Berroco Loves Ravelers, Pt. 2
I’ve been at it again – browsing Ravelry and finding lots of projects designed with Berroco yarns! It’s time for another independent pattern round-up… Read more
Posts from the ‘designing’ Category
Aug 2
4 Comments
A Book That Inspires
Every once in a while, a knitting book will pop into my life and really change things. A few years ago, my mom bought me The Art of Knitting by Françoise Tellier-Loumagne, and this book has become the single most helpful item on my shelf. Read more
Berroco Adores Designers
Ravelry has made it so easy to find great designs produced independently! And of course it’s especially exciting to find designers using Berroco yarn in their patterns. I’ve come across some really great designs lately, and thought I’d share: Read more
Knitting Now and Later
Summer has just begun... But in the design office, we’re solidly in the habit of working far into the future:
Norah and Warren will be traveling to Italy soon to start planning yarns for Fall/Winter 2012.
Norah and I are actively designing for Spring/Summer 2012.
Berroco just introduced the exciting new yarns and pattern booklets for Fall/Winter 2011.
Dec 3
Pin it on us
As you may have noticed from my iPAd sketching entry a while back, I am a bit of a gadget girl. The excitement of learning something new propels me through work, and almost invariably opens up new avenues of thought and inspiration. When it comes to discovering the newest tools and destinations on the web, I rely on Cirilia to keep me up to date. So, it went with Pinterst – as the site defines itself: Pin· terest (pĭn’trĭst): n. a social catalog to collect and share things you love …
Participants add links to thinks they love and organize them into themed boards. I find the organization easy and pretty intuitive. While we can’t figure out how it’s possible, Pinterest is so very beautiful, and so, so nice. Cirilia and I are keeping board on things we love , some tangentaly affect our work and some more directly, like Cirilia’s “color” board and my “geeky nice” board. I am finding it very inspiring and uplifting. Time will tell how it affects my work, but I am sure it will.
NG
Oct 4
Remix makes the Cover of Knitty!
I thought the boatneck and side shaping gave my Aran a bit of a Jean Seberg-in-the-french-sailor-tee kinda vibe , so I named it Beatnik. Our model had fun with this one:
…and I had a chance to play with cables. The mini cables alternating with st st is becoming a recurring element. See our free pattern Wishbone and Barnard from booklet 286.
I’m dreaming of making one for myself with an oversized body and slim fitting sleeves – one of my favorite combinations. I’ll make a body 4-6″ bigger than my bust measurement, eliminate the side shaping and follow the sleeves and armhole for my size. I will definitely use the Remix, now, what color?
link to free pattern on Knitty
– NG
Aug 20
New England Knits!
Read on to hear some behind the scenes scoop from the authors of New England Knits, Cecily Glowik MacDonald and Melissa LaBarre.
CR: Hey ladies! Why don’t we start by explaining how you know each other?
We first met many years ago through mutual friends, but because we lived in different places, we lost touch. When Ravelry came into the picture we found each other again and discovered that we had both become a bit knitting-obsessed. The rest is history because we’ve been hanging out ever since!
CR: I know firsthand how much a garment can change from sketch to final piece. Were there any garments in New England Knits that morphed or surprised you?
Melissa: The Montague vest actually started as a belted sweater, but when I was about to sew in the sleeves I realized that I really loved it without them. After trying it on, it was officially a vest!
Cecily: We actually had included a couple designs for men’s sweaters in the original proposal, but then decided it was more cohesive as a collection of women’s garments only. The Augusta Cardigan is a revised version of one of the men’s designs.
CR: Time to play favorites! Which garment in the book is at the top of your daydream queue?
Melissa: Oh boy, this changes almost daily for me. I think I need to knit myself a Hampton Cardigan. I love the construction, and I keep trying it on and dreaming about not giving it back to C.
Cecily: I agree, I keep finding a new favorite! From the sweaters though, I always seem to come back to the Salem Hooded Jacket, a hood, ribbon detail, and pockets!
CR: Melissa, you just used Peruvia Quick and Vintage for your Acorns hat. Any other Berroco favorites?
Melissa: Peruvia Quick is my absolute favorite right now. I’ve been daydreaming about a starting a new design in it. I am wool girl to the core.
CR: Cecily, I just knit myself a Goodale because I needed a break from constant designing! Do either of you have any “cheat” knits that you sneak in between designing? If you weren’t a professional designer, what would you be working on right now?
