Gradient, Ombre or Variegated?

We still have two weeks left in my hosted Gradient Flower Cowl CAL. I am astounded at all the lurkers watching Jackie and I create our cowls. I hope you're all getting good ideas for your own scrappy cowls. Of course, we'd welcome anyone who wants to join us. You can also vote in a wee poll to let Jackie know what version of this pattern she should make with all of her wonderful Koigu scraps - cowl, stole, scarf or (intake of breath!) throw. 

When Jackie posted one of her process photos, she mentioned her process for color placement:

"My loosely formulated plan is to begin each new motif in a color range that echoes a color from the previous motif. So, sort of a gradient color sweep in a way, but a lot more riotous color scheme. After all this is Koigu!"

I liked Jackie's thinking, but thought it might be nice to go a little more in-depth and discuss the differences between the terms gradient, ombre and variegated. They are tossed around a lot in the fiber business, and the painter in me loves to discuss color and palette.

A small example of
Noro variegated yarn
mid-photo.

Initially, let's start with the easiest (or at least most easily recognized) of these terms: variegated. In terms of fiber, variegated yarns are skeins which have been dyed with various amounts of different colors. There are techniques used in the dying process, such as "short color runs" and "long color runs" to produce various effects in the final fabric. The most renowned of variegated yarns is, of course, Noro. However, Koigu and the LB Amazing also fall into this category (and on the more high-contrast Amazing colorways, you can easily see this). If you want to see variegation in action in the natural world, check out my Pinterest Flowers board

A side view of LB Amazing in the Olympic
colorway. This is a radial gradient, meaning the
color goes light to dark radiating out from the
center of a circle.

Next, there's gradient. Gradient, in terms of color, is a progression of different colors that are position-dependent and usually go from light to dark, or vice versa, within a defined surface or area. If you designate a square or circle in your word processing program be filled with color, usually one of many options is to make the color a gradient. It is very pleasing to the eye to see a progression of color. Even if you look closely at any variegated yarn, you'll see small pockets of gradient color in the transition from one color to another. In my original Gradient Flower Cowl sample (which inspiration came directly from my Pinterest flower board), I attempted to herd the colorways, using both ends of the skein, into lighter shades at the top and deeper shades at the bottom. Even though there might be some lighter colored motifs in the final rows of the original sample, taken together, it produces a gradient that generally goes from light at the top of the trapezoid to dark at the bottom of the trapezoid using several different colors. 

My sample Gradient Flower Cowl
for Crochet! Magazine. This photo
captures the lighter (and perhaps
more vibrant) color at the top, and the
darker, more muted colors at the bottom.

Finally, there's ombre. This term generally refers to mixing and blending hues of the same color in a progression of light to dark and (sometimes) back again. The best example, at least for my and this CAL's purposes, is the LB Scarfie. If you look at my photo of the sides of each skein of the prize colorways in the CAL, you'll easily see how, generally speaking (artists and, in this instance, Lion Brand, can certainly take liberties with the notion of one color), using a progression of shades of the same color allows the color to go from light to dark.

Lion Brand Scarfie as seen from the side, with the
denim/navy colorway farthest on the left.

When I'm painting, I can create a vibrant palette, with not one shade out of place or jarring to the eye, by using only one or two different primary colors (red, blue, yellow) and mixing various amounts of either white or black. The best Scarfie example would be the denim/navy colorway - white added to the original blue will yield the denim side of the spectrum, and adding black will yield the navy side of the colorway.

While my first finished cowl in this CAL uses mostly greens and blues, the gradient is subtle. However, on my second cowl (in fingering weight) you can easily see how I'm going from light to dark, even in this early process photo below.

It's quite all right that I have some darker colors right next to light ones, because it's the overall effect across the entire area (the trapezoid shape) of the cowl that my eye will scan. It will see light to dark, and be pleased.

Think about these terms the next time you're viewing the scraps in your stash and come up with combinations to achieve the effect that is most pleasing to your eye. 

Happy coloring!

On My Fiber Plate

Happy Fee-Fi(ber)-F.O. Friday, everyone! It's been a while since I've written a Friday blog post - it feels good to do so again. Of course (as most of you probably already know) I was absent from the blog in order to finish up Leather, Lace, Grit & Grace. I'll be hosting an a-long for the book in April and May (but more on that in a little bit). Now, I can get back to my normal, bloggy routine. 

