Each end of year, I try to look back on what I designed over the year, of the goals and objectives set and (maybe) accomplished, and what my plans initially were at the beginning of the year. And I guess, each time I get surprised – less over the years – about how much it did not go as planned.
Although I am not the typical “new year – new resolutions” person, I do get a slight motivational burst at some point at the beginning of the year, or the end of the previous year, where I – again – make a new plan, a new content creation schedule, with so many targets and goals. And I truly believe each year that this time around, I will actually make it happen. Surprise: I never really do. And the funny thing is, right now as I am writing this blog post in yet another new tool that I’m trying out in the hope that it will make my life so much easier (notion, if you want to know), I’ve just set up a new set of planners and check-lists to try and help me get more organized, and somehow, magically create more time in my day. We’ll see how that goes … (at the latest, next year at about the same time).
So what have I been up to last year? As I browsed through my Instagram page to recollect what designs I had actually published over the last year, I realized it was not so much new designs, but more, new variations of designs as well. Which, in a way, was probably a good idea, because I realized that a) my publications on social media and elsewhere were almost non-existing between April and, well, now and b) although that some patterns may not be new, when you try a new combination, they feel like a new pattern. And as a conclusion : I must have been quite tired through all of 2024. Which I didn’t really realize, honestly, up until one colleague and friend told me, during her end-of-year annual review at work, that it had felt like I had been more thin-spread over 2024. It hit me, not because it was a negative comment, not at all! But more because, well, I appreciated that someone noticed it, and even more, because I hadn’t taken the time to really think about it, or about me…
But back to the topic: knitdesign!
So looking back to the year, there were 3 main patterns that I published, and that, funnily enough, look like I had a plan actually, because there’s one for each season : a cardigan, a sweater, and a top. Honestly though? Nope, not really a plan. I basically function just according to my moods and personal needs, and sometimes, because I see a yarn I want to work with or a colour that I just love and want to recreate. Yup, it’s not really more sophisticated and strategic than that. But again, that is, because I have the luxury of creating knitting patterns because I just love it, because I love playing with yarn, combining things, trying new techniques, learning new design techniques – and not because I need to live off it. Which would be a very bad idea. Right now, I would not even be able to buy us dinner once a month with the income …
So the design for the Sunset Cardigan started off with yarn. And the idea to create a gradient colour transition. And the design technique for the shoulders, that I had seen so much going around, and wanted to understand exactly how it worked. Believe me, no one was more surprised than me, when I realized, it worked!
From the “sunset” themed and long version, I moved onto a variation of it, with the marbled, brown and short cardigan. Both can be worked using the same pattern, and you can play around with the colours just as you like. For the multi-coloured version, I used a beige/white base (Gepard Garn Woolia) and combined it with a double thread of mohair, where the colours used are switched at each new colour block. So, for example, you will start off with two threads of white mohair, then switch one white mohair with a yellow mohair, then switch the other white with a yellow mohair, and so on.
For the short cardigan design, I used two different brown mohair threads, which creates a nice marbled effect.
Actually, looking back, I now mostly wear the shorter version, maybe because it is a cleverer design for someone who is a bit short, like me. And still, it is wide enough for my belly and works well with high jeans.
Oh, and one thing I absolutely absolutely love about the design is the double-knit binding! I know, many people cringe when they see that, because it is a bit time-consuming. But, honestly, I find all finishings time-consuming and to be the part you want to do least, don’t you? And what I appreciate most about this binding is that you do not need to think too much about the number of sts you need to pick up along the front and neckline, because it will be the exact number of rows, simply using smaller needles. That’s one big headache less for me! And the buttonholes are just so neat and pretty, this knitting technique is definitely something you will see again in my designs.
Actually, right now I am working on a slightly adapted version of the cardigan, with a lighter weight yarn, and a tiny bit less ease. And yes, there will be the same shoulder design and the double-knit binding… so stay tuned for that one!
Ok, so the Moss sweater is born because of, well, the absolute need to find a way to recreate a colour I particularly like … hence, the “moss” reference. (yup, my name choices for knitting patterns are not really more intellectual than that). And next up, was the idea of a good sweater for everyday wear, not too thick, not too light, and one that covers that part on your lower back that somehow always gets untucked and cold.
The Moss sweater is all of that, and a very easy knitting pattern to work in front of the TV, or on a train ride. It has saddle shoulders (yes, right, that was also a technique I wanted to try out), so the fit is really quite good and the yarn combination of wool and alpaca makes it warm and still not too heavy.
Definitely a go-to pattern for your basic knit wardrobe.
Ok so this one was a challenge… I had a stitch pattern that I really liked and wanted to use in a design. Then, I wanted to try and design something with new summer yarns that came in. The design had quite some ups and downs, maybe because I wanted to combine too many things in one design, maybe because the different yarn choices I tested weren’t actually something that worked for me…
But in the end, it did work (thank god!), and the Iluka Top is a pattern that allows you to combine different neckline depths for both front and back, all the while knitting it all in one go, with absolutely no sewing.
For this category, I have to give a big shoutout to my friend Laure from Woolinspires.
She always has the best ideas and suggestions about how to make new variations of my patterns, or yarn options to try out. And, as it turns out, she is always on point and right about the choices.
First off: the Tangerine dream scarf, a very easy and quick knitting pattern I designed the year before, and that has since been knit in so many fun and inspiring color variations using gorgeous cashmere yarns. So for the summer, my friend suggested making a one colored, simple version. And it really turned out beautifully!
I tried a few yarns, but my favorite was definitely the Sandnes yarn Tynn Line, which has a nice shimmer to it. But you can also try Jaipur Silk from BC Garn, which is slightly more slippery, but still very stylish and summery. (yes, I just invented that word, feels like a work that should exist anyway).
Here, on the contrary, the idea was to recreate the Provence shawl, but using just one color, instead of the multi-coloured version I had designed originally. Turns out, I do prefer the new version, because it is just easier to wear all year round (ok, maybe not exactly in summer, since it’s a very big shawl) and it works for so many different yarn combinations. I made one version for myself using Erika Knight Local wool together with Holst Titicaca, and a second one for Woolinspires, using Tibetan cloud from Myak Fibers. Just gorgeous outcome!
Each year at about mid-November, I get some crazy idea about a design for Christmas. I guess this is one example of how bad I am at planning designs according to seasons and timelines that actually work for promotion and visibility. Because, no one will be able to knit it before the end of year celebrations if I only talk about it mid-December because I manage to maybe speed knit it, but still, need a few weeks to get it done.
BUT: This spontaneous, crazy idea I had when I was strolling through a yarn shop after one knitting lunch, miraculously turned out just the way I had imagined! I combined a thread of ITO Asa, a very thin linen yarn, with some silk and cotton, together with a thread of Paillettes yarn from Lang Yarns, and the gauge worked quite well. Instead of 3.5 needles I used 3.25 mm needles, but that would be something you would need to adapt according to how loose you knit (For reference, I’m a loose knitter, so many people may need to use bigger needles than me…). You’ll find all the small changes I made on the pattern to make it work in my post about the Glittery Everyday Tee.
Also, I was a bit afraid of how hard it would be to work with the Paillettes yarn, but it worked surprisingly well (not as smooth as regular yarn, obviously, but better than imagined).
So this one was a design that worked out completely as I had planned, the yarn was lovely, the pattern easy enough in the making, but somehow, I guess life came in between and I forgot about it… I just stumbled across it on my instagram feed of 2024, and thought: oh well, that one was nice! So, definitely one pattern that I’ll need to write up in time for the summerknits!
