KnitCircus
Fall 2015
Pattern Collection
Contents 4 Lothlorien Cowl by Amy Detjen 8 Maple Leaves Cowl by Wendy D. Johnson 12 Frozen Lake Gradient Shawl by Kirsten Kapur 16 Knitcircus Top-Down 64-Stitch Sock by Amy Detjen 20 Vernice Shawl by Susanna IC 24 Fashion Week Gradient Shawl by Jaala Spiro 28 Material Girl Socks by Jaala Spiro 32 About the Designers 34 About KnitCircus Yarn
Hi Knitters, Welcome to fall! It’s always such an exciting time to be a knitter, when we can start wearing and using handknits most days. Soon, at least in Wisconsin, we won’t be able to leave the house without them as nights get chilly and the wind picks up. Knitcircus Yarns is thrilled to announce our first Pattern Collection, and we have some very talented designers featured in these pages. Susanna IC, Kirsten Kapur and Wendy D. Johnson bring you patterns making clever use of Knitcircus gradients and semisolids. Of course, we couldn’t resist adding some of our own inspirations…You’ll find lots of accessory ideas in this first Collection, perfect for knitting up for yourself or as a holiday gift. Every day when we open up the door of the Knitcircus Studio, we’re filled with happiness that we were able to make such a big step and now have all the room we need. Thanks so much to everyone who supported us; now we can not only dye and ship out your yarn, but can meet knitters in the store and hold events. What a blast! It makes us want to knit all the more… Enjoy this season of knitting, Jaala and Amy
The
Lothlorien Cowl
by Amy Detjen
Fun and easy cowl that shows off the gradient yarn perfectly! Lots of soothing knitting with an easy-toremember stitch pattern. Choose sparkly yarn (as shown) or not - your choice!
Amy Detjen
Photos by Connie Ward
Make: One 100g skein of Fairy Dust yarn in Lothlorien (400 yds) US 6 (4mm) 24” circular needle or size required to obtain gauge
Amy Detjen
Pattern
Kit
Maple Leaves Gradient Cowl by Wendy D. Johnson
This cleverly designed cowl looks far more difficult than it is! It is completely reversible, and the classic fall leaf design would make a treasured family heirloom.
Wendy D. Johnson
Photos by Connie Ward
Make: One 100g ball of Greatest of Ease yarn in Celebrate Good Times gradient (400 yds) One 100g skein of Greatest of Ease yarn in Celebrate Good Times kettle-dye (400 yds) U.S. size 3 (3.25mm) or size to obtain gauge – two circular needles 24” long Wendy D. Johnson
Pattern
Kit
The
Frozen Lake Shawl by Kirsten Kapur
This two-color, asymmetrical, triangle-shaped shawl combines slipped stitches, reverse stockinette, and a mix of one solid and one gradient yarn to create a bold, dramatic surface.
Kirsten Kapur
Photos by Elizabeth Morrison
Make: One 100g ball of Thrilling yarn in Miles to Go (385 yds) One 100g skein of Thrilling yarn in Miles to Go kettledye (385 yds) US 6 (4 mm) 32” circular needles or size to obtain gauge Kirsten Kapur
Pattern
Kit
Knitcircus TopDown 64 Stitch Socks by Amy Detjen
This simple, top-down sock pattern is just a basic recipe that you can knit as written, or use as a template to create your own design. It has a bit of ribbing at the top, a short-row heel, and a fold-over toe. It is designed specifically for Knitcircus Matching Socks Sets, so that the gradient (or gradient stripes) are uninterrupted! Adjust as you like!
Amy Detjen Photos by Elizabeth Morrison
Make: One Matching Sock Set (two 50g balls) in a gradient or gradient stripe 1 set of US size 1 (2.25mm) dpns or small circular needle Amy Detjen
Pattern
Kit
Vernice Gradient Shawl by Susanna IC
This design was inspired by the brilliance of autumn and all the incredible hues of changing leaves. Vernice is an elongated crescent, which can be worn as a long scarf or as a traditional shawl. Add a few sparkling beads in the border to add texture and drape, and to evoke raindrops or autumn berries.
