shawls 2016 shawls 2016 by Quince & Co
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by Quince & Co
TABLE OF CONTENTS I NT R O 4 -5 SER ENA 6 -9 SHI M M ER I NG SEA 1 2-1 5 PA P ER B I R D 1 6 -1 9 SOU L B OUND 22-25 L EX 26 -29 CO NT R I B U TO R S 30 -37
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hawls are a never-ending template for knitting innovation. This year’s collection demonstrates once again how versatile is this wrapping shape and how creative are the designers who adapt it to their purposes. First up this year is Serena (pages 6-9), from Paulina Popiolek. At first glance the shawl appears to be a traditional garment: Triangular shape, heirloom stitches, lace weight yarn. But instead of lining up along a center axis, the knitting begins on a leg of the triangle which turns the piece on its side and allows for an unexpected arrangement and direction of stitch patterns. And those stitches! The separate patterns come together perfectly in that satisfying way you recognize with a sigh and a smile. You know what I mean. I don’t think I’m far off the mark to say that knitting can hold some of life’s simplest and deepest pleasures. And after Serena, four more lovely reasons to knit: Katrine Birkenwasser’s Shimmering Sea (pages 12-15) is worked completely in soul-warming garter stitch and uses a double strand of Piper to create a graphic, gradient color story. In spite of the fact that the shawl is luxuriously large and encompassing, it’s light as a feather. Katrine used a misty, watery palette for her piece: White and soft blues. But we can envision it in any number of combinations, lavender with grays, say. And then there’s Paper Bird (pages 16-19), a departure from standard shawl templates. From a three-stitch point, the shawl expands into a fan of knitting and ends in a strong pointed edge. Directional shaping moves the fabric’s surface in different directions, stitches slanting this way and that. In Tern, a wool/silk blend, the light easily catches these subtle variations. Wear Bird lightly over the shoulders to show off its shape, or wrap it around the neck and overlap it for a texture study. It’s a piece that surprises. Next is Soulbound (pages 22-25), by designer Melanie Berg. Soulbound is our first shawl pattern knitted in little Willet, our American cotton yarn, and we’re delighted to note its easy drape. Melanie alternated bands of garter stitch with a simple-towork eyelet pattern in her long, exotic, asymmetric triangle. Taylor, our model, couldn’t stop swishing the shawl about and draping it around herself in forever changing ways—a good indication of how lively and wearable is this piece. Finally, Leila Raabe’s Lex (opposite) is proof again that in the hands of an imaginative designer, basic elements such as garter stitch and plain eyelets, are endlessly interesting. Lex is a piece I’ll work up more than once because I want it in several colors. With coat on, I’ll wear it swirled around my neck and chin, with coat off, I’ll have it hugging my shoulders. It has drape, it has light heft. I’ll live in it. We hope you enjoy this year’s crop of shawls, do let us know what you think!
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Pam
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serena by paulina popiolek
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Serena yarn: piper color: pampa 8
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shimmering sea by katrine birkenwasser
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Shimmering Sea yarn: piper colors: longhorn guadalupe coldspring 14
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paper bird by leah b. thibault
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Paper Bird 18
yarn: tern color: rose quartz
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Fort William Henry Pemaquid, Maine
The Fort House
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soulbound by melanie berg
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Soulbound yarn: willet color: windlass 24
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lex by leila raabe
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Lex 28
yarn: finch color: damson
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Shawl Designers / 2016
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paulina popiolek Paulina Popiolek’s passion for knitting stems from a very young age. Since the very first attempts she would experiment with different stitches and shapes. This interest slowly evolved into designing. Although trained in nutritional science, her fascination with design had eventually found an outlet when Ravelry came to existence. What once was a hobby turned into a profession. Her patterns are now published on Ravelry and some publications and hard copies are available in selected yarn shops. She lives in Surrey, United Kingdom with her very patient husband and two cats. Ravelry: PaulinaP
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katrine birkenwasser Katrine Birkenwasser designs simple and chic knitwear with a little twist that makes for interesting knitting. She finds inspiration in Finnish nature and the sea outside her window in Helsinki. You can follow her knitting adventures over at her blog. Website: birkenwasser.blogspot.com Ravelry: birkenwasser Instagram: birkenwasser
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leah b. thibault Based in southern Maine, Leah B. Thibault picked up knitting needles in the winter of 2005 and hasn’t put them down since. A frequent designer for Quince & Co. yarns, her work has also appeared in Knitscene and Twist Collective. She also sews, embroiders, spins, and bakes a delicious pie. You can also find her sharing about her creations for a handmade life on Instagram and on her website. Website: mscleaver.com Ravelry: mscleaver Instagram: MsCleaver Twitter: Ms Cleaver
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melanie berg In Melanie Berg’s real life she’s a former IT specialist, mother of three, and a semi-successful housewife. In her secret second life she designs knitwear. Melanie lives with her husband and three children in Bonn, Germany, where she spends her time combining colors, shapes, and textures into freewheeling designs that are uniquely her own. She’s been published by yarn companies and knitting magazines large and small, and has also self-published her own patterns and e-books. She loves collaborating with creative types from all over the world. Website: mairlynd.wordpress.com Ravelry: Mairlynd Instagram: mairlynd Twitter: Mairlynd
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leila raabe Leila Raabe lives and works in Portland, Maine. Designing knitwear independently and for Brooklyn Tweed, Quince & Co., Amirisu, Gauge+Tension, and Madder, she is now the communications and creative manager at Quince after a fiveyear stint as operations manager at Brooklyn Tweed. Website: leilaknits.com Ravelry: wolletron Instagram: leilaknitsme Twitter: woolpig
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Many thanks to: Bliss in Portland, Maine, for lending us great, great things for styling (blissboutiques.com); Taylor Sikes, from Port City Models, our model, who wears shawls with grace, even when her teeth are chattering; Dawn Catanzaro and Whitney Hayward for trucking up to New Harbor to help with everything and more at the shoot; Whitney Hayward for shooting along side me and taking the wonderful shot of the shawls on the wall; Jerusha Robinson and Dawn Catanzaro for tech editing, proofing, working with the designers, and generally producing this collection; and Leila Raabe, who along with contributing her wonderful Lex to this book, stays on top of our blog and a million other things. 37
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