do you have a project you cling to even when it defies your grasp at every turn? are you doomed (like me) to play the role of sisyphus on your quest to follow your muse, pushing uphill for every single step that advances your vision, only to have it collapse into a heap of wishes just when you think you’ve conquered it?
this new shawl design has been like that for me. oh, i’m gonna get it—stop that laughing—i am.
but it may well be the death of me.
the bug first caught me about 18 months ago when i noticed a large lacy leaf stitch in the stitch dictionary. i marked it and said, hmm, i’m going to knit something with that motif some day. but do you think that stitch pattern would leave it at that??
nooo.
so last march i swatched it, thinking it might make a nice scarf.
and it would. but was i satisfied with that?? oh nooo.
the minute i stretched the swatch and pinned i started having visions of the shawl it would make.
oh it was grand! and easy! just look at it—it practically designs itself, doesn’t it?
i went all overboard and starting talking to kim about yarn for it and she got excited and then i got more excited, and well.
ha.
i finally got started swatching for the shawl in late july and immediately ran into issues. i had hoped to flip the pattern so it ran in the other direction since the shawl would be knit from the top down, but i didn’t like the new version.
then there is the issue of its size—it’s ginormous. by the time you increase to the point where even one repeat is visible, the chart would be three pages wide.
AND, all the decreases are at the center and all the YOs are way far away from them, so shaping it as a triangle is very challenging (thus, a pretty shoulder becomes ever more elusive). hmph.
i worked on the swatches nearly every day for several weeks, often spending hours to painstakingly come up with diddly-squat (actually, that’s one thing about prep work i don’t mind—but it does take time).
everything from edgings to what would go between the main motifs threw me for a loop. i eventually narrowed down the choices for each element, but in the process i tried so many things together that my head ached from keeping them all straight and deciding (not to mention that my stitch books now sport a thick fringe of post-its. which are staying put for the moment—just in case)
of course, by this time i was even more attached to the idea of pulling off this design—it’s like being totally in love with the bad boy at school; you just can’t see the flaws in your own thinking, for the well desire and fiery attraction he inspires in you (see swatch above for reference
i clawed my way through a number of experiments and finally, finally, came up with something i could use.
however.
i know there are going to be glitches along the way to work out (ha, like the size of the chart), and i’m on a bit of a timeline with it at this point. so i’m saving the faroese version to do later, and starting with the stole version (otherwise known as Plan B).
and i have swatches for that too.
(ok, just so you know, all that patterning isn’t really intended to be in the stole; it’s all just stuff i tried and then blocked to get an idea of the size and what might work).
but if you think having nice swatches for a straight rectangle shawl means we are done, you’re wrong. there just has to be a false start thrown in right?
can you believe it?? that piece i showed you the other day that i’d started? i thought i had it all figured out; i was so relieved to have it on the needles. thursday night i knit SIX inches of the (tall-sized) stole, then stopped and measured it to make sure i was on track (it takes at least that much depth to get an accurate measurement of the width because the motif distorts so strongly at the edge. which we love.)
i guess you know by now that i wasn’t. on track. sigh.
it was way too wide. darn . . . . now i had to scurry to figure out what could be taken out.
the motif falling between the large leaf motif was the most likely candidate; it was rather wider and more busy than i wanted, so i ditched it. i scoured my books for something narrow but pretty and decided on one that would work with everything else (at least, i sure hope it does). but of course, before that i had to rip out all my work from thursday.
i got up early friday and recommenced and now it’s back to where it was thursday night . . i’ve knit about six inches of fabric and the width is working much better. phew.
i even left it alone to go out last night (it was still the same size when i got back).
like i said, the faroese version will happen; i’m just going to do it AFTER the stole this time, so i can get my bearings, give myself mental-gymnastics time with the knitting in my hands (in case some clever design maneuver occurs to me), and relax about it.
after all, it still makes me cross my legs to stop the squirming when i look at it
and this morning i dragged out the dress form to play “draping the swatches” (which is a little like playing “bride” with a pillowcase).
some day it will look like that for real. until then, let me leave you with this
54 thoughts on “a long row to hoe”
Oooooohhhh, be still my beating heart. I love your lace patterns to date, but this one has such movement with less fussiness than other stoles/shawls, I cannot wait to see the whole thing. It reminds me of waves and water, sea spray. BTW, I’ve cast on for Rivolo with BriarRose’s Grace and am having to use it as a reward for making progress on my other WIPs!
i’ve loved that motif since i first saw the swatch…however…i can’t imagine trying to work out a faroese style shawl from it! it’s easy to forget how much work goes into your designs when we’re just on the buy & knit side of it. it’s looking good – and i can see it perfectly as a fall project.
