As a knitdesigner, you might wonder whether I ever knit from any other designer? Yes, I absolutely do, and for a couple of reasons!
First of all, there are so many gorgeous designers out there creating beautiful knitting patterns, so of course there are some that I just fall in love with and need to do, because the techniques or design are great. Secondly, I’ll have to admit that I have learned so much throughout the years by knitting other patterns than my own only. Most of the techniques I use, I didn’t even know about a few years ago and I’ve slowly but steadily grown and honed my skills through each new design. I also like to see how other designers tackle some specific issues in pattern writing, how they design their patterns, what I like and don’t like as a knitter, and for once, reading a pattern from the viewpoint of a knitter. I think it is a super valuable exercise to reflect upon one’s own strong and weak points, and last but not least, to simply decompress, follow a pattern, and NOT having to check for errors and design issues. It’s pure bliss!
So, just like I did a roundup of the knitting patterns I designed over the year 2024, I thought I’d share with you the patterns I tested and tried and share my experience with you.
First of all, I just LOVE all of her designs. I love the style, the design elements, and just the aesthetics of the entire designer’s label. Slightly jealous, but mostly just in admiration. Also, she has a great sense for colour options, so definitely check out her instagram page for more inspiration.
The Super Selene Sweater is worked in Gepard Garn’s Puno held together with Kid Seta, and since Gepard Garn is very strong in their colour range, especially staying very modern and up-to-date with new trends in that area, you will have a lot of combinations you can choose from. I personally am quite in love with my pink / white-confetti one and I have been wearing this sweater quite a lot over the wintertime.
The pattern is very well written, very detailed, if you just take your time and read it. Here again, I realised how horrible I am at not just reading diagonally through a text and instructions, but actually reading it. A good way to slip into the viewpoint of a knitter again …
It took me some time to get the sweater done though, because somehow the yarn and larger needles put a lot of weight on my wrists, so I had to take breaks to rest them in between… it might also have been because of the skiing I was doing at that same time, not quite sure…
Also, I finally learned the concept of working two colour strands in a slightly better way than just picking up and dropping the contrasting yarn, and learned how to work a dominant colour. I’ve forgotten how it works in the meantime and would need to check tutorials again, but I liked to see the difference it made and to learn a new knitting technique. This was probably another reason why it took me some time and strained my wrists, since I was concentrating very hard on how to hold the contrasting colours. But, definitely something new to add to my skill set!
Pattern: Super Selene Sweater
Yarn: Gepard Garn Puno / Gepard Garn Kid Seta
This cardigan was a completely unplanned project that I bought last minute the last day of my trip to Reykjavik last year. I had bought the magazine of Sandnes Garn, and was really intrigued by the different stitch patterns on the different parts of the cardigan. It has become one of my very regular outfits over the last year, because it easily dresses you up, thanks to slightly unusual design.
The pattern was not too hard to follow, but I didn’t like the sewing together part in the end, since that is something I really try to avoid. Although, in this instance, I do understand it was necessary because of the different tensions and gauges created throughout the different stitch patterns, so it did make sense.
Depending on the size you’ll be knitting, you might want to adapt the cable pattern on one of the fronts though (which is what I did). I found that the cable at the front edge (short edge along the buttonband) didn’t fit very well in, because it ended being a bit too short and looking out of place. So I moved the cable pattern slightly to make it work better.
Pattern: Artisane cardigan
These were a last minute project I cast on in December to make Christmas presents for my kids. I am not much of a sock knitter, but since this is knit on large needles, I actually managed to get 2 (!) pairs done just in time! The pattern was easy enough to follow, but I have to admit I do find this designer’s patterns in general less well written and the layout less polished than those of other designers. This might be a deeply unpopular opinion of mine, that is absolutely how I subjectively feel about the writing style, but well, I guess everyone has their preferences. But since this particular sock pattern is quite basic, I think a beginning knitter would be able to follow it as well.
Pattern: Sunday Socks
Yarn : Tresko from Sandnes Garn
This was also a last minute, December cast-on project that I made as a gift for my mother, who tends to feel a constant chill around the neck. The pattern is very easy and meditative to work on, easy to follow and a quick present you can get done within about 2 weeks if you have TV nights planned. The yarn I used for the pattern was absolutely gorgeous! It’s so so light, and feels like you’re wearing a cloud around your neck. Yet it keeps you warm enough against any slight breeze, so a complete winner!
Pattern: Lacey scarf
Yarn: Cashmere Cardiff Brushlight
I first discovered Anna Husemann at the H+H fair in Cologne, last year, and was quite intrigued by her designs. She has a great sense for colour, and you can see that she has a strong background in textile design which result in extremely carefully thought out intarsia designs, which at first might seem completely random, but once the colours come together, make a beautiful result! Also, she focuses on eco-friendly, sustainable fibers, which is very inspiring.
If you haven’t tried knitting intarsia yet, definitely give it a try. It is absolutely no rocket science, I promise! The Intarsia Top I made was very much fun to knit (once I got the hang of it) and it is a very good way to really focus on a knitting project, if you’re trying to take your mind off other things. You have to concentrate, and I found it inspiring and motivating, since you are always looking forward to the next colour and form you’ll be adding to the work.
Pattern: Intarsia Top
Yarn: Pascuali Puno Winikunka
So this goes into the category : oooh, a new yarn, I have to try it! And then my friend and yarn consultant Woolinspires came up, as usually, with a colour combination that I fell in love with, combining a lace bouclé yarn with a cashmere lace, which are held together throughout the entire shawl.
If you’d like to try it out, just work as follows :
CO 1 st. Turn.
Row 1: kfbf (3 sts).
Row 2: p3
Row 3: k2, M1L, k1.
Row 4: p to end.
Row 5: k to last st, M1, k1.
Row 6: p to end.
Repeat rows 5 and 6 until the shawl has reached the desired length, or until you’re running out of yarn
Yarn: Kremke Alpaca Bouclé / Gepard Garn Cashmere Lace
I have the strong feeling I have forgotten the one or other project here … but hopefully this will give you some inspiration for this year’s knitting projects to cast on.
Happy knitting!
