While I like to dream of designing in calm and peace at my own pace, the truth is that deadlines can do wonders for productivity. I thought I had gotten a good jump start on designing my Spring '14 booklet (vol 14). Ten or eleven weeks ago, I had over twenty sketches of ideas and variations… Continue reading What Inspires: Deadlines!
Category: inspiration
What Inspires: Variations on a Theme
Sometimes the best inspiration is one's own past work. I had to get over the feeling that it's cheating, because a good idea is worth further exploration. It's really exciting for me when I think of different ways to use an idea. I'll explain what I mean with examples. I designed Flower Child (upper left) a few… Continue reading What Inspires: Variations on a Theme
What Inspires: Retro Fashion
I've always loved perusing books about the history of clothing. Even if I've looked through the same book a hundred times, it seems like there's always something new to see. After all, I'm looking with a different context every time. Popular styles will have evolved from the last time I looked. Different movies are in… Continue reading What Inspires: Retro Fashion
What Inspires: Runway Fashions
While we are not slaves to fashion, the Berroco Design team likes to be in touch with what's happening on the runway – to see new silhouettes, proportions and details, like necklines. I've taken some screen shots on two of my favorite fashion sites to illustrate what kinds of ideas we are looking at and… Continue reading What Inspires: Runway Fashions
What inspires: Shapes from Nature – Hexagons
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… Continue reading What inspires: Shapes from Nature – Hexagons
Norah’s Knits: Books about Knitting
I have a lot of books. I can’t seem to resist buying these packages filled with possibilities. Craft, interior design books and knitting books are special temptations. If a book has any possibility of being useful to my design process, it’s even harder to resist. My work library ranges from books on indigenous crafts, origami,… Continue reading Norah’s Knits: Books about Knitting
Norah’s Knits: Aquarium of the Pacific – Future sweaters?
While we were in California for the trade show last week Amanda, Ashley and I took the time to visit The Aquarium of the Pacific. We needed the break after our long flight , before we got started with the hard work of setting up the booth. Turns out though, that we just can't stopping… Continue reading Norah’s Knits: Aquarium of the Pacific – Future sweaters?
Norah’s Knits: Where do we come up with this stuff? Sweater trends and where to see them.
A friend of the Berroco blog recently wrote in to remind us that that we promised, with creation of our blog, to let you in on some of the inner workings of our design department. True to our word and intent, here is a little insight into what Amanda and I are currently looking at… Continue reading Norah’s Knits: Where do we come up with this stuff? Sweater trends and where to see them.
KnitBits Preview: Inspiration for Babies & Toddlers
I love when designers share their knitting inspiration. If you’re like me, you’ll want to check out tomorrow’s KnitBits. It features a beautiful video about the design process behind our latest book, Comfort Knitting & Crochet: Babies & Toddlers. Some of the objects that influenced our patterns might surprise you! Comfort Knitting & Crochet: Babies &… Continue reading KnitBits Preview: Inspiration for Babies & Toddlers
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. Whenever I start to feel burned out or uninspired, I… Continue reading A Book That Inspires
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