The first thing: I have a new published design to show off! 

This is the Monochromatic Checkered Muffler from April's ILikeKnitting.com. I'm really pleased with the almost embossed quality of this super-simple pattern (but you'll be helped greatly with stitch markers cause there is some counting involved). There's ribbing on each long side and the fringe on each short side makes it just a little more elegant. I used one luscious skein of Lost City Knits Twin Canyon Merino Silk in the silver bells colorway. Love, love and love; this is a great one skein project which, btw, was inspired by the ladies of Leather, Lace, Grit & Grace, but I had so much material I made an editorial executive decision. It appears in ILikeKnitting.com's ode to spring and Mother's Day edition. Maybe you'll find a design in it to gift to a mother in your world.

Finally, I leave you with a photo of the fiber used in one of several projects I've been working on for future publication. The deadlines keep a-coming, but with gorgeous Noro color to work with, I almost don't mind.

Sometimes Designs Come Along At Just The Right Moment

She's a sassy shawl, ain't she?

Happy Friday, everyone. With a week before U.S. Thanksgiving, it's been busy good at chez Voie de Vie.

As I wrote about here on Monday, I'm participating in Ravelry's Independent Designer Gift-a-long. (An aside: if you don't think this shebang has grown volumes since last year, think again: so far, there are over 5,000 participants in 8 different gift-making categories, and one can sign up and gift-a-long until the end of December. Folks, indie designers and their gift-making pals are on fire.) As part of my design purchases, I picked up fellow designer Gabriella Henry's Lucie Shawlette pattern.

I cannot quite explain what it is about this pattern, but I became absolutely enthralled with it. Maybe it's the perfect combination of gloriously wonderful garter stitch with an elegantly simple crochet edging; perhaps it's the no-thinking-required aspect of the pattern - I wound up not putting it down and completed it in about four days (record speed for me). 

Or maybe, just maybe, it's been the genuine respect shown me by a fellow designer half-way around the world, at a time when I sorely needed a show of professional respect, that's made this shawl such a breath of fresh air. I've recently experienced a doozie of a professional blow and I have remained rather silent about it. Nevertheless, I had been feeling a fair amount of anger and disappointment, but I continued forward with my plans because I believe in myself. That's cold comfort, though, when you're in the middle of it. 

And then, along came Gabes (tweeting @Sweetpknits) and her ditty of a shawl and turned my thinking right 'round. Like a perfectly stitched record, if you will. Along the way, she's been nothing but gracious and complimentary, and it's made All.The.Difference. This is the season of giving thanks, and so I sincerely thank her for her kindness and open appreciation. Far beyond the counting of dollars and cents is how we make each other feel; that's what we'll remember. So it brings me great joy to show off my version of Gabe's Lucie Shawlette:

Speaking of good things, it is rare to see Mt. Rainier in any horizon shot in the Pacific Northwest fall and winter, yet it made a guest appearance for this photo shoot (check out the above left background). It guilded the lily rather nicely: what a great pairing of pattern and fiber, don't you think?

Even though these two fibers are (I think) discontinued, they played well together: Laines du Nord Prancer for the main body of the shawl and Noro Cash Iroha for the edging. I worked this up on U.S. 10 1/2" circular needles (6.5 mm) and a U.S. H hook (5.00 mm) for the edging, which is smaller than called for in the pattern. I also made my shawlette more akin to a shawl by using about 147 grams of yarn for the body and approximately 44 grams on the edging, for a grand poobah total of 366 fibery yards.

I cannot tell you how much I love this shawl. It's super warm and the perfect thing to throw over the shoulders or double up around the neck. Make one for yourself, and you'll see exactly what I mean.

Now, in keeping with the spirit of design/er giving during this gift-along (which, again, runs straight through the end of the year), I've had the pleasure of interviewing and getting to know Ella Austin, a/k/a Bombella Knits. Here's a designer after my own color-filled heart - her claim to fame is stranded color work and she has a love of Karie Westermann shawl designs. Without further ado, I present:

The Artfully Voie de Vie Questionnaire

with knit designer Ella Austin

Ella Austin. Photo used with designer's kind permission.

