Speaking of colors, this shawl began as nothing more than a few balls of yarn. But not just any yarn, extraordinarily saturated, bright blue yarn with splashes of yellow and green. We usually have a design in hand before selecting a color pattern, but this time the yarn came first and then the design. In fact, we tailored the design to highlight the extraordinary beauty of the yarn and the way the dye was cast.
The vibrant yellows and greens subtly touch the floral accents at the bottom of the shawl and cast a warm glow across the rest of the pattern.
The shawl ends up with a swirl-like pattern. Measuring 31.5 inches in width or wingspan and 12 inches from neck down, it is a beautiful lightweight cotton piece.
Knitting for anyone is a labor of love. Little pieces to warm and comfort babies bring extraordinary pleasure to the maker and comfort to the wee wearer. Hand-knit kids’ clothes are different; they feel refined, classy, luxurious. We have time and again knit marvelous pieces for our own children and are choosing to extend the pleasure of dressing a child in one-of-a-kind, hand-made pieces to everyone else. Here are two new designs that are ready. The first is a unisex knit-cap knitted with ultra-soft Italian merino wool with a wee-sized pom pom. Perfectly soft for a little girl and yet masculine for a little boy. The second piece is a grey, wool cardigan with white trimming for a little girl. Pearly grey buttons complete the sophisticated yet delicate look.
One of our very favorite things about knitting and crocheting is choosing a color palette. The anticipation of waiting for the yarn to arrive is a close second. We invest a significant amount of time in selection of yarns and colors. The season, design of the piece as well as nature’s palette are key considerations. Pinterest, style books, designers, images and even paintings have all been useful in our process.
A close-up of a feather and fan lace scarf. Our pattern here.
Yarn selection follows and we strive for natural fibers as much as possible. Not all yarns are created equal; some shag and others loose color after a while. And so, we take the time to work with well-respected yarn producers from all over the world. We’ve thus far used yarns spun in Japan, Germany and Italy in addition to those produced locally here in the USA.
We do not purchase yarn in bulk as we are a small atelier striving to produce unique pieces. Our goal is to create projects that demonstrate craftsmanship and highlight the natural beauty of the yarn itself. In the end, our adventures in design and knitting are undergirded by careful selection of exquisite yarns in stunningly saturated colors.
