Designer Spotlight: Just One More Cowl by Estella Haines

After years of knitting, Estella Haines gradually transitioned from adapting patterns to designing her own. Her motivation? A 16-year-old daughter with “definite fashion tastes.” Together, they’ve come up with a number of popular patterns. “She loves to draw a sweater, pick a yarn and direct my knitting skills into whatever she desires.”

Estella’s most recent design, however, was a solo project. She started with a single skein of Berroco Peruvia Quick and three hours later she had knit Just One More Cowl. The chunky cowl has a surprisingly delicate look created by dropped stitches. It’s lightweight, but still stylish and plenty warm. It even won over Estella’s “anti-cowl” daughter.

Any interesting stories about this design?

When I took the finished cowl back to my LYS, Iron Horse, I noticed someone knitting with Berroco Kodiak. I purchased a skein and went home to knit up a second cowl. The funny bit is that my daughter was with me when I bought the Kodiak and she outright told the LYS owner that she NEVER wears cowls. Well, as soon as the Kodiak version was off the needles, she put it on and wouldn’t take it off. I’ve made her another one and she loves wearing them both! 

What’s your favorite project that you’ve ever made?

My favorite project that I made for myself was my Ingénue because it fit so well. Unfortunately, my Ingénue also ties into my knitting disaster. I wasn’t paying attention one day while doing laundry and I accidentally felted it.

If you could knit for anyone in the world it would be…?

It would be for my husband or my son. Neither will let me knit for them and I’d love to make a sweater that would be like a giant hug from me whenever they wore it.

What’s your favorite thing about knitting?

I love the potential that rests in yarn – so much can happen with a skein or more. I have four skeins on my kitchen table right now almost fermenting – every time I look at them I have ideas in my head for what they could become.  

Do you have a cool design you want to share?  Or did you recently finish a project with Berroco yarn?  You can email Ashley: apalumbo@berroco.com or post it to the Berroco Lovers forum in Ravelry.