In This Issue
Art & Craft Inspire Knits
We are surrounded by amazing things—and besides nature,
everything else is a creation of human hands and technology.
Think about architecture, automobiles, and art; music, song, laughter,
and chatter; perfume, the fragrance of baked bread or a simmering
stew. Our senses are engaged and so are we. Even the feel
of cool linen, plush chenille, or wool trailing through a knitter’s
fingers is more than just touch, it is interaction. All are products
of humanity.
Each issue of Knitter’s celebrates more than the knitting. It is a
journey that begins simply—with an idea that is shared by designers
and culminates in a collection of designs and photos.
Our photo shoot took us to downtown Chicago. Summers in the
city are especially full of activity.
We arrived on a Saturday evening and planned for a quiet downtown
shoot on Sunday. We checked into our hotel with a splendid
view of Grant Park, Buckingham Fountain, and the Lake Front. Right
across the street, the Summer Dance in the Park activities were in
full swing. This festival offers 1-hour dance lessons followed by 2
hours of musical performances and dancing. They have different
genres of music and dance Thursday through Sunday each week
from June through August. We arrived on Honky Tonk Night.
While we unpacked, steamed, and pressed garments for our
Sunday photo shoot, I was distracted by the music and dancers on
a large dance floor below. Unfortunately, the party ended before
our work was complete. The fireworks show from Navy Pier was a
nice consolation prize, but I went to bed hoping that I might get
to the dance on Sunday evening.
But as our weekend continued so did the distractions.
When our models arrived the next morning, the street and sidewalks
was blocked and they were detoured to the side entrance
of our hotel. The high-rise next door was replacing their master air
conditioning unit — a quiet downtown Sunday is perfect for that
type of maintenance.
A couple of flatbed trailers transported the unit to the front of
the building and a helicopter hoisted it to the roof. It was a marvel
to watch. The downdraft from the helicopter blew the barricades
down the street as if they were made of paper.
Then we became the distraction for a group of Segue riders.
Their path crossed through the frame of our picture so they leaned
back, slowed down, and coasted around us. Later, a large group of skate boarders thundered down the street. They joined our
model, Shannon for a couple of shots, then zoomed on down the street.
Throughout the shoot we were surrounded by preparations
for The Taste of Chicago, scheduled for the upcoming
weekend. The activity — trucks making deliveries, forklifts
moving restaurant equipment, construction workers building
booths just a few feet away — proceeded without a hitch. All
the while Alexis managed to keep them just outside the crop
of the photograph. Perched on a balustrade or standing in the
middle of the street, he always manages to get the shot.
Despite all the challenges, we got our job done with
enough time to enjoy other features of the Windy City.
The next day, we rewarded ourselves with a morning of
shopping. Alexis and Lisa headed to the camera store, Elaine
went on a book hunt, and I stocked up on art supplies. Later
we gathered for lunch and a visit to the Modern Wing of the
Art Institute of Chicago.
I wondered how artists like Georgia O’Keeffe, and Picasso
made their decisions. What ended up on the canvas was surely
an orchestration of color and placement.
I then reflected on the distractions of the past few days. The
helicopter working on Sunday morning, thirty plus skateboarders enjoying an afternoon, dancers
moving across a floor to music, and
various contractors coming together
to create a festival — each was an
orchestration of efforts.
We begin rehearsing for what you
see in this issue more than six months
in advance. The photo shoot is just
one week of that. During the remaining
time there are lots of decisions,
many distractions, more rewards, and
we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Let’s review the contents by starting
with an homage to nature. Fruit of
the vine takes bobble and leaf motifs
in a handspun yarn and reminds us
of autumn harvest. Adam’s Ribs takes tweeds to a new height in the
cross–over ribbing. Both are large
and chunky knits for quick and warm
wardrobe additions.
Or simply work a circular wrap with
many bobbles for a rustic Hobnail design in a stone gray. Lush alpaca
in Chocolate diamonds makes use
of bobbles as well. Who wouldn’t
love the more sophisticated look of
Rattan boxes? The slip-stitch patterns
make the heathered fabric look
even more handwoven.
Rings & rungs vest began as a
submission in a different color but
after seeing small ladders in the textured
pattern, it had to be fire engine
red. Another luscious yarn with small
metallic flecks begged to be worked
Rings & rungs, page 76
Adam’s ribs, page 78
Split diamonds, page 30
in texture. So Sparkling red was created with its Xcable
body and ribbed sleeves.
What is cooler than blue? The serenity of ocean
waves in Boxes and braids and the double-breasted
New York blues has the essence of military dress
with a feminine flair.
Intarsia has various skill levels—from the simple
color blocking of the Arena tank to the small Split
diamond cushions and afghan with the sliding loop
option. Intarsia is like painting with needles.
Give it a try, become an artist, as Stitches West
2009 opening day presenters, Lucy Neatby, Nicky
Epstein, Jane Slicer-Smith and Rick Mondragon,
did. We were presented a challenge to explain why
we love intarsia.
Lucy created a Tartan afghan with doubled yarn
while Nicky placed Blue roses in a ruana. Blocks,
cables, and arrowheads were the inspiration for
Jane’s Santa Fe jacket, and I chose a vest full of
Shaded diamonds in a single variegated colorway.
Your hands can work magic and should be treated
as such. Pamper them. Get a manicure, then knit
yourself the Rosemal mittens and hat, or try Wave gauntlets with Bag-o-miters for upcoming cold
weather. Two pairs assure that your feet are equally
pampered. Felted fun feet give you a cozy and
warm feeling.
As you begin your next project, be reminded
of the decisions you make — the orchestration of
needles, yarn, stitches, and pattern — as you feed
your senses.
Rick Mondragon, Editor
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