SCARVES, ETC 6
CONTENTS i ntroduc tion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 - 5 em brac e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 - 1 1 a b re e. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 - 1 7 . j o d y. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8 - 2 3 na amah. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 - 2 9 b a edeker. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 - 3 5 g i nk go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 6 - 4 1 fo g h arbour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 2 - 4 7 er ne stin e. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 8 - 5 3 tri ctan gle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 4 - 5 9 cli nton h ill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 0 - 6 5 a ck n ow ledge men ts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 8 - 6 9
Greetings! For many knitters, a scarf is the first step. A loved one teaches you to knit by casting on and demonstrating garter stitch. Soon a wobbly scarf is hanging from the needles, a wobbly scarf that begins to straighten out. So proud. A perfect beginning. From there you explore new techniques—decreases and increases, your first cable, yarn overs in a lace pattern. You try out different yarns and more perfect ways to weave in ends. But wherever you end up, it all began with that precious garter stitch scarf. A scarf (or cowl or shawl) can also be your first knitwear design. Playing with texture, pattern, and color is easy on this platform; the options are limitless. We love opening our doors once a year to designers from around the world—aspiring and experienced—and seeing what walks through. The result is a sea of ideas, sketches and swatches, expressions of inspiration and excitement. Sadly we have to pare this sea to ten or so designs—no easy feat, believe us. This year was no different. We did our best and hope you’re pleased. Scarves, Etc. 6 spans our yarn line: From lacy Piper to thick and squishy Ibis, from our core wools Chickadee and Osprey to warm and lofty Owl to extra-soft Phoebe. In this collection, you’ll find techniques to keep you engaged at any skill level. Whether your next adventure is knitting in the round, understanding cables, trying out short rows, or exploring lace worked every row, there’s a piece here that we hope will be your next step.
Quince & Co
4
Embrace Lori Kaake Lori is a passionate knitter, instructor, and lover of fiber. She lives in Arizona with her husband and children. She’s a work-at-home mom who spends her free time expressing her creativity in many forms and encourages others to do the same.
website: sweetloreley.com ravelry: MamaKaake
6
yarn: phoebe color: neptune
7
word from the designer Embrace captures what I’d hoped it would: Less is more. I’ve designed more intricate garments and accessories, but the clean lines and textured border of Embrace, knit in extra fine merino, are just as lovely to me. Phoebe’s tonal variation and stitch definition gives life to this simple project. I chose the name Embrace because it means to take in or include as part of an inclusive whole. I wanted to create an everyday accessory that worked well with any style and could become a staple in any wardrobe. I like designing shawls because they can add character and interest to a basic outfit. By changing the fiber or yarn choice, the same design can be worn as a dressy or casual accessory. We live in the southwestern United States with moderate winters. Often a shawl or scarf is all that’s needed in cool weather. I would wear Embrace with a long sleeved T-shirt, jeans, and flats or with a blouse, slacks, and heels. If knitted in a cotton or linen blend, it would work well as a summer accessory. In either case, a handmade, one-of-a-kind shawl pin would be beautiful against its simple stitches. Most often, I find inspiration in artwork and vintage fashion. I enjoy examining garment construction and the lines they create. I especially appreciate things that allow the complex to appear effortless.
8
9
Why we love Embrace... • Simple stockinette highlights the beauty of Phoebe’s subtle variegation. • Perfectly sized to be worn as a triangle scarf or a cozy shawl. 10
• Bee stitch border adds a lovely subtle texture.
11
Abree Hanna Maciejewska Hanna happily admits to being a yarn lover and knitting maniac. She lives in Poland with her husband and 8-year-old daughter, who sometimes draws things for her to knit up.
