. But based on yarn reviews and its vibrant color selection, I took a chance. Once I started knitting, I knew I had made the right choice. It is a soft, lightweight wool that knits up beautifully.

I have to admit that I never considered myself to be much of a lace knitter. I had knit a few eyelet patterns here and there, but the thought of knitting and blocking lace, recovering from any mistakes, and reading those charts...well, I just knew that was never going to happen. But you know what they say about saying "never."

I was surprised that I found a flow to knitting lace and even reading the charts. I have learned to love it and have learned so much about lace-knitting from Dorothy Reade's style. Not only did I reach a point where the knitting began to make sense, I felt this wonderful anticipation of what the lace would reveal next.

If you'd like more information about Donna Druchunas' book tour and other exciting announcements, visit her blog, Sheep to Shawl.

Review of French Girl Knits

When I first sat down to read French Girl Knits: Innovative Techniques, Romantic Details and Feminine Designs by Kristeen Griffin-Grimes for the review, I immediately panicked.

The photos and projects were so beautiful, so delicate, so “not my knitting skills.”  But I was immediately drawn to the colors and designs – typically French.  The author details her love for la belle France and her passion for clothing and design while talking about her teenage years learning to sew and knit.

The chapters begin with lovely stories and definitely get you believing that you are tucked away in a small chamber in Monmartre on a cool fall day knitting and waiting for your beloved to return home.

Love the detail in the patterns.  Ms. Griffin-Grimes arranges each project with information on the item she made, with details on the finished size, yarn, needles, notions and gauge, notes and stitch guide for each pattern.  She also gives yarn substitutions which is a godsend.  Included also are several detailed photos and drawings with dimensions - very helpful for inexperienced knitters.

I was particularly surprised to look at the photos of lovely, delicate and lacey garments only to read that they were knit with size US 11, 13, 15 or even size 17 needles!  At that point I decided to try out one of the patterns.

I am not an expert knitter and tend to shy away from projects that look too challenging or complex.  However, I did knit “Wrenna” a leather-laced cardigan using US 17 needles and chunky weight yarn.  The instructions were good and fairly easy to understand.  I can’t say that the finished garment looked exactly like the model, but it was okay.  Not great, but okay.

I would recommend this book for anyone who has ever been to, or dreamt about going to France and has a love for French design.  There are some beautiful garments in this book and I am definitely going to come back for another journey through “la boutique Parisienne”.

**************
Available from Interweave Press
160 pages

(Reviewed by Liz Fox)

Creativi-TKO: Life 12, Creativity 0

Last year, my creativity took a whooping. I wrote about it, was inspired by others', read about it, made notes about it and even dreamed about it. In other words, I did everything but make time for it in my life.

On the other hand, life was a bit rough for my family. My mother's health declined considerably, my younger son was diagnosed with a mood disorder, and my older son started high school. But hey, why not me? Life happens. The challenge is how to work with it and allow creativity to flourish and nurture us especially during tough times.

But I am tired of getting my butt kicked by life, so here's my plan:

1. Balance structure with non-structure. I've joined Susan Sorrell of the Fiber Arts/Mixed Media group in playing with a new art technique every month. I've got technique books about everything from creating chain mail jewelry to paper yarn. So I think I can come up with some new things to try. 
2. Get out more. I will be leading a creative workshop I'm calling "Make Yourself at Home" during Mother's Day weekend (May 7-9). As much as I'm thrilled to be part of this weekend retreat, I'm just as excited to be away for a weekend -- sans family. I can't think of a better Mother's Day gift, 'cause Mama does need her space sometimes.
3. Shout it out! I tend to hold my creative projects pretty close to home. I don't know whether it's that I've got so much going on that I'm embarrassed to look so scattered and crazy, or whether I'm just too insecure to share. Maybe it's a bit of both. Regardless, I think I'll start showing and telling my own story more.
4. Finish stuff. My finishing energy doesn't even come close to the high of starting something new. It's no wonder that I've got a lot of unfinished projects in the closet. It's time to get excited about completions and not just beginnings. I'll need some good luck with this one, but I'll give it a shot.

(Photo courtesy of Evil Erin.)

Review of Japanese Inspired Knits

Though the designs in Japanese Inspired Knits by Marianne Isager aren't Japanese, they are inspired by the Japanese culture. The patterns are definitely Isager-style, that is, they are travel-inspired, use bold geometric patterns, use a variety of knitting techniques (entrelac, double knitting, intarsia, stranded colorwork), and many have unique construction.

Each chapter, which is divided by the months of the year, gives a description of the culture that characterizes life in Japan during that particular month. Like the flower buds sweater that follows the description of the blossoming of the cherry trees in April, the inspiration is clear. Each pattern follows along that month's line of inspiration and is a representation of that description.

Isager even gives some extras. Since the yarn requirements included in the book are based on 100-gram skeins, the yarn conversion sheet lists suggestions based on 50-gram skeins, which are distributed in the U.S.

What you don't get are patterns for larger women. Isager stays in the mid-range (38-44 inch bust), though one pattern extends to a 54-inch bust.

Overall, the book doesn't disappoint, especially if you've come to love Isager as much as I do. Once again, she is able to fuse culture and customs and create beautiful, innovative knitwear for women.

 

I'm Back

...just in case you were wondering.

