SCARVES, ETC 5
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CONTENTS i ntro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 - 5 m a rika . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 - 1 1 wa ves in lac e. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 - 1 7 . b ra df ord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8 - 2 3 wo rce ste . . r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 - 2 9 co bbleway. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 - 3 5 g a brie la . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 6 - 4 1 flyi n g gee se. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 2 - 4 7 li b er ty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 8 - 5 3 p a pe rle ss. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 4 - 5 9 na sc h a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 0 - 6 5
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Greetings! Herein lies our 5th annual collection of Scarves, Etc. This year, however, rather than wax on in this introduction about the benefits of scarf knitting, I thought you might like to know how we go about choosing our final collection among the many designs submitted for our perusal. Choosing which pieces to include is, by far, the hardest part of this enterprise. We hate having to turn away favorites that we’d love to include. Scarves, Etc. is the most democratic thing we do here. Everyone in this office gets a say. And, as you might imagine, the five of us don’t always land on the same ten scarves. When we do, you hear us cheer. This year, that chorus fell to Waves in Lace, a shawl that won every heart at first glance. After that, our votes were spread a bit. Some of us love delicate details in a fine yarn, others like a bold pattern in something that knits up quickly. Some of us like what we think of as modern, urban pieces, others fall for anything that conjures windswept Scottish highlands. And some of us, well, really, all of us, are all over the board. We each respond to what we respond to, and delicate or chunky, diminutive or bold, plain or patterned, old or new, what appeals to us, individually, comes down to a few things, which this time we’ve pointed out to you. You may notice that this year, we ended by choosing two pieces from one designer, Peg Blechman. She’s the author of Waves in Lace and also the creator of Flying Geese. I couldn’t resist putting both pieces in this book because they’re both such excellent examples of the continuing currency of tradition and history. See if you don’t agree with me. Beyond that, we love the modernity of the triangular shawls Marika and Worcester, the simple use of one of our favorite stitches, two-color brioche, in Nascha, the perfect combination of stitch pattern and yarn in Bradford, and the satisfying and thoughtful mix of small details in Paperless. We love Cobbleway, too, for its take on an old favorite, the cabled scarf. And Gabriela appealed to us because of its imaginative embellishment of simple seed stitch. Finally, Liberty is as beautiful an example of the pleasure of a rich texture stitch as ever you’ll find. And If you’d like to review the reasons we love to knit scarves, you’ll find them on page 00. Without further ado, I present Scarves, Etc 5.
Pam Allen
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Marika Noriko Ho I have been knitting for a number of years, and have begun to love the aspect of designing, in addition to simply knitting. My designs are inspired by the people around me and in nature all around. I love to travel, and so some of my designs are taken from inspirations around the world.Â
website: norichanknits.com ravelry: norichan instagram: norichanknits 6
yarn: owl color: cinnamon
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Q&A Q:
Noriko:
Why is this your perfect scarf? I’m always on the lookout for something that is easy to knit, but not just plain old garter or stockinette. I need a bit of interest to keep me going on a project, and Marika has just the right amount of spice to keep me from getting bored, but not so much that I truly have to pay attention to it. In addition, the final size is just so big and squishy! I love Owl, and think this wrap works out to be such a comfort- ing piece in the end.
Q: Where did you come up with the name of your piece? Noriko:
Marika is a character from an anime called Nisekoi. Her character profile is “tsundere,” which means that she appears as a delicate and sweet girl, but has a lively spirit that can show up here and there. I felt that was exactly how my piece was: sweet and spicy. In addition, she has a frail constitution that she masks well, and typically appears as a very strong person. I can easily imagine her wearing my Marika shawl, and so the shawl is named after her.
Q: Styling ideas/how would you wear Marika? Noriko:
Marika was designed to be worn with the longest length of the triangle across the shoulders. I typically wear triangular shawls with the point in the front and throw the ends around my neck to the back, then back to the front. The ends I’ll tie or hide under the point. I find that keeps me the warmest and allows others to see the (often) cooler parts of the shawl. No matter what type of neckwear I decide to put on (cowl, scarf, shawl), I will wrap it around my neck as many times as I can to keep it cozy and up close. I love how cozy and warm they all feel worn this way.