I think I remember the very first swatch of this motive. Anyway, this colour suits it, and is absolutely gorgeous. Can’t wait to see how it turns!
That is a fabulous leaf motif, and it’s going to turn out gorgeous. I really like how it drapes over the shoulder on the dress form.
Thanks for writing this up, Anne. Although I do not design for knitting, I do other things that also take painstaking work like you describe here. The end product never shows the nights of angst, the worry, the time invested, or the triumph over technical problems we can endure before the final version is presented which never shows the sweat, due to our hard work and standards.
Yesterday I almost finished the So Square socks I started in February. And then frogged them. I was so busy multi-tasking I got distracted somehow and managed to cast on a HUNDRED instead of 80. What the…
This design is knocking me out too, btw. It does have an impossible to ignore allure. Thanks for writing about it so beautifully, so honestly.
Oh my. What you’ve left us with is wondrous. Forgive an advanced beginner knitter, but although the orginal leaf swatch was lovely it didn’t click as a FO. I read this post continuing to doubt. I’ve labored over quilt details and have had to give up …
But that final photo says it all and I should never have doubted you! Most of the “little nothings” and many of the shawls are lacy and ethereal – this one will make a real statement. It will be gorgeous.
Wow, I’m having trouble visualizing this one… I see the relationship between the original red swatch and the last purple photo but I can’t visualize an entire stole built on this motif yet… I’m going to sit back, watch, and trust you to drive this one safely to its destination!
Anne this is STUNNING! I absolutely love it, I fell in love the first photo!
Very pretty so far, anyway. I love that color!!
Oh wow, This is going to be drop dead gorgeous in a way words can not describe! And the color of that yarn…omg. Too perfect.
Oh my, that is beautiful! I love the stitch. I think it might work beautifully as a farose shawl. That stitch down the center back, it has a unique shaping to it that would add to the “wing” like effect of a farose. I’m excited to see the stole finished. I love your work.
I love the pattern for this. and the colour. Can’t wait to see how it develops
Oh my!
Well I’m intrigued to see the progress on this beautiful design. I love the “doodling” so far!
Oh, I think this is your best so far!! (until the next one 😉 It is exquisite!!!
wow! this is going to gorgeous! My favorite picture is actually the first rectangular swatch that has a side motif + edging. Maybe a bit busy, but SO striking, can’t wait till you release this one!
They all look so lovely, it immediately made me think that worst case scenario you could take them to a framer, have them blocked into frames and put them on the wall as art as is. You have amazing patience! (Or is it stubbornness, as in my case? I get to a point where I MUST solve the problem sometimes, despite my sanity telling me to let it go.) Can’t wait to see the finished project. As an aside, I will start Snowflakes on Cedars as my Christmas present to me.
Simply beautiful! I love each element that you have photgraphed!
The movement of the stitches pulls me in. It evokes a visceral response (I was going to say it tugs at my gut, but that doesn’t sound blog-commment worthy). I am very excited about this design.
Thank you for letting us in on your design process. As an artist with a daughter soon going to college for art, it feeds the soul.
This one has a very mysterious air about it. Dark. I like it!
yummo
Oh, I have loved that motif since you showed us the first swatch. It’s just so full of movement! I’m not sure I’m going to be able to give this one away… 😉 I love sunnyknitter’s idea of framing the swatches!
As always, the project is lovely on its own, but you picked just the right yarn to make my heart beat faster. GothamMuse is so right, it does look like sea spray, and if you’re looking for names I think s/he might have just given you one!
I went to our local sheep & wool fair today and whol did I see but Ball & Skein, selling (among many other gorgeous things) Gust? It felt so good to see it and say, it’s beautiful–but I’ve actually already made that one!
Anne,
You’re so d—– talented, and that pattern in Interweave Knits didn’t really show up as well as your stuff on your website. When are you gonna publish your own book?!
Wendy
This pattern is just delightful. I hope the weather settles down around here one day, so I can get the pattern and lace weight for it. Looks like waves to me, and I do love the water.
Simply beautiful pattern and yarn, which I just love and look forward to seeing this design grow into full bloom. Amazing work and patience. Good knitting!
(looking at last photo) Want. Pattern. NOW.
Absolutely lovely…what weight is it going to be in? (scrambling through stash)
This one is really pretty! It reminds me of the ocean mist, a mermaid and sea spray (tears) perhaps! (Even though it’s a fern pattern) I can’t wait ’till I see what you will do with this, but I know that it will be spectacular 🙂
Love to read your design process notes…and the last photo is just breathtaking! So much rhythm and movement–I can hardly wait….