Susanna IC Photos by Connie Ward
Make: One 100g cake of Greatest of Ease yarn in Opposites Attract gradient Size US 7 / 4.50 mm circular needle, 32” / 80 cm long or longer 200 6/o glass beads
Pattern
Kit
Fashion Week Gradient Shawl by Jaala Spiro
Even if your wardrobe is all black, you need a pop of color on the runway! Whether you’re in Milan for Fashion Week or out with a friend in Marshfield, Wisconsin, this fun-to-knit shawl will cover your shoulders in style. Combining border increases with pi-shawltype increases and a little bit of lace, the shawl is a good fit for intermediate knitters.
Jaala Spiro Photos by Connie Ward
Make: One 100g skein of Thrilling yarn in Fashion Week (385 yds) US size 6 (4mm) 24” circular needle
Pattern
Kit
Material Girl Socks by Jaala Spiro
One of my favorite movies growing up was Desperately Seeking Susan - I loved Madonna's "devil-may-care glamour". This easy texture pattern makes the most of the gradient stripes yarn, and its effortless style makes it the one pair of socks you should pack in your hatbox suitcase!
Jaala Spiro Photos by Elizabeth Morrison
Make: One Matching Sock Set in Material Girl (two 50g cakes) Needle in size required to obtain gauge
Pattern
Kit
The Designers
AMY DETJEN Nationally-known knitting teacher and author Amy Detjen has been Meg Swansen’s righthand-woman at Knitting Camp for 20 years and teaches at Vogue Knitting Love events all over the United States. She co-hosts the Knitcircus Podcast with Jaala Spiro and brings knitting cheer wherever she goes. If you’re reading this, you’re her favorite knitter!
JAALA SPIRO Knitcircus Dyer Jaala Spiro is endlessly fascinated by color and loves creating self-striping gradients and experimenting with fresh dyeing techniques. The former publisher of Knitcircus Magazine, she has written many accessories patterns and specializes in one-skein patterns with easily-accessible lace.
WENDY D. JOHNSON Wendy D. Johnson is a lifelong knitter who has since April 2002 maintained a popular knitting blog: WendyKnits.net. Her designs and articles have appeared online and she has been quoted or featured in major knitting magazines. She is the author of Wendy Knits: My Never-Ending Adventures in Yarn, Socks From the Toe Up, Toe-Up Socks for Everybody, and Wendy Knits Lace. She lives in Alexandria, Virginia and works for the federal government in Washington DC.
SUSANNA IC After nine years in Europe, Susanna IC now lives in San Antonio with her husband, two sons, one guinea pig and countless balls of yarn. She has an extensive background in studio arts and art history, which inspires much of her knitting. Her projects and designs can be found on Ravelry, user name zuzusus, and at www.ArtQualia.com.
KIRSTEN KAPUR New York City based designer, Kirsten Kapur has been knitting, sewing and crafting for as long as she can remember. She worked in ready to wear for many years as both an apparel and textile designer. During those years she gained a strong knowledge of garment construction as well as surface design. Kirsten loves designing knitwear because it allows her to combine her construction skills with her sense of color and texture. Kirsten’s independently published designs can be found online, on Ravelry, and her website http://throughtheloops.typepad.com.
About Knitcircus After taking a handpainting class at beloved local yarn store The Sow’s Ear in 2012, I was hooked. Putting color on yarn quickly took over any other pursuit outside my family as I experimented with techniques to create longstriping handpainted yarns. Once I figured it out, with help from my dad’s custommade machines, the Knitcircus gradient was born! Gradients are fun, but I wanted to be able to knit socks with exactsame stripes; so the next innovation was Matching Socks sets, dyed to match down to the stitch. Long stripes are fun, but what about socks with short stripes that also change color in a gradient for even more exciting knitting? The answer Gradient Stripes Socks Sets! Gradient Stripes are fun, but what about something for scarves and shawls that changes unpredictably over the gradient to make knitting every more fascinating? Let’s do Impressionist Gradients! Now Knitcircus has grown to include not just me, but Knitcircus Yarns partner Amy Detjen, expert Yarn Processor Amy J, Orders and Shipping manager Shari, Assistant Dyers Erin and Emily, Social Media maven Ellie, and doeverything geniuses Tashi and Katie. I’m so lucky to have such a sparkling crew! What’s next? Well, we’ve got lots of ideas…stay tuned! Jaala Spiro Knitcircus Dyer
Happy Knitting!
-The Knitcircus Team