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Why we love Marika • Lots of garter stitch for comfort knitting. • Panels of zigzag eyelets for a deep border. • Knitted in a medium-weight lofty yarn for coziness. 10
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Waves in Lace Peg Blechman I‘ve been knitting for 19 years. Based in Washington, DC, I’m a knitting teacher and designer of hand-knit scarves, shawls, and cowls. I also co-facilitate a weekly knitting group at a non-profit organization which serves people with cancer and utilizes the arts in healing. I enjoy the process of knitting and designing, and like to explore the connection between knitting and the natural world.
ravelry: PJBlechman
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yarn: owl color: albertine
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Q&A Q:
Why is this the perfect shawl?
Peg:
I return to knit this large and cozy shawl again and again because it’s like an old friend. Feather & Fan is a great introduction to traditional Shetland lace patterns— easy to learn and remember, perfect for beginning lace knitters. And the garter stitch bands give the knitter a break just when it’s needed, so the knitting is never boring.
Q:
Where did you come up with the name for your piece?
Peg:
I discovered that when alternating Feather & Fan lace with bands of garter stitch, horizontal waves appear; the ripple pattern in the lace creates the same wavey pattern in the garter-stitches sections. The shawl also visually captures the undulat- ing movement and energy of ocean waves—hence the name, “Waves in Lace.”
Q:
Why do you like designing shawls?
Peg:
I have found that the shawl “genre” or format is a blank canvas for my design explorations, adventures, and discoveries: The energy of movement, the connection between knitting and nature, and the contemporary relevance of traditional knitting techniques and patterns. Once I’ve developed a shawl pattern, I like to knit it in different yarn types, weights, or colors to see, and be inspired by, the way that different yarns change the work—similar to themes and variations in painting or in music composition.
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Why we love Waves in Lace • A classic lace pattern worked in a lofty worsted weight yarn for heft and coziness. • A stitch pattern that quickly becomes familiar and meditative to work. • Garter stitch interruptions provide interest and frame the panels of undulating openwork. • Big rectangle makes this almost like wrapping up in a soft blanket.
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Bradford Ann Klimpert After spending almost 20 years as a toy inventor in Chicago, I discovered knitting and realized it was a lot more fun to play with needles and wool. I started designing in 2014 and approached each new project as a puzzle to be solved. Currently, I live in Rhode Island with my husband, three kids in college, and a14-year-old yellow lab.
ravelry: annmade instagram: annklimpert
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yarn: tern color: syrah
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Q&A Q:
Why is this your perfect cowl?
Ann:
This is my perfect cowl because it’s just so easy. Easy to knit and easy to wear. Two simple rows make a textural, totally reversible cowl that can be worn as is, wrapped twice or three times. It’s a great portable project and a perfect knit when you need to relax.
Q:
How did you come up with the name for your piece?
Ann:
Bradford is the name of the street that runs down to the beach in my town. I am always fascinated by the ripples and furrows in the sand created by the wind and waves, the inspiration for my design.
Q:
Is there anything you’d do differently if you worked this piece again?
Ann:
If I designed this cowl again, I would make it more open ended and accentuate the versatility of the design. This is a piece that can be individualized to fit anyone’s personal style. Make it narrower, shorter, longer, twice as wide, three times as wide, make this pattern your own. I like to think that every knitter is her/his own designer and knows what looks best.
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Why we love Bradford • A diminutive, pretty cable pattern is the perfect texture to wear over everything. Not too bold, not too retiring---but just right. • Simple texture allows the sheen and pretty drape of the silk/wool yarn to be part of the design. • Reversible versatility! • The simple two-row pattern makes for relaxed and portable knitting.
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Worcester Bethany Hick I live outside of Washington D.C., and I’m a software developer by day. I learned to knit as a child, but knitting didn’t come in handy until I went to college in one of the snowiest cities in the country. I have two Maine Coon cats who love to help me knit (especially when it comes to winding the skein).
website: beebug.org ravelry: beebug instagram: b33bug
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yarn: piper color: austin
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Q&A Q:
Why is this your perfect scarf?
Bethany:
As an asthmatic I usually pull scarfs up over my mouth and nose to keep the symptoms down during the winter. So I love one that is super soft that I can wrap around my neck a few times.
