Knitter’s Spotlight: Sartoria Monica Stole by Anthony Butts

Georgia teen Anthony Butts has only been knitting for a year and a half, but he’s already designing his own patterns and teaching advanced knitting classes at his local yarn shop, Sartoria Monica. He credits the shops owners with inspiring his latest design. “They were so excited and so encouraging.”

The aptly named Sartoria Monica Stole shows off Anthony’s love of lace knitting stitches, combining two beautiful motifs in a simple rectangle. He chose our Vintage yarn for the project, which works up quickly on size 9 needles. You can buy the pattern for a dollar on Ravelry and help support Anthony’s college fund!

How did you choose the yarn for this project?

I try to make my pieces with materials that are readily available to everyone and, also, economical. I love the heathered effect this yarn has. It also has a good drape.

What’s your favorite project?

My favorite project is my very first lace shawl, which I made from an online class. It looks rather bad, but I was so into what I was doing and so excited by lace that I didn’t care. 

Any knitting disaster stories?

When I was still in my beginning stages, I had no clue about proper washing and blocking. I took a simple knitted shawl and washed it in the sink. Then I decided to throw it in the drier to make it dry faster. I took it out and it had stitches pulled out strings everywhere from where it snagged on something in the dryer. I learned how to block properly soon after.

If you could knit something for anyone in the world who/what would it be?

I want to knit the full Queen Susan Shawl for my future daughter’s wedding (way in the future).

What’s your favorite thing about knitting?

My favorite thing about knitting is being able to say, “I made that and no one in the world has a copy of THAT piece that I made.” I love how everything made is a one of a kind. And also, whenever I walk into a yarn shop or start teaching a class, I love how interested people are by the fact a teenage guy knits.

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.