website: hadaknits.com ravelry/instagram/twitter: hada131Â Â
12
yarn: chickadee color: sedum
13
14
word from the designer I find inspiration in nature and in the centuries-old architecture of my hometown, Toru, Poland. The genesis of Abree’s design was childhood memories of forming patterns on a frozen windowpane by pressing warmed-up coins against the glass to let the ice melt, doodling wavy lines in-between the melted dot arrangements with my fingers, then looking through the cleared spots to catch a glimpse of life on the outside. With the daily demands of our overscheduled lives, sometimes one just wants to doodle and feel like a kid again! Abree is my favorite shawl because its playful wave and flower pattern lifts the mood, and its simple repetition exudes calm. While designing this shawl, I learned that simplicity and repetition can be fun and soothing. I would wear Abree styled with a romantic dress that has a comfortably wide skirt because it looks very feminine. And if I happen not to stress myself out with dutiful ironing? Who cares! The shawl will distract from a few little wrinkles. I like designing shawls because they complement every outfit and draw attention away from all of our little flaws we prefer not to emphasize. They are warm when we need warmth, but can be taken off in a jiffy when we get inside. They also make good gifts because they fit without having to be tried on—especially useful when knitting for faraway friends!
15
Why we love Abree... • A lovely eyelet border lace pattern made prominent on a background of reverse stockinette. • Cozy length and depth. • Fine details: A smartly-placed picot edge.
16
17
Jody Barbara Collins Barbara has lived in Michigan her entire life and loves it. She has also been knitting almost her entire life. Her mother taught her when she was 9 or 10 years old, and she knitted through high school and college, when it wasn’t nearly as cool an activity as it is now. Barbara is married and has three daughters.
ravelry: barbarajane instagram: barbarajane1212
18
yarn: chickadee colors: sabine honey sedum
19
20
word from the designer Jody is my favorite cowl because of the slip stitch pattern. It’s easy but has a great effect—a lot of bang for the buck, in my opinion. The idea for this piece came from flipping through Barbara Walker’s books of stitch patterns. I like how this slip stitch pattern works with colors, causing them to intersect and complement one another. Another plus of the pattern is that it’s thick and squishy. I made a sweater with this stitch pattern a long time ago, and it’s still awesome and gets lots of wear (and compliments)! I came up with the name of this piece from my sister—it’s her name! She’s a talented sewer and weaver and is super inspiring. The names for my pieces are typically those of the creative people in my life. Designing scarves and cowls is an easy way to start the creative process, and to allow me to think outside the box a bit. At this point in my life I’m really trying to push the creative side of my brain and, for me, a long rectangle as a blank canvas is a good start for anything. I find my inspiration everywhere if I’m paying attention! We love northern Michigan, where the trees and sky and water are beautiful and inspiring. It clears my head to be up there. Other makers, designers, and artists are a great source, too! The thing I learned designing this piece was to keep it simple and stick to my original idea. So often,I tend to re-think and overthink and get all complicated and confused. If I revisit my original idea or inspiration every so often, it really helps.
21
22
Why we love Jody... • Squishy slip stitch pattern which wraps the neck in comfort. • Endless options for color combination. • A meditative simple stitch pattern makes for relaxed knitting.
23
Naamah Paula Periera
Paula believes that inspiration comes from nature, people, daily life, and using yarn and needles as tools. She is particularly fond of mathematics and geometry, which enables her to design garments and accessories. She lives in Sao Paulo with her husband, 2 dogs and tons of beautiful fibers.
website: peaceknitlove.com ravelry: paula-pereira instagram/twitter: paulapkl
24
yarn: chickadee color: aleutian
25
word from the designer Naamah is a Hebrew word meaning sweetness, pleasantness, my delight. Exactly what I wish every knitter to feel while playing with yarn and a pair of needles! I found the name by researching among friends for a beautiful word that captures the pleasure and delight that we feel while knitting. The motifs in Naamah are made from simple lines and stitches. I wanted the piece to be reversible, to not have to worry if the wrong side was showing. I like designing shawls because they can enhance any outfit and we can never have enough of them! I would wear Naamah like a shawl, a cowl, or even as a scarf, styled with basically anything, but preferably with my favorite cropped skinny jeans, a white T-shirt, a hand-knitted cardigan or pullover, and some cute clogs or ankle boots. I find inspiration by allowing myself to be affected by people, the shapes and colors of nature, or any type of art or architecture. It’s a daily practice to see beauty in anything.
26
27
Why we love Naamah... • Twisted rib stitches which morph into an elegant, reversible shell edging. • An elongated triangle shape perfectly suited for wearing as a traditional shawl over the shoulders, or wrapped as a scarf. • Light and warm Chickadee paired with twisted rib makes for a shawl which drapes beautifully, and keeps the wearer toasty.