Can you tell us a little bit about your background before you started to design knit garments and accessories?

Just before I started designing I was a stay at home mum and breastfeeding helper. Before that I worked in admin and IT for a charity in London and before that I studied sociology and classical studies at Reading University. But I’ve always loved art and design and I’ve always been an avid knitter -ever since I was a child.

When was the moment you knew you wanted to become a knit designer?

Although I’d knit for all my life I had never really tried to push myself as a knitter until I met the Reading-based Outcasts knitting group about seven years ago. Then soon after Ravelry came along and inspired me further. I started to have ideas for things I wanted to knit and so I started experimenting… and found that I loved it!

Please describe your personal knit design philosophy?

I love stranded colourwork so I tend to think in terms of colour, line and pattern. I mostly design small, colourful knits that I consider to be fun!

What is your greatest knit (or design) memory?

It’s hard to pick a single moment because knit design involves a lot of gradual development of ideas. I’m most proud of my knitting kits and I hope to continually improve and develop them. For a single moment memory, I was very excited when one of my early designs was commissioned by Knit Now magazine.

If you could have dinner with any three designers, dead or alive, who would they be, and why?

This is a hard question. Most of my old knitting group the Outcasts have done at least a design or two so I’d pick a bunch of them!

Throw or pick?

Throw. I’m a very slow knitter!

It’s your last object to design (or make). What is it, and what fiber do you use?

There’s so much I want to knit, it’s too sad to think of a last thing! One thing I’ve been wanting to do for ages but haven’t done yet is a small woodland creature in Skein Queen Blush 80% merino 20% cashmere.

What trait do you most admire in designers?

Diversity. I admire designers who can do all sorts of things with all different techniques. I also love a good cardigan so a designer that does a good cardigan has my respect!

What trait do you most detest in designers?

Detest is such a strong word! I don’t like snobbery in knitting whether it’s ‘I only use x yarn’ or ‘I’d never knit y type of object’.

You are recommending a design gift in response to a friend’s inquiry. Other than your own designs (which, as everyone knows, are quite beautiful!), what would you recommend?

Suzanne Stallard’s colourwork mitts (especially the Alfredos) or a Karie Westermann shawl.

All right everyone - now head on over to Andrea's at Wisdom Begins in Wonder to see how everyone else is interacting with the gift-a-long. As for me, I'm officially blogged out ... for the moment. 

Stay tuned ...

It's All About The Gifts This Melange Monday

It's (late!) Monday, time for melange.

As many of you may know, I've been involved with Ravelry's 2014 Independent Designer Gift-a-long, specifically I helped pin all of the participating designs to Pinterest boards. I have gone one step further and curated my own 2014 DIY Gifts board right here. I have chosen my favorites from all of the boards excepts the baby/children's board as well as the feet and leg board. I still have one or two children's patterns curated, but mostly I'm all about the hats, gloves, sweaters, scarves, home and shawls, shawls, shawls. There are some fantastic designs currently on sale and ripe for the picking before the end of the day this coming Friday. Of course, most of my self-published patterns are part of the mix (hey, I'm biased!), but with over 200 pins on the board, my designs represent only about 10% of what I curated. Do please take a look (knit and crochet together) - maybe there will be something you missed the first time around!

My fiber choice for my version of the
Lucie Shawlette. Photo taken with craptastic
cell phone camera.

********************************************************

So, I purchased some shawl patterns late last Friday: four in all, but one for me to make now and one to make as a gift for a family member this holiday season. I'm currently enthralled with Gabriella Henry's Lucie Shawlette. It's a combination of simple garter stitch and a sweet crochet edging on one side. I am not only thoroughly enjoying the squoishy comfort of all that garter stitch, but as a fellow designer and creator of written patterns, I appreciate her unorthodox and artistic approach to pattern presentation. Henry incorporates unique font choices as well as (what I suspect) is her own art in her document layout. It's a real breath of fresh air from all of the cookie-cutter approaches to pattern layout. As someone who also utilizes some unique font choices as well as lots of photos and my own art (although less of the art in my single patterns), it's nice to see someone marching to her own tune. Well done, Gabriella. 

I'm farther along than this photo indicates.
I am loving the subtle color changes and
all.that.garter.stitch.