Thanks so much for all of your comments and suggestions about my son. We have definitely turned the corner and we're all doing much better.

I used to think that saying we're taking things "one day at a time" was so cliche...until now.

So one day at a time -- I'll tweak and whip this blog into shape. I'll patiently parent a teen and a preschooler. I'll start my classes in documentary studies. And I'll write and create.

 

(Photo courtesy of Flirty Kitty)

Creative Twists for the Young, Gifted and Bipolar

In 2004, we adopted a newborn. Now, at the tender age of 4-1/2, he is talented, funny, musically-inclined...and has bipolar disorder.

After 4 months of relentless searching, I finally found some professionals to listen to me. We have a team of people who are devoted to helping us cope and helping my son move through this maze.

When he is enraged, he throws things...anything. One social worker suggested only "letting" him throw certain things and throw them at a target. The creative twist could be to make soft balls with faces on them; maybe mad or frustrated or calm faces.

Some other issues we're facing:

• Rages -- yep, I mentioned them before, but they are the most stressful. They are ugly and although it's getting a wee bit better, they have lasted as long as 3 hours. Yeah, THREE!
• Independent play -- he has difficulty playing independently. He always wants us to be engaged.
• Patience -- waiting is excruciatingly difficult for him.

Help us heal our fracture. What creative twists do you suggest? What projects might be helpful?

I'll share whatever projects we do. You never know who they might in turn help.

(Photo courtesy of Piez)

I'm Excited About ARTbundance Coach Training

Years ago, I took life coaching classes.  I picked the school because I'd heard it was one of the best. Life lesson: that isn't necessarily the best criteria to pick things. It was a great school, but it just wasn't a good fit for me.

Years later (tonight), I'm excited that my friend Marney from Artella is hosting a sample workshop for her new ARTbundance Coach Training program.  Creativity + inspiration = good fit.

I've taken several classes from Artella, and I've never been disappointed. I'm looking forward to see if or how this kind of coaching could be incorporated into Craftnicity.

Interested in becoming a new kind of coach?
Sign up for the free sample teleclass about Artella's
ARTbundance Coach Training Program
on July 14!

Thank You Michael

Dear Michael,

Thank you for showing me what it means to give yourself completely to
the rhythm of pure, blissful creativity.

(Photo courtesy tipoyock.)

Funk Buster Deadlines

There's nothing like a deadline to get you out of a creative slump.

I've had the opportunity to do three designs for the Yarn of the Month Club.

Each month, this membership club sends out enough yarn to create swatches, a pattern using one of the yarns, and a newsletter. 

So yesterday was my deadline to submit a pattern, in spite of it all...and I "forced" myself through it. I needed to get through it. (I'll show more of the design once it has been sent to club members.)

Rather than feeling oppressed by deadlines, I'm going to allow them to bust up the funk. Every month, I'll post a pattern or creative project on the blog.

On the surface, it'll be Craftnicity's own project-of-the-month club. Internally, I'll reflect on and celebrate what it took to meet the deadline.

How do you handle the deadlines in your creative life?

Marianne Isager On Ethnic Knitting

(Following is an excerpt from the Winter 2008 issue of Black Purl Magazine.)

Ethnic knitting (also called global or worldly knitting) describes ethnic knitting techniques and traditions around the world.  However, technique seems to be just one way of looking at it.

Like any art form, individual interpretations vary.  Ethnic knitting is as much about the designer and their inspiration, the yarn, and the landscape as it is about technique itself.

To discuss ethnic knitting, I was joined by knitwear designer Marianne Isager, author several books, including Out of Africa, Japanese Inspired Knits, and Classic Knits. Our virtual get-together brought about provocative and enlightening discussions on inspiration and passion and on what moves her to create beautiful knitwear.

On inspiration…
"I don´t use the ethnic techniques. I still knit exactly the way I learned to knit as a young girl. I’m often amazed to see knitting techniques from other cultures, such as the knitting men from the island Taquile in Peru, with their very thin and fine needles  I do, however, feel very inspired by the ethnic patterns. This can be patterns found in woven or embroidered textiles or even in pottery, which I have used a lot in the INKA book. I am not so much into techniques but more inspired by the visual feeling and the colours I see. It also inspires me that I find the same symbols and patterns all over the world, just used in different ways."

"I guess it just talks to my feelings. Like a child who has just learned to draw and wants to copy what she is seeing, some of these patterns are so plain and knittable—you just have to make it. I am not inspired by the complicated patterns.  It is always the plain and simple patterns which touch my fantasy. And working with knitting, I want the work to be nice and simple to do. It gives a more beautiful result in the end if the knitter has been able to relax and have fun during the work. I don't want the yarn to be forced into patterns which are not natural for the structure of the quality. The aim is always to have the yarn, the pattern and the knitter working together. This gives the absolutely best result."

On passion…
"It is not so much the knitting technique that shakes me, but more the tradition and the patterns being given from one generation to the next, sometimes and hopefully with a new twist. I am not knitting the way my mother or my grandmother did…Oh yes, the stitches are the same but I use these stitches in a new way. This is the thing which always shakes me when I study patterns—the little twist from one generation to the next. Even my daughter, who is also a knitter (www.amimono.dk), works with the same patterns as I do, and she just finds another way to use them."