Cecily: Can I put a big disclaimer on this? I am not saying this to be nice, it is absolutely true- I bought the pattern for Kiloran [Ed: Kiloran is a dress I designed for Twist Collective in Ultra Alpaca], just so I can just have it at the ready for when my workload slows down. I have been dreaming about it since the new issue of Twist came out!
CR: Summer in New England is coming to an end. What is your favorite part of New England summers? What are you looking forward to in autumn?
Melissa: I really enjoy knitting on the beach, and just being near the ocean, but I can’t wait for SWEATER WEATHER!
Cecily: Definitely being able to spend time by the ocean is my favorite part of New England summers. However, after this particularly hot summer, I am really looking forward to the cool, crisp fall air.
From left: Gudrun/Shetland Trader, Melissa/Knitting School Dropout and Cirilia/Skrilla Knits
CR: What’s next for Cecily and Melissa?
We plan on working together again. That’s all we’re saying! 
Jun 28
Whirlwind June…
June has been exactly like a summer storm. A bit scary, very unpredictable, fast-moving, and at times refreshing and beautiful. It has been an exhausting but inspiring month…
Norah and I spent the first half of the month consumed by TNNA! If you weren’t following our updates on Twitter you can see a wonderful recap thanks to the Hello TNNA wonder team (aka Team Rav!). This was a really cool addition to the show, and an excellent way for knitters at home to get a sense of what will be hot in the upcoming year. This was definitely the most busy, exciting TNNA I’ve attended, and I think it is thanks to all the NEW! We were of course very happy to unveil our Fall/Winter 2010 collection but it was also really fun to participate in new programs like the TIPS [Trends, Ideas and Products] info sessions and to see some first time exhibitors, especially Ysolda who set up a booth that made it feel like you had fallen into her Flickr stream! So fun! Norah and I visited often (see if you can find us…).
The minute we got back we had a photo shoot to think about! It was pure madness for a couple of days there. Deliriously tired, we knit the last few items frantically. This is me, on “vacation” (NOTE SUN PRECAUTIONS! WEAR SPF, EVERYBODY!!):
Even after several crippling beach knitting marathons, I still didn’t manage to finish before the day of the shoot! You can read the whole story here, I participated in the 2 Week Sweater Challenge that Kate at Twist Collective, who was also on deadline, dreamt up. For all the crazy stress, we ending up having a fantastic and easy photo shoot at one of our favorite Providence boutiques, Heir Antiques, which shares a space with Calico. We simply love owner/curator/raconteur Tyler’s aesthetic and he couldn’t be sweeter, which helps to make it a fun day rather than a draining one. Here is a sneak peek at Aidez, the sweater that was nearly in peril!
Have you made it this far?! This long post should give you some sense of how insane this month has been, and if you’re still reading, it is probably safe to say you’re genuinely curious about the goings-on of a design team! If SO, I highly recommend you get yourself a copy of Shannon Okey’s amazing new book The Knitgrrl Guide to Professional Knitwear Design. It includes all the stuff I have learned along the way, a lot of new things I want to work on. Honestly, just reading it reminded me how very complex this (admittedly super fun) job can be! Inspiring in so many ways.
Okay! Over and out, see you in July!
Cirilia
Jan 22
Biff and Baffin, at the height of fashion!
Did you see today’s free pattern? Biff is based on Baffin, a baby pattern from Booklet #292 DK Baby.
I was completely tickled to see this video from the NY Times. This booklet is for the fashion forward baby, yo!
CR
Jul 10
Be a Sock STAR!
Find more information and an entry form in KnitBits #300! Dig into your stash or head to your LYS for these eligible yarns: Berroco Sox, Berroco Sox Metallic, Comfort Sock and Ultra Alpaca Fine and start sketching, swatching, SCHEMING!
I’m busily preparing to head to Sock Summit 2009 where you can visit the Berroco booth (#418) to learn more about our sock yarn offerings or get inspired for your own sock yarn designs. I’m not much of a sock knitter but I am over the moon for sock YARNS for a lot of reasons. It’s affordable (so much yardage for so little money!), it’s not overly delicate, the colors and the cool striping effects are right up my alley and the finer weight makes a really wearable fabric. It’s also highly stashable!
Why do you love sock yarn? Let me know in the comments!
CR