A friendly reminder that 20 of my designs, bundled here, are 25% off until the end of the day this Friday with the code giftalong2014. Partake of any of my designs on sale as well as those from other designers on my curated board linked above. Give someone hand-made worthy a great gift this holiday season, hopefully made with some yarn produced by an indie dyer or spinner.

Of course, that hand-made worthy person could be your very awesome self. Craft on, people.

(Just Another) Melange Monday

Hello everyone - it's Memorial Day here in the United States, and of course it's Monday, so time for melange.

The Presidio, San Francisco, 2007
photograph (c) Voie de Vie

In honor of the holiday, I point you toward The Legacy Project, started in 1998 by Andrew Carroll. It's an attempt to document the country's memories of war through the letters of those who served. In the more than 13 years since it's been in existence, the project has compiled enough letters to launch four separate books, live exhibits, two television specials and an online collection. Definitely check out the online collection - but be warned, war is hell.


          ******************************


I continue to be elbow-deep in projects for publication later this year. It's difficult to work on things and not be able to share them, so the best I can do currently is share the fiber I'm working with. This week, it included the below two skeins:

Anyone who's been reading this blog for a while knows how much I love, love, love Kureyon, and this colorway (#95) did not disappoint. The sticky quality of Kureyon's wool is just as big an appeal as the amazing colorways. Look for the project associated with these yarns to be published in early fall.

     ***********************************

Finally, I leave you will a snapshot of a very moody, yet cool Pacific Northwest sky. Memorial Day weekend is always a weather crapshoot here in the northwest corner, and this weekend was definitely more of the same. Nevertheless, we managed to have sun two of the three days, so hopefully everyone had an opportunity to get their bbq on in between the showers.

Not too shabby - I'll take it!

Vote for Great Color and Design

Happy election day to everyone here in the U.S.! I cast my vote yesterday (love mail-in balloting); I also cast another vote several weeks ago when I pre-ordered the new Crochet Noro book. When I received it at the end of last week, I could hardly wait to sit and pour over it. I was not disappointed.

Where to begin? Well, let's start with the designs. There's a little something here for everyone - sweaters, accessories, interior design pieces, and jewelry. Each pattern is marked with a skill level: one box is easiest, four boxes for the seasoned crocheters out there. Personally, I find several of the designs deceptively simple, and for good reason - the yarn is the star here, so no need for intricate stitches (more on this below). There's also a lot of motif-based designs - a full quarter of the designs in the book are accomplished with motifs. I love a great motif, so I'm all for this. More involved patterns (including all of the motif-based designs) include charts as well as written instructions.

The collection also brings together most of the big names in crochet design - Robyn Chachula, Doris Chan, Lily Chin, Yoko Hatta, Linda Permann and Mary Beth Temple just to name a few. Of some note: a full 8 designs (just slightly more than a quarter of the collection) belong to Yoko Hatta. Incredible. Three of my absolute favorites include two from Hatta - the Boxy Cardigan and the Puff Stitch Cowl. I'm also partial to Lily Chin's Chevron Hat. Her great use of yarn and stitch makes the cap look like a piece of jewelry. I've also fallen hard for the Buttons & Flowers Shawl - what a great design concept for a shawl. Buttons at the center of each motif make customizing fit a breeze as well as ensuring it stays around the shoulders. Just genius. I even have loads of similar mother-of-pearl buttons. Hmmmmm.

 

But let's not stray too far from what we're all head-over-heels in love with: that great Noro color! This lushly styled and photographed collection is a feast for the eyes. With each flip of the page, you will have an intake of breath at the color explosion. The pieces run the gamut of color - from deep, earthy fall to bubble-gum-inspired to jewel-toned. No matter your color palette preference, there's something here for everyone. I really appreciate the wonderful layering of color in each photo. It really speaks to me as a painter (as well as a home cook). Layering is the name of the game, and the wonderful Noro colors are showcased to perfection.