Q:
Where did you come up with the name of your piece?
Bethany:
The lace design reminds me of the design you can find on the rim of a teacup or pot. So I named it after a China company.
Q:
Is there anything you’d do differently if you designed this again?
Bethany:
I’d like to make this using a thicker yarn and work extra repeats to make the piece super huge. Designing something to wear in the winter when it’s summertime is different designing in actual winter, however mild it is.
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Why we love Worcester • We love this way of knitting a triangle: From side to a point. So modern looking. • Worked this way, the flow of patterns in refreshingly asymmetrical. Bold columns of an open eyelet pattern, give way to alternating daintier perforations. • Lofty and light in a kid mohair/wool blend.
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yarn: lark color: damson
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Cobbleway Angela Tong Angela Tong is a designer, teacher, mother and food lover living in New Jersey. Her knit designs have been published in numerous magazines and books. She enjoys teaching weaving, knitting, and crochet. As a lifelong crafter, she has never met a craft she didn’t like.
blog: angelatong.blogspot.com ravelry: AngelaTong instagram: ATongDesigns twitter: ATongDesigns
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Q&A Q:
What makes Cobbleway the perfect scarf?
Angela:
My perfect scarf is a soft and cozy scarf that is long enough for me to wrap it around my neck sev- eral times.
Q:
Where did you come up with the name for your piece?
Angela:
I named it Cobbleway because I cobbled together vertical cables, columns, and garter stitch for the scarf pattern.
Q:
Where do you find inspiration for knitwear designs?
Angela:
Everyday things that I encounter during my day can spark an idea. I am very attracted to details. It could be what someone was wearing, a window pane on a building, or even a doorway. I use the inspirations to add details to my knitting designs.
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Why we love Cobbleway... • Here’s the classic cable-stitch scarf worked in a classic worsted-weight yarn, but with a twist. • Not your everyday cable pattern. These unusual cables have strong 3-D texture; they pop right off the garter-stitch background. • Long and not too wide, Cobbleway loops easily around the neck.
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Gabriela Jennine Birrell I’m a Canadian knitter living in Australia. I run a small business teaching craft workshops. My purpose is to enable others a break from their crazy lifestyle; to get creative, one knitter at a time.
website: fibreartsroad.com ravelry: JennineBirrell instagram: fibreartsroad
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yarn: puffin & lark colors: caspian audouin & malbec
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Q&A Q:
Why a cowl?
Jennine:
Cowls are a very practical way to wear something warm around your neck. The Gabriela cowl not only uses a lovely squishy and soft stitch pattern but the woven bits allow you to introduce accent colours to match your favourite sweater or jacket.
Q:
How did you come up with the name for your piece?
Jennine:
The name for the scarf came up because I literally designed this piece with Ga- briela in mind.
Q:
How would you wear Gabriela?
Jennine:
When I traveled around London in the cooler climate right on the cusp of winter’s cold, I wore a version of this scarf on top of a loose and slouchy knitted sweater, on top of a long, slim, fitted dress. I loved the layered loose look but the slim dress underneath all that wool meant there was still shape to the whole outfit!
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Why we love Gabriela... • Simplicity made interesting with a bit of embroidery. • Chunky yarn adds dimension and texture to a simple tube worked in two colors. • Color interest made simple. So many inches in A, so many inches in B. Then add a third color via another color woven in and out. Leave the ends hanging, or trim them closer to the fabric for a tidier look.
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Flying Geese Peg Blechman Peggy Blechman has been knitting for 19 years. Based in Washington, DC, she is a knitting teacher and designer of hand knit scarves, shawls, and cowls. She also co-facilitates a weekly knitting group at a non-profit organization which serves people with cancer and utilizes the arts in healing. She enjoys the process of knitting and designing, and in her designs, exploring the connection between knitting and the natural world.
ravelry: PJBlechman
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yarn: owl colors: huckleberry cement
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Q&A Q:
Why is this the perfect cowl?
Peg:
With a strong graphic surface design and vertical corrugated ribbing, Flying Geese is a great introduction to color work and understanding dominant color in fair isle. The alpaca blend Owl and stranded knitting make for a warm and cozy cowl which covers both the head and the neck—so no wintery blasts getting through!