Wendy’s right, you need to do a book. You have your own knitting design sensibility which is strong and personal, like Norah Gaughan’s patterns are peculiar only to her, and yours could only be designed by you! Some editor needs to set a course….
good grief, i’m worn out just reading this! thank heavens there are people like you who will go through this for our knitting enjoyment!
I don’t care if the chart is three pages wide, I think the faroese version will be spectacular. I too have been waiting to see what you would do with this ever since you posted the first swatch.
Thank you for all the work you put into your beautiful designs before you share them with us. It’s good to realize the finished item doesn’t just leap off your needles in one go!
I’m glad to see all the back and forth, knitting and frogging that you’re doing on this stole. It shows knitters what goes on behind the scenes. Although it may look frustrating, it’s really a wonderful journey which designers enjoy or we wouldn’t be repeating it over and over.
I’m interested to see how the faroese works out. It seems like a larger pattern than you’ve used before. I expect it will have an entirely different look to it than the others you’ve done.
I have to agree with Northmoon – this one may be worth a really wide chart.
And thanks for not saying “long road to hoe”, which so many people make the error of saying. As someone who has hoed long rows, I always wonder if they are listening to what they are saying?
This is totally worth a wide chart! Wide charts are nothing to be afraid of! Post-it-note arrows are your friend.
And my goodness, I thought you’d had me drooling before with some of your work but this… this is… Ya know, striking me “speechless” is pretty impressive. Ask anyone who knows me.
Anne- Knitting designers must be the most optimistic people in the world- because eventually you know it will work out.
You may be bald and dead, but it WILL work!
take my breath away – I’m such a goner for leaf motifs.
Perhaps the name of this one should be ‘fatal attraction’ ? (grins)
I have to agree with everyone who has said it doesn’t matter how many pages wide the chart is—this motif is worth it! Take heart, you’ll find a way and the shoulder shawl will also be breathtaking. You’ve had to put in a lot of time on this one, but you’ve had gorgeous yarn to work with—I can almost feel it through the monitor!
Talk about ‘the pain and the blood and the gore’.
I remember that motif and it’s mind-boggling to think of that wee preview all the way to what you’ve come up with as of now. Do you find that your subconscious brain does more of the heavy lifting at times like these– when what you want and what happens in the swatching process don’t jibe– or do you end up just having to, y’know, brute force a project into submission?
Either way, the swatch looks amazing. Like a big fluffy ginkgo leaf… and now let me join the masses greedy to see how the stole will end up.
I wish I could say I understand but knit design, especially at your level, is still way beyond me! I do love that large leaf pattern. I can see why you are so determined to get it right. The yarn is gorgeous as well. Hang in there!
It looks great to me but thats coming from someone that hasn’t really designed anything yet. Good luck!
You are unbelievable !! I am in awe.
And I can’t wait to see the fullsized shawl and to buy the pattern and to buy yarn and to knit and feeling so satisfied.
I am continually amazed at the design process and am once again reminded why I doubt I will ever design anything! Anne, you are so gifted and I always appreciate you sharing the process with us. I look forward to seeing the finished product as the sneak peeks prove it will be gorgeous.
I know it’s supposed to be a leaf, but all that keeps running through my head when I look at it is, “raven, raven, raven.”
I’m going to have to hire someone to knit your shawls for me, because there’s no way I can keep up.
I can’t help but imagine the leaves as angel wings.
I can’t wait to see the finished project.
OK, if it’s giving YOU that much trouble, it’ll be a hoot to knit (I’m always up for a challenge). I’m SO there!
Mmmmm, now that is beautiful. Can’t wait til you solve that dilemma. I might have to learn lace to make that one!
On another note, any recommendations for a lace-weight pullover/sweater? Someone was kind enough to give me some of that Woolen Rabbit’s Tupelo Honey for my birthday, and I’d really like a sweater.
This, as everyone has said, is absolutely beautiful even in its unfinished state. Lovely! I’m working on Itrfa’a now, Lacewing is next, and this will surely be on the needles as soon as the pattern is available. I love that yarn too! Your sense of design is awesome.
Oh my. I am remembering a certain unpleasantness when you were told that “all you do” is pick out stitches from a stitch book and bob’s your uncle. Ahem. I, for one, am not worthy! Anything you charge for this pattern will not be enough. It is breathtaking–and indeed, the yarn is fabulous. Would you consider a post soon where you spell out all the wonderful people you get your yarns from?
This must be my favourite one to date. Wonderfully organic shapes, lovely muted colour yarn. Beautiful!!!
Comments are closed.