From anthropologist to creator of knitting accessory hardware and more, Laura’s journey has held close the concepts of family, art, culture, and history. Learn more about the woman and as well as the company in today’s Shawl Pin Shawl MKAL interview with Laura of JULDesigns! 1. I see strong reptilian and Chinese influences in your shawl pin designs, while your sticks feature more flora and fauna inspirations. Where do you find inspiration for your knitting accessories and how do you turn those inspirations into a finished piece of art?I was trained as an anthropologist and did the fieldwork for my PhD in Indonesia, looking at ideas about cosmology, that is the relationship between humans and the universe. This is really …
Community Abounds At Black Mountain Yarn Shop
Black Mountain Yarn Shop’s focus on people makes crafting so enjoyable for all who are blessed to go there. In the second Shawl Pin Shawl MKAL feature interview, we (Puddles & I) sniff out the secrets behind the welcoming yarn shop and what makes Black Mountain Yarn Shop such a special place. 1. What inspired you to open a yarn shop in the beautiful Black Mountains of North Carolina? How long has Black Mountain Yarn Shop been open?My husband Don and I have always wanted to have our own business and after leaving corporate America and doing a lot of research, we knew Black Mountain would be a great place to have a yarn shop. We are in our 6th …
Let the Games Begin!
The time for the Shawl Pin Shawl MKAL Hunter Games is upon us! Since some people are new to MKALs, I thought a quick blog on how the games work is in order. I’ll post a clue, either images, words, or both, with a set time limit in the Shawl Pin Shawl MKAL thread and eligible participants have that set time period in which to Ravelry message me their answer. For instance, you may see something like this: and your challenge is to come up with an answer that includes reference to each and every aspect. The correct answer for this sample clue is: Puddles, the Great Dane, Lindsay’s knit companion. Just “Great Dane” or just “Knit Companion” would be partial answers & …
Pin Profile Bonnie Bishoff
Welcome Shawl Pin Shawl MKAL-ers & Knit Eco Chic readers, alike. Today’s first Shawl Pin Shawl MKAL interview is with artist and shawl pin designer Bonnie Bishoff. 1. From your background in the Fine Arts, what inspired you to apply your colorful polymers and metalwork mediums into knitting accessories?I have the blessing of having married a wonderful artistic partner Mark Syron, and have the additional gift of having his mother, Barbara Jones as a muse in the fiber world and a support of all endeavors handmade. I started knitting when I was very young- shown by my grandmother, who was an avid knitter. It didn’t stick ’til I picked up the needles again at 18 and started with a pair …
Shawl Pin Shawl MKAL
Want a chance to win a shawl pin by JUL Designs? How about Bonnie Bishoff’s Bee Shawl Pin? Perhaps a prize from the Black Mountain Yarn Shop or a custom made MKAL exclusive knitter’s project bag are too tempting to pass by? Well then, come and join the Shawl Pin Shawl MKAL on Ravelry! Just a glimpse about the pattern: this easy level shawl features Drama by Claudia Hand Painted Yarns and comes in two sizes. The small – 10.5”/ 26.5cm deep by 64”/ 162.5cm wide – requires 2 skeins of yarn. The large – 12.75”/ 32.5cm deep by 74”/ 188cm wide – requires 3 skeins of yarn. The special features of the shawl are a secret, but the design …
Shawl Pin Shawl
With a plethora of styling options, the Shawl Pin Shawl’s versatility make it a must have for your wardrobe. An easy level knit, the unique dip in back is created with short rows in order to cover your back without adding bulk to the wings. Applicable for all seasons, select your favorite fiber for the weight you desire. Then show off your favorite shawl pin on the simplistic yet engaging design… like the JUL Designs “Twig Lace Pin” and Bonnie Bishoff’s “Dash” Shawl Pin shown above! The unisex pattern comes in two sizes: the small – 10.5”/ 26.5cm deep by 64”/ 162.5cm wide – requires 2 skeins of yarn; the large – 12.75”/ 32.5cm deep by 74”/ 188cm wide – …
Indie Design GAL – “So You Want to be a Knitting Designer” book review
Alex Tinsley’s “So You Want to be a Knitting Designer” ebook is a primer on the ins and outs of being a knitting designer. Her easy writing style, comical antidotes, and no holds bar advice from experience gives a full purview of the career. A must read for all budding designers! After a short introduction, Alex dives into the essence of the job – writing patterns: what goes into a pattern, how are they formatted, how much information to include, what peripherals might be needed, etc. You might have 1001 fabulous pattern ideas, but it is essential to the career to be able to convey those ideas in a manner in which other knitters to reproduce the intended FO (finished …
Indie Design GAL – Eco Pattern Highlights
Eco crafters, welcome to the Indie Design Gift-a-long on Ravelry! With over 11,000 eligible patterns, I thought I’d highlight a sampling of some of the many eco patterns in today’s blog post. For Her:Tangent, a quirky tank, by Melissa Lemmon (knitterleigh) knit in (my favorite) Blue Sky Alpaca’s Skinny Cotton – 100% organic cotton sport weight yarn & accented with Be Sweet Bamboo – 100% bamboo yarn. Yeats, a quick shawlette, by Corrina Ferguson (picnicknits) knit in Our Humble Castle Soy Beautiful – 100% soy light fingering yarn. For Kids:Ryker, a textured vest for play or church, by Katya Frankel (bingeknitter) knit in Knit Picks Simply Cotton Organic Worsted – 100% organic cotton yarn. Evie, a cute overtop, by Justine …
Indie Design GAL Pattern Reviews – Hats
Last week: “Well I’m up a creek without a paddle, but thanks to Ravelry, I now have a paddle! It just started snowing & my two nephews are coming up Saturday from Texas without cold weather gear. This is EMERGENCY knitting. All other projects are put aside until I get hats for my precious nephews! So thankful for the Indie Design Gift-a-long and scoring this great pattern! After sending me my nephews’ head sizes, I got a PM from my sister, ‘and just in case you are wondering, my head is 21.5 inches. So all total 3 hats to knit in 1 week!” Now that my precious boys are gone & I’ve caught my breath (and the 2646 posts in …
Indie Design GAL Designer Highlight – Jenise Reid
One of my favorite parts of the Indie Design Gift-a-long is getting to know other designers. My first designer highlight of GAL 2014 is the estimable Jenise Reid – femininebydesign. Prolific hardly does Jenise justice, with her portfolio of 108 designs, 30 of which are 2014 new releases! So grab your organic tea, it’s time to dive into Jenise’s interview! If you could only knit/crochet one item type of item, what would it be?Sweaters. As much as I enjoy a quick accessory, I tend to think of them as things to be made between sweaters… Which of your patterns make for really great gift knitting?The bootcuffs, or the headbands, depending on where you live. They are fast, don’t use a ton …