Q:
How did you come up with the name?
Peg:
I named this cowl after a traditional knitting and quilting pattern. The pattern connects me with generations of knitters & quilters who worked and continue to work with variations of this pattern. In addition, it combines scenes from nature—the migration of a flock of geese—and knitting.
Q:
Where do you find inspiration?
Peg:
First, I get fascinated by a knitting pattern or technique and I like to explore it to see where it will take me. I’m also drawn to patterns in nature and traditional knit- ting patterns. These patterns are my “Cabinet of Wonders” as the precursors to museums were called. They are my sources of inspiration and my muses for a specific knitting pattern, technique, or color combination, as well as my way of following in the footsteps that other knitting traditions have created.
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Why we love Flying Geese... • Two simple, two-color patterns remind us of why we never tire of traditional Fair Isle patterns. • Generous dimensions and stranded colorwork make a very cozy cowl. • A heathery woolen-spun alpaca/wool blend makes the cowl soft, warm, and buoyant.
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Liberty Ela Torrente I live and work with my family in northern Italy. I am a mom, an independent knitwear designer, a yarn maniac and an amateur chef.
website: modishknits.com ravelry: Modish Mom Knits instagram: elatorrente twitter: ModishKnits
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yarn: osprey color: barolo
Q&A Q:
Why is this your perfect scarf?
Ela:
My perfect scarf should be: super quick and never boring to knit, very soft to gently keep me warm, colorful to add character to my outfit. Liberty is the quintessence of these qualities!
Q:
Where did you come up with the name of your piece?
Ela:
In Italy, “Liberty” is the way to define the “Art Nouveau”. The texture of Liberty reminds me of either a leaf and a feather, just like Art Nouveau graphics!
Q:
How would you wear Liberty?
Ela:
There are many ways to wear an infinity scarf. The simplest ways are as a loose loop around the shoulders or wrapped twice around your neck. But you can wear it as well as a basic double scarf by keeping the loop folded in half behind your neck, then bringing the two ends of the scarf to the front of your body, insert one end through the other and pull it tight. The warmest way is to wear your infinity scarf as a hood: Just insert your head through the loop and wrap the loop twice around the neck your head through the lower loop.
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Why we love Liberty... • Texture, texture, texture! • Long cowls are great crunched up around the neck outside and worn open inside over steaming espresso. • Knitted in the round, hence, no seams. • AND, more garter stitch.
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Paperless Lesley Anne Robinson I am a work-at-home-mom doing freelance interior design in Lansing, Michigan, taking care of our two adorable boys and knitting whenever I get the chance. After graduating from the College for Creative Studies (located in Detroit, Michigan) with a degree in Interior Design and a minor in Fiber Design, I moved to New York City, where I am still currently freelancing remotely. I started knitting in college, but only just this past year did I start publishing my own knitting designs, and I love everything about this incredible community!Â
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website/blog: knitgraffiti.com ravelry: knitgraffiti instagram: knitgraffiti twitter: PinkGraffitiShp Â
yarn: piper color: abilene
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Q&A Q:
Why is this your perfect scarf?
Lesley:
I love to be completely enveloped in my knitwear; the more over-sized, the better. And when I go out to a party wearing my favorite dress, I want to be seen in my entire outfit, not covered up by a bulky coat or jacket. Paperless is the perfect over-sized scarf to bundle up around your neck on a blustery day, and the perfect stole to throw over your prettiest cocktail dress to complete the outfit. The combination of the lace stitch pattern with the softness and warmth of the wool and mohair yarn make this scarf perfect for any occasion, dressed up or down.
Q:
Where did you come up with the name of your piece?
Lesley:
I am always searching for inspiration and sometimes find it in the most unlikely places. Such as, a roll of paper towels in my kitchen! I honestly rarely use paper towels, we try to be a paper- less family. But one day, I had to rip off a sheet. As I unrolled it, this beautiful motif appeared before my eyes! The paper towels were embossed to mimic a real towel, with a leaf lace center and cables running up either side. I immediately ran to my sketchbook (after cleaning up the mess, of course) and copied the design down on paper. I knew from the very beginning of that design idea that I would call it Paperless, and that it would be a wonderful design for a scarf or stole.
