Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Thoughts on Designing...

So I have been designing jewelry since I can remember. I love working with the colors and the wire and create new and amazing things. I especially like it when I make something that I was not expecting and it turns out better than that I originally planned. I know I get frustrated but I go with the flow and surprise something amazing happens. Or I scratch it all and put the wire in my to be recycled bag...now on to knitting.

I started knitting last year. You know to make things for lil' R.* What I loved most was looking through pattern books. Immediately thinking of how I could tweak this or that. I scavenged how to design things, and read patterns for fun.

Fast forward to the beginning of the month. I was talking to Dee, of Posh Yarn, and we were chatting about her silk boucle (which I think is an amazing and unique yarn) and how she needed a pattern for it. I busted out - "I could work one up for you" So we chatted and it was figured out that I would be designing something out of this yarn I have seen, had in my stash , but alas never yet knit. I would take what I had on the cruise and start playing with it while Dee dyed up a colorway of her choice and mail it across the pond to me. Well the new yarn got here on Friday and I started. Quickly I discovered I did not like my chosen stitch with this yarn. I was wondering and worrying about what I had gotten myself into. I was feeling REALLY down about the whole situation. I went to knit with my girlfriend and she agreed yarn lovely, stitch would normally be lovely, but these two were not a marriage at all. Well I sat there and pondered. I brought a ball to swatch and spare needles in my size and just casted on. I decided to just knit and knit simple garter stitch. I knew that reverse stockinette highlighted this fabric. I thought maybe just maybe garter stitch would give me the thickness and the stiffness I was looking for. Well 5 rows in was promising. 10 rows in it was confirmed GARTER stitch it was!!!!! The design has now changed. I am going with the flow. I am so excited about this project now. I have a renewed since of hope and excitement for what is flying off my needles. Just what I feel like I was born to do. Designing and changing and working with my materials and making something to highlight them something entirely new.

Good gawd I am seriously a dork I know!

*yes I know I have only finished two items for him...but lets not go there.

5 comments:

weezalana said...

Still laughing my ass off over the started knitting "to make things for lil' R."

;)

LadyLinoleum said...

You're not a dork. You're just a good designer. Design is all about solving problems or figuring out a puzzle. That's the fun of it all. I think that's awesome!

Hey, thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment. Sorry it took me so long to get over here. Adding you to my bloglines...

Sarah said...

Hi Stacy! Do you really want some Vesper? Go ahead and email me.

Yes, see you at Posh tomorrow : )

Sarah said...

How is your design coming along? I will definitely be buying more Posh Yarn now the sale is on a Sunday.

Sarah said...

I can't wait to see what you came up with! Also, I would love to see some of your jewelry...can you share?