28
29
Baedecker Marina Skua Marina is a textile and fiber artist based in the south of England. From a young age she has always made things with her hands; both of her grandmothers taught her to knit, as she forgot how in between! She has since immersed herself in the fiber arts, drawing inspiration from nature, history, and travel.
website: marinaskua.com ravelry/instagram/twitter: marinaskua
30
yarn: owl color: taiga
31
3216
Why we love Baedecker... • Traveling diagonal lines comprised of ribbed cables come together for an engaging geometric design. • Reversible! • Hearty alpaca-and-wool Owl keeps the wearer warm in the deepest cold.
33
word from the designer I love strong, structural designs, where the design is integral to the stitch pattern, rather than the construction. I named the scarf after the Baedecker travel guides, as they inspired generations to see the world and experience other cultures, discovering and relishing the new and the different. I find inspiration in history and nature. I love to take the classic and the elemental and add a modern twist. For this design, I wanted to create something bold and strongly unisex with really interesting texture but without relying on lace techniques or colour combinations. I like designing scarves because the relatively simple form allows me to focus on innovating in the details. Because I love a top-heavy silhouette, I would wear Baedecker styled with skinny trousers and a bomber jacket, letting the long ends of the scarf trail down and add chunky visual texture. The thing I learned while designing this piece is how lovely Owl’s drape is, and how wonderfully it blooms after blocking and finishing. If I had this design to do over again, I’d experiment with adding a few more repeats of the pattern, making the scarf an even more exaggerated statement.
34
35
Ginkgo Caarin Fleischmann Caarin learned to knit and crochet as a little girl from her Grandma Charlotte. Remarkably, she never finished a single knitting project she started before she was 10. Instead, she spent her childhood tearing through every other craft project she could get her hands on: Hooking rugs, baking shrinkydinks, and making endless zigzag chains out of chewing gum wrappers. After a brief hiatus (25 years), Caarin picked up her knitting needles and hasn’t let go. She’s crazy for texture and endlessly fascinated by color.
website: caarin.com ravelry: caarinmaade 36
yarn: osprey color: carrie’s yellow
21 37
38
25
40
word from the designer I love the graphic pop of lace in a bright chunky yarn. I am most often inspired by nature—in this case, the changing of the seasons, the bright sun, and brilliantly-colored leaves that have floated to the ground. I like designing accessories because a girl can never have too many scarves— or wraps—or shawls! I would wear Ginkgo wrapped around my shoulders, over a jean jacket.
Why we love Ginkgo... • Large lace motif in squishy Osprey. • Super long and wide –– feels like a hug! • Color!
41
Fog Harbour Fiona Alice Fiona is a knitwear designer from Nova Scotia, Canada. She originally studied other textile mediums at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University. However, it was not until she began to work in a local yarn shop that she decided to pursue her love of knitting full-time. For the past two years, Fiona has been living in London, UK.
website: fionaalice.com ravelry: FionaAlice instagram/twitter: fiona_alice_
42
yarn: ibis colors: longhorn abilene
43
4412
word from the designer For this cowl, I drew inspiration from the strong horizontal and vertical features of textiles and architecture, especially the unique silhouettes of suspension bridges. As the motif developed for Fog Harbour, I realized it echoed the structure of the MacDonald Bridge, which spans the harbour of my hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia. This cowl’s name came from drawing on the area’s commonly grey and foggy weather. I thought knitters living in coastal areas would be able to relate to the name Fog Harbour. I like designing cowls because they don’t often restrict designers and knitters in terms of shaping and sizing. They are also a great way to explore interesting new techniques and fun colour combinations. I find inspiration from traveling. Some of my latest travels have taken me to countries such as Iceland, Finland, and Estonia. Exploring new landscapes and seeing different textures, colours, and regional knitting traditions has provided me with lots of new inspiration.
45
46
Why we love Fog Harbour... • Single-stitch columns of intarsia form strong vertical lines. • Squishy, lovely garter stitch. • Pillowy-soft mohair and merino.