Q:
Why do you like designing scarves/shawls/cowls?
Lesley:
Scarves are the universal accessory: Everyone can wear them and they are simple to create. I espe- cially enjoy designing scarves and stoles because there are endless possibilities for shape, stitch pattern, construction, and, of course, wearing.
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Why we love Paperless... • A mix of lace patterns that come together gracefully. • Warm and light; wide enough to wrap around your shoulders and back, but still tuckable into a winter coat for layers of softness. • Lovely details: A small border pattern along the edges and echoed in the ribbed ends, the primary stitch pattern interrupted at intervals with a little of the ribbed-border for interest.
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Nascha Andrea Mowry I knit every free moment of every day. In October of 2015, I began designing accessories and garments to fit the modern wardrobe. I have a great love for learning new techniques and skills and try to share that with knitters through my patterns. I believe one of the fabulous aspects to knitting is the multitude of ways you can end up with the same result, and I hope to help knitters everywhere find the way they love best!
website: dreareneeknits.com raverly: dreareneeknits instagram: dreareneeknits twitter: dreareneeknits 60
yarn: owl & owl tweet colors: abyssinian & allagash
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Q&A Q:
Why is this your perfect scarf?
Andrea:
Nascha is the perfect, versatile layering piece that I love to have as part of my minimalist wardrobe! I love having garments and accessories that can be worn in different ways and layered with different outfits, to keep me feeling stylish (and cozy) from the moment the air starts to chill in Autumn to Spring thaw!
Q: Where did you come up with the name of your piece? Andrea:
As Owl and Owl Tweet were running through my fingers and around my nee- dles, I began dreaming up names for this classic, yet modern, knit. I wanted the name to be beautiful, reflect nature, and in sync with the Quince & Co brand. Nascha is the Navajo word for Owl, and struck me as perfectly fitting.
Q: Styling ideas: How would you wear Nascha? Andrea:
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One of the things I love most about this piece is its surprising versatility. By using two contrasting colors, you can knit one piece with two different looks. Thanks to Nascha’s two-color brioche, it is completely reversible! Pick a soft, light neutral for emphasis on one side of the poncho, for days when you need a piece that blends easily with everything in your wardrobe, and pick a brighter or darker color for the other side, for those days when you need a little pop of color! Nas - cha can also be worn with the V of the neck pointing forward, or with the V over one shoulder for a totally different look! Perfect for layering, this knit can move you easily through Autumn, Winter and Spring!
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Why we love Nascha... • Brioche Stitch! We can never get enough of this cushy stitch pattern. • Two-color stripes make a striking pattern. • Poncho shape is easy to throw on when the fire settles down, it’s almost like wearing a small, soft blanket.
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The benefits of scarf, cowl, and shawl knitting, a reprise: 1)
Scarf knitting is appealing because it’s comfort knitting. I know you know what I mean by that. Once your fingers get comfortable with the pattern moves, you’re home free. You pick up your knitting with the satisfaction and pleasure of hearing from a dear friend.
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A scarf can fit in any way you like. So if gauge is off, well, for once, you cry Fie! So what if the piece is a little wider or narrower, a little longer or a little shorter. It simply doesn’t matter.
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A scarf is the ultimate comfort accessory. Once your coat is on, a scarf seals out the cold around the neck and shoulders. No drafts permitted. You are tucked inside and protected in the cushy comfort of stitches.
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A scarf is a place to experiement and daring. The place to try out a cable or lace stitch you’re unsure about. A piece to knit in a color you’d never feel like wearing if it worked worked up in a sweater.
Thanks to
every knitter/designer who sat down with needles and yarn and swatched a scarf idea for us. We wish we had the space (and staff!) to include them all,
the knitters and designers of the this year’s collection for their wonderful ideas and careful execution,
to Meghan Lynch from Port City Models and Manaan Alexander for modeling, and for making 50-degree weather look like 70,
and to Jerusha Robinson, Dawn Catanzaro, and Leila Raabe in the Quince & Co office, who once again brought their expertise, energy, and committment to the all important tasks of tracking, suggesting, tech-editing, proofing, and generally making it all happen so effectively. Where would we be without you?
quinceandco.com
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