I've had four skeins of Kureyon in the discontinued number 221 colorway (greens, purples and peach) just waiting for the right project. You know I broke out hook and Kureyon and in two days flat whipped up the Puff Stitch Cowl. Hatta's pattern calls for 6 skeins; I augmented my four with an unknown (but perfectly coordinated) aran weight yarn from Vivian over at Bits 'n Pieces and wound up with a lush cowl just 7" shorter than the original:

My version of the Puff Stitch Cowl, made
with 4 skeins Noro Kureyon (colorway 221) and
augmented with an aran-weight wool

 

This cowl is a simple 4-row repeating pattern, constructed flat and then seamed at the end. I wet-soaked in a small amount of hair conditioner and blocked prior to seaming and the yarns bloomed and softened nicely. I cannot tell you how much I love the color in this cowl.



The back of my Puff Stitch Cowl

If you haven't gotten the message yet - I love, love, love Noro yarns, and I am thrilled with this new Crochet Noro book. Run, don't walk, to your local bookstore and pick it up. I think it might sell out quickly. Sixth & Spring is on a crochet roll this year (with the special crochet edition of Vogue Knitting earlier in the year) and I couldn't be happier.

Er, well, I might be if they would invite me to submit a design or two ... but that's another story for another day.

Some Monday Updates

One of my favorite patterns from
the new Noro magazine

Happy Monday everyone! Since I've written recently about some new craft magazines in the works, I figured an update was in order.

As Hannah Thiessen, the force behind the potentially new Genet Quarterly, sort of reported on her blog - her Kickstarter ultimately did not get funded. Unfortunate. So this great magazine idea will take further time and ingenuity to get off the ground. I hope it makes it to the crafty light of day.

However, Knit Edge Magazine has released a preview, "version zero" edition, and it's a great sneak peek at what we'll see in future from Cooperative Press's magazine effort. If you're into double knitting, there's an amazing article from Alasdair Post-Quinn, the author of Extreme Double Knitting. And the four patterns premiered aren't too shabby either. The link emailed out to those on the mailing list receiving the preview issue gratis (of which I was one) was so hot it actually felled the server and promptly wouldn't work. A substitute method of delivery was instituted, and all was well with Knit Edge's delivery.

And, finally, if you haven't seen it yet at your local book store, yarn shop or grocery store (!), definitely seek out the new Noro Magazine. Color, texture, and historical inspiration abound on each and every page. And the patterns (once again) aren't too shabby either. I can't stop looking at mine.

An additional, tangential update: Remember the handspun (shown below) I received from Andrea (the Wonder Why Gal) in thanks for making her a shawl?

Well, this gorgeous skein of handspun awesomeness is going to become my version of Sarah Wilson's the Chi-Chi Cowl, which just happens to be one of the 4 new patterns from Knit Edge. I'll be knitting it as part of my projects during the Ravellenic Games on team Cooperative Gearheads, of which I'm co-captain. I can't wait to use this amazing handspun; I think it's a perfect match for this pattern. Thanks so much, Andrea!

More Publishing Stuff

This all-Noro pattern book will be getting
some company in my physical library very soon

It seems I can't get out of the way of news regarding new fiber publications. Have you heard the venerable Noro line of yarns is publishing it's own hand knit and crochet magazine? Hang on to your color hats, everyone - the first edition of Noro Magazine is due to be released into the colorful, yarny wild this June. A preview of many of the patterns in the first edition can be viewed - and wait until you see the gems for the making.

While the bulk of patterns in this first edition are knit, there are a few crochet pieces - Yoko Hatta's crocheted slippers, done in Kureyon, should be a big hit (and I don't do socks and slippers!). No doubt for me, the star is the gorgeous use of color and texture throughout the magazine. It is eye-poppingly wonderful. You just want to reach out and touch all of the garments and accessories.

And Noro is slated to publish an all-crochet edition in the fall. Oh yeah.

You know this magazine will make it to my physical library. I'm already rearranging space in my mind as I write this.

What are your favorites? And how many of you already have the Noro in stash to get started? Definitely let me know in the comments below.


UPDATED 5/23/12: A correction above: the crochet book being published in the fall is not affiliated with Noro Magazine, but a Sixth & Spring publication, which can be preordered.

On Why I Gave Away The Landscapes Store



A gratuitous sunny day
photo. Sigh.



As I wrote about last week, I am participating in a yarn stash swap, and while I discussed the fiber I received, I did not elaborate on what I had sent to a fellow swappee – because she had not received it yet. Now that the package is in her hands, I can provide details.

