Friday, August 26, 2011

Lily Pond Scarf

Lily Pond at the Brickworks - Toronto
It took me a while to get a picture that actually looked like the idea I had in my mind when I designed Lily Pond scarf.  Water Lilies are at their best in July and August and then only on a sunny day. In my mind I saw the rippling water and the reeds that fringed the pond.  I had to capture this is lace.

I have been fascinated by a drop stitch pattern in one of Barbara Walker's Treasuries.  I knew that I would knit it one day. Well, that day came when the idea of a lily pond and that particular drop stitch pattern merged.  Here is my mind's image made real.

Water and Reeds


And here is Lily Pond scarf knit in Fantastic Knitting Zephyr Lace weight hand dyed yarn - Pond.

Lily Pond Scarf/Shawl from Queen Anne's lace

Make your ideas real!!

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Scorpio Shawl

This is Scorpio Shawl, the first in a series of 12 shawls based on the signs of the Zodiac. I have been fascinated with the Zodiac personalities and the way people born under a particular sign actually resemble the characteristics of that sign. The idea of interpreting these various personalities in lace was a challenge I decided I would love to take on!

The Scorpio Personality

The Scorpio personality is fascinating. Although Scorpios seem to struggle through life, often moving against the stream, their goal is to find peace through understanding the real meaning of our existence. Scorpios are passionate about their beliefs and will rarely be deterred from their course. They are drawn to the underworld, seeking to understand what is “under it all.”


To capture this personality in lace was a real challenge. I decided to use an over all garter stitch lace to
suggest the strength that Scorpios bring to a situation.


A variation of Faun's Eyes

I then varied an old Shetland lace stitch Faun’s Eyes to create a sense of mystery. For the Mandela - the emblem of life, I added a small circular pattern and finally I finished with a deep knitted on border, again to suggest the depth and passion that is central to the Scorpio personality.


Mandela Pattern
Knitted on border
The idea is to be able to knit your own signs - sun, moon and or ascendant or to knit the sign of someone you wish to be close to. Or have a shawl for ever sign. Enjoy