Wednesday, January 10, 2007


Utter disbelief - I made myself something! and I actually finished it!

They say the cobbler's kids have no shoes. I know the feeling. I haven't made myself anything in at least ten years. Today I have an reddish orange sweater on that I made at least 15 years ago. Don't get me wrong - I knit but it's always for someone else - and usually not someone in my life that I love - usually for a model who will wear a sweater for about fifteen minutes. Then the project travels around to yarn shops and some knitters get to look at it. I guess after a few years, the project ends up in a "sample sale" and someone buys it and enjoys them. Oh, the glamourous life of a knitwear designer.

I knit a lot of swatches. Swatches are the learning and designing tools that I use to plan a sweater. I keep all my swatches in a pile in a closet hoping the moths won't terrorize them. I refer to them over and over to remind myself how a particular color combination worked or didn't work. Someday I will turn them into a giant blanket to cover a bed.

So today, I am proud to present to you something I made and actually finished for myself. It's a simple scarf knit in reverse stockinette stitch ridges made of many colors of Julia. One day I might add the pattern to my blog site as a free download. Unfortuantely I don't have time for that now - I barely have time to write this post.


Things in yarn land really heat up in January - I've got a lot of projects to design for companies and magazines. It's scary. Although I was knitting over the holidays, it was knitting that didn't help my work load. Those "step-outs" for t.v. appearances can really set a girl back. And then there are the trade shows that this year I chose not to go to. Thank goodness - otherwise I wouldn't be able to work on my real work. But I will miss the hustle and bustle of the show and seeing folks I haven't seen since June but have known for twenty years. Have fun everyone!

Back to the scarf..... I started it at my local FiberTwist back in October on a long circular needle. I like to knit scarves this way - I only have to knit about 8" and it's done. Vertical stripes are fun too - not to mention that there aren't as many ends to weave in. This scarf is very similar to one I did for Pam Allen's Scarf Style. It was the first one in the book and it had pom poms on the ends. This time, I chose to add braids to each end. I left my yarn joins long and braided the ends in with the yarn I added for the braided fringe. No weaving and it looks really pretty.

I've been wearing this scarf around town and everyone loves it. It's pretty long so it is a double wrap. Tonight it is supposed to be 18 degrees - I actually might need it. I especially like the fact that I can use the scarf as a learning tool. By isolating different areas of stripes, I can find a color combination that could turn into something else. Maybe I will write about that one day.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

A beautiful scarf - and all YOURS. Full of color; like your home and your designs. Enjoy it. Don't feel the pressure to put up a pattern for it. Just ENJOY it!
I always enjoy reading your blog so much.

Anonymous said...

That is really pretty! I love the colors you chose. Way to finish! I do the same thing all the time.

Anonymous said...

so glad you finished this scarf because it is so pretty! more power!

Anonymous said...

I love your "Julia" yarns. The colors are sooooo vibrant, I have several skeins that I bought just because they were so pretty. I'm thinking they need to become a scarf.

Anonymous said...

Oh dear. Something about this post makes me a little bit sad. I am so glad that you've made such a beautiful scarf FOR YOURSELF, to be worn by YOU and for YOU to receive the compliments directly when you wear it.
On the other hand, I suppose each of us really only needs so many sweaters, scarves, hats, mitts, etc...especially when we're wearing and enjoying them still 15 years later and more.
Thank you, Kristin, for doing the work that you do and bringing so much of your sense of color to all of the rest of us. Really, your work stands out. It would be missed if you weren't putting your designs out for the rest of us to enjoy. You have truly made your mark in the knitting world at large.
Thank you for the glimpse into your work life. I guess I had no idea.

kate said...

Lovely scarf, Kristen- glad you finished it. Glad you made it for YOU, too. And no worries about making a pattern for us. Time is hard to find, I know. Enjoy your week....love your blog- it is one of my very favorites.

Anonymous said...

Hi Kristen! Congrats on the personal WIP-FO! I'm one month into a three month knitting frenzy too, and in JULIA is scheduled for Feb ;0)(thank you!!)Come see my blog www.2stix.blogspot.com From a fellow knitting slave-wench, Happy January! Celeste

Anonymous said...

that's a gorgeous scarf!!

Anonymous said...

I love it too!

Carol said...

Gorgeous. You have such a superb feel for color (heavy sigh of envy).

Anonymous said...

Hi Kristin,

I love the scarf!! If you have a minute you can see a bad photo of the yarn I'm using to do the scarf in scarf style!! I love the different colors and might just finish mine with a braid too!!

Anonymous said...

Delightful colors...love the photograph of your scarf hanging on the coat hook.

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