Saturday, December 08, 2007

Deep into the Winter Forest

First I thought that I would not show you the sketch because I thought it would be nice to get the surprise in the end. But then maybe it is more interesting to see it come to life… So here is the sketch. There are still lots of unsolved questions, like I have not found a lace that would be perfect and the yarn for the lace is not clear either yet. I have even gone through my crochet lace patterns to find a good lace but so far no luck.

I cast on for a sleeve to see how the yarn feels and how the pattern will look with the yarn and how it would echo my image of a winter forest. I think the colour and the texture are very good, the fabric does not show a good stitch definition but I think it sort of emphasizes the feeling of a winter forest. At first it looks just plain one colour but when you get closer and look deep into it, you will start to see some colours and shapes like in this fabric. I don’t need to remind you that here in this time of the year, we have very little light and without light the colours and shapes sort of fade away into this grey-blue world.

This yarn is a bit sticky and it does not flow effortlessly from purl to knit and vice versa. Even though I love this yarn and it is one of the best I know, here the stickiness bothers me some. But I will persist and sacrifice the feeling of knitting for the end result.

The yarn is a bit darker and sort of greyer in real life. It is Finnish Wool by Studio Maisa Tikkanen. If you are interested in this yarn, you can e-mail her: maisa then this _ tikkanen then this monkey tail called at and then hotmail dot com. I hope you can put it together from there and if not, please e-mail me and I can give you the address. She has lovely colours. The yarn is very light; even when the garment is going to be this long, I do not need to worry about the weight, and it has lots of meters and if felts very easily. It is a bit like Shetland wool. I am sort of sure that this sketch is what I am aiming for but am a bit cautious since I have just taken the very first steps and at this stage anything is possible. I do hope this works out.

PS. Anne, Tina is a Finnish Spitz. And thank you for your advice with my French Baby book.

13 comments:

  1. This is absolutely lovely! If you don't end up offering your patterns for sale, I may have to recreate this one, I really love it!

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  2. Oh yes! Frothy white lace, maybe in mohair, so that it looks like fluffy white snow. That's what I see there.

    The design idea is inspiring. I hope the process continues to flow for you.

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  3. It's going to be super.

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  4. It will be another flattering sweater, I love the visual concept of the frost/snow. Keep digging, you'll find the right crochet lace eventually.

    Hmm, maybe Anne would be willing to transpose your creations to paper - she's such a whiz at it.

    I too have been enjoying the advent calendar.

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  5. I can't wait to see it come to life!

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  6. Like Wanda, I got the 'frost/snow' and yet 'frost', the word has hidden itself away...(I know I saw it there in the first 'reading through')
    Beautiful design, Lene, and I'm loving the colours in your yarn.

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  7. Anonymous00:11

    Thank you for showing us a sketch of your planned design. I love reading about the creation process, from the inspiration, to the "drawing" of the idea, from the first steps to the end result... Would Kid Silk Haze be too "light" for your lace?

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  8. It has lovely lines. I admire the way you can put ideas onto paper and then transfer them into a pattern in your mind.

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  9. The sweater design is absolutely gorgeous. I can see why you had to get the sweater details sketched out.

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  10. This is absolutely beautiful. I can't wait to see it.

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  11. Näyttää ihanalta!

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  12. We've been thinking alike! Only you've actually transmuted thinking into action. I have been sitting staring at this beautiful cone of dark dark forest green mousse yarn and picturing some kind of garment that would express the spirit of the wild woods... Then I see your posting! Inspired, I will go back to the drawing board. Thanks, Lene!

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  13. That looks like it's going to be something really beautiful! Thanks for showing the design, too. I love seeing how the thought process goes along with the actual knitting!

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