As The Knitting Way blogged, I indeed sent her three skeins of yarn. Lion Brand Landscapes yarn, to be specific. I had originally purchased these three skeins as part of a scarf kit. Somehow I thought I was getting one yarn color, but when I opened the package it was something completely different. I like green and red generally, but the shades of green and red in these particular Landscapes skeins, combined with the yellow (of which I am not a huge fan) combined to create something with which I was definitely not even in like. However, since they were a kit, I felt I could not really split them up – so I sent the whole kit ‘n caboodle off to my swap partner. I am looking forward to seeing what becomes of the little fibery skeins.

And on my skein-of-Americana front, I want to thank everyone for providing suggestions on what I might make with it. While I liked Erin in Boston’s direction (Knitting It Old School is one of my favorite books!) as well as Nicole’s suggestion of a granny square scarf (that was the front-runner for quite a while), I actually came across a crochet pattern over the weekend that will be perfect, so expect to see that in a bit. However, I’m still going to provide swatches, and if I have any yardage left, I will take happymousefairy’s suggestion and make a flower corsage. That would definitely be a stretch of my skills, so thanks for providing me with it.



I really like this crocheted cardi
 - praia do rosa



Finally, I leave you with a few other pattern books I acquired over the weekend. Two of the three were steeply reduced, and all of them have patterns I love in yarns I either like using or really want to use. In the case of the Berocco Origami, I can’t seem to find it! It’s considered a novelty yarn to be certain, but in colorways such as Bay of Biscay, Sienna Sunset and Black Sand Beach, works up into a really lovely mottled-colored fabric that screams summertime.

I’m determined to find this yarn.

I’m also determined to find sunny weather. Somewhere.

Fee-Fi(ber)-F.O. Friday

This week is brought to you by mittens central.

A little while back, while running errands (which I usually do on foot because I love to walk), I lost one of my favorite mittens. I loved these mittens. They weren’t hand-made, but they were thick and the warmest mittens I’d ever owned. I was so dejected when I realized I had lost one, because I knew I would never find it. I was certain that, by the time I'd realized I was down one mitten, some car had already dragged it under its tire to an untimely death.

So, crafty person that I am, I made myself a new pair of mittens. Welcome to the world my Woolly Mammoths:

These are my interpretation of Lyn Robinson’s Friendship Mittens pattern. I’ve crocheted them using an H hook with one strand of Noro Kureyon and one strand of mohair held double throughout. The pattern is written so that one can customize the cuff length and upper portion (past the thumb opening) to better fit one’s hand. I did just that … as well as shortening the thumb just slightly. They fit me so well, and I love their rustic look and feel.

However, since this is the second pair of mittens I’ve made in less than a month, I thought some comparisons were in order:

As I had previously written about my Fuzzy Little Luxury, my red mittens are shockingly red. There’s nothing rustic about them – they are embroidered, so delicate in one sense, yet bold in another. They were knit from the cuff up, on straight needles, with a seam to sew at the end. (Knitting them flat helps with the ability to embroider them). The thumb is knit as you go. It might be my current reticence to fudge with knit directions (since I’m still learning techniques left and right), but I do wish I would have shortened both the thumbs and the upper portions of these mittens. Nevertheless, they will go perfectly with one of my winter coats – which is red – and I absolutely love them.

My Woolly Mammoths are also super, but for very different reasons. They will definitely become my workhorse mittens. The ones I reach for again and again during any winter season. Even though I used one fiber that is traditionally chock-full of color, the other fiber - the mohair - in these mittens is the color of café au lait. As a result, they are almost neutral, which is great for wearing them with almost any other color. I also love their cables and slightly stubby look – they’re long enough in the cuff to keep my wrists warm (forget about that annoying gap

between mitten and coat edge!), yet short enough in the thumb and upper area to be comfortable. Additionally, the thumb is crafted after the rest of the mitten is complete - another good way to ensure good thumb fit. They were also quick to work up -taking me two days – surpassing all previous personal speed records. Finally, I thoroughly enjoyed customizing them for my hands – it gave me a feeling of real craft mastery. Doesn’t take much for me, I guess.

Let me leave you with photos of my finished Inspira Cowl. Talk about pride – oohhhh weeeee am I proud of this:

Have a great, crafty weekend!