Introducing Big Art Knits!

big-art-knits-cover

I’m so excited to present my first-ever pattern collection, Big Art Knits! When we were planning collections for 2016, one of my suggestions was a collection that used really big, bulky yarns. I love how quickly they work up, the texture you get from even simple stitches, and just their big, oversized nature. They’ve got a lot of drama and a little goes a long way. That’s why they’re so perfect for home goods-they add a cozy feeling without overwhelming a room.

braque-wall-hanging

I know you’re not supposed to pick favorites, but I have to admit that I’m most proud of the Braque (pronounced brack) Wall Hanging. I love the transitions of the colors of Chroma in Wildflower and how the single ply contrasts with the soft and fluffy roving. The main stitch is a variation on a slip stitch which I devised to mimic weaving more closely.

hesse-blanket-boccioni-pillow

Texture is hugely important to me as a designer and knitter, and the Serra Rug, Boccioni (pronounced Bo-chee-own-ee) Pillow, the Carr Cushion, and the Judd Cube show how easy stitch patterns, when super-sized, can really maximize the visual impact of knits.

delaunay-pillow

At the time I designed this collection, Big Cozy was the only yarn we had in super-bulky, so I doubled and tripled a few of our bulky yarns to make them bigger. I used this technique in the Delaunay (pronounced dee-lune-ay) Pillow and the Hesse Blanket, plus the Judd Cube and Serra Rug. I even doubled Big Cozy in the Carr Cushion for an insanely large gauge project!

carr-cushion

Are you wondering about the title, Big Art Knits? It’s pretty obvious why the word big is in there, but why art? Well, each pattern is named after a twentieth-century artist that was influential in modernist themes. I have a degree in Art History and really nerd out about this stuff, so it was fun matching up the pattern with an artist’s style.

I love this collection, and can’t wait to see everyone’s gorgeous projects. Teenage Emily (below) would be so excited that I’ve gone from knitting at my grandma’s table to releasing a book!

teenage-emily-knitting


1 comment

  1. Karin Guise / October 21, 2015

    Your Grammie is smiling down from heaven and is so proud of your designs in your first book!