47
Ernestine Megan MacDonald Megan is a Mainer living in Vermont who loves knitting and making. From an early age she used tape, glue, colored pencils, and of course yarn to create all kinds of things, but it wasn’t until her early teens that knitting became her favorite way to create. Megan has been knitting for about 14 years now, but is very new to design. She self-published her first pattern in 2016 and looks forward to doing more designing in the future.
website: saltairarts.com ravelry/instagram: SaltAirArts
48
yarn: piper color: lone oak
49
word from the designer The name of this shawl comes from my grandmother, Ernestine. While not a knitter, she was, among other things, an amazingly talented craftsperson. She was my first introduction to a handmade wardrobe and would sew and embroider beautiful garments for all of her loved ones. I hope to follow in her footsteps by creating beautiful, wearable pieces. The genesis of this design was in the collections of beautiful things that my grandmother had tucked in every corner of her house. Her treasures included flowery ephemera and textiles, trinkets, and wind-up toys. This is my favorite shawl because it can be worn multiple ways. It is light and airy enough to wear in warm weather, just wrapped loosely around your shoulders and styled with a dress, and so cozy and warm when bundled around your neck in the cooler months. In winter, I would wear it folded and wrapped like a kerchief with an oversized sweater.
50
51
52
Why we love Ernestine... • Versatile square shape, worn as a triangle or wrapped around the shoulders. • Worked from the center outward in the round. • Garter stitch border paired with a picot edge.
53
Trictangle Ela Torrente Ela lives and works with her family in northern Italy. She’s a mom, an independent knitwear designer, a yarn maniac, and an amateur chef.
website: modishknits.com ravelry: ModishKnits instagram: elatorrente
54
yarn: owl colors: mesa steppe lagoon
55
word from the designer Trictangle is my favorite shawl because it is easy, fun to make, and can be knitted in endless color combinations. I like designing shawls because they are perfect for stash-busting. I love to mix and match textures and colors. I find my inspiration in clean, geometric lines. I would wear this piece as a stole over my favorite coat, or wrapped around my shoulders as a poncho. The thing I learned while designing Trictangle is that a simple project does not have to mean a boring project! 56
57
58
Why we love Trictangle... • Clever construction to create garter stitch stripes. • A stitch pattern that quickly becomes familiar and meditative to work. • Big rectangle makes this almost like wrapping up in a soft blanket.
59
yarn: osprey color: fjord
60
Clinton Hill Angela Tong
Angela is a designer, teacher, mother, and food lover living in New Jersey. Her designs have been published in numerous magazines, books and by yarn companies. She enjoys teaching, weaving, and knitting on Craftsy.com and has videos available from Interweave. As a lifelong crafter, she has never met a craft she didn’t like.
blog: angelatong.blogspot.com ravelry: AngelaTong instagram/twitter: ATongDesigns
61
word from the designer I named this cowl after the place I lived when I started designing knitwear: Clinton Hill, a neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. The neighborhood’s mixture of historic brownstones, mansions, apartment buildings, and brick rowhouses, all built at various times and in different styles, was a big source of architectural inspiration for me. I like designing cowls because it can perk up your wardrobe and keep your neck warm at the same time. I find that a little pop of pattern or color in a small accessory can elevate your mood on those cold winter mornings. Plus, it only takes a skein or two to make one, so you can splurge on your favorite yarn. If I had this design to do over again, I would not change a thing, except I would design a matching hat to make it a set. I loved this stitch pattern so much and had a fun time tweaking it to get the final result.
62
27 63
Why we love Clinton Hill... • Texture! Slip stitch pattern creates a squishy mock-honeycomb motif. • Close-to-the-neck cowl is cozy. • Large needles make for a quick knit. 64
65
66
67
68
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.
2)
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.
3)
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.
4)
A scarf is a place to experiment and be daring: The perfect 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 worked up into 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 this year’s collection for their wonderful ideas and careful execution,
•
to Hamdi Hassan and Sena Phin for modeling, and for braving the cold with composure and grace,
•
to Whitney Hayward for her photography and layout, and to Jerusha Robinson, Dawn Catanzaro, and Leila Raabe in the Quince & Co office, who once again brought their expertise, energy, and commitment to the all important tasks of tracking, suggesting, tech-editing, proofing, and generally making it all happen so effectively,
•
and a special thanks to Pam Allen for her invaluable guidance and education, and impeccable sense of style.
quinceandco.com
69