May 9
It feels like ages since I wrote Knitting Nature, but the process of writing it left an indelible influence on my work. Spirals, fractals and other shapes in nature provided great fodder for designs in my book and still rattle around in my head, but it’s polygons, especially hexagons, that have become a permanent part of my design vocabulary. Read more
Is there anything better than a handmade gift that’s truly loved? J’s Blanket – project by mgustafson06 (pattern by Norah Gaughan) Read more
Wheew…the five grueling days of photo shoot are finally over. The shoots can be fun. It’s so great to see our designs styled and photographed, but that all takes a lot of work and many decisions made on the fly. It always feels like performance art. Read more
When it comes to choosing a project, especially a garment, it isn’t just about how well you knit, but also, how well the finished object will fit. That’s one of the reasons I love our traveling trunk shows! You can touch and try on one of our new designs before you invest all of your time and energy making it.
I spent most of last weekend knitting, knitting and knitting until I couldn’t knit any more. I was compelled to knit just one more piece for my next volume (that’s Norah Gaughan vol 13). Next week is the big photo shoot, and all of my knitters were busy with other items for our Fall/Winter booklets. Besides, I really wanted to knit this one. Read more
If you’re like me, you may have noticed the oversized sweater trend and thought, “I could never pull that off.” Unfortunately, I sometimes “think” out loud. Norah overheard and was determined to prove me wrong.
What I’m about to say may shock you. Before I started here at Berroco, I didn’t know much about Norah. Sure, I had heard her name and even queued a few of her designs on Ravelry, but I was mostly a crocheter and I didn’t pay much attention to those kinds of things. Looking back now, I’m grateful for my knitting industry ignorance. I would have been way too nervous starting a new job with “THE NORAH GAUGHAN” as my boss!
January is a crazy time for the Berroco Design Team. From holidays to trade shows to the unveiling of our new yarns and designs for spring, there isn’t much downtime. It’s hectic, but it’s also a lot of fun.
While we’re proud of all our new patterns, it’s always fun to see which knits are the favorites among our fans. That’s part of the reason we love having a Berroco trunk show at the historic Slater Mill in Pawtucket, RI. It’s a rare opportunity for the local knitting community to try on samples and chat with our design team – and it’s a lot of fun!
Mar 26
the beautiful gift
I am feeling very loved. Last evening I received an incredible gift. My fan group on Ravelry, lead by the intrepid cadburyskeeper got together (in an on-line sense) and made an afghan for me. The 6″ hexagons, they dubbed them “hexagaughans” since I am so into them, were knit and crocheted by folks in nine countries: Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Slovenia, United States. That so amazing to me, I smile (and tear up a bit) every time I think about it.
They asked me my fiber preference (wool) and for some ideas of the colors I go for. I professed my love of the muddy browns and purples often found in Amish quilts with a few shots of pink and orange thrown in for contrast, and they went to work. When I unwrapped the gift, the whole berroco office declared that it looked like me.
I see hexagaughans inspired by Aune, Joyella, the Basalt Tank, Hex coat, spiral scarf, and snapping turtle skirt, all from Knitting Nature and even some influenced by the be-bobbled Flower child, as well as originals and hexagons from all over the world.
A million thank yous to all involved. I am extremely touched and proud to be the recipient of such a fabulous gift!
