How a Design Comes to Life or Texts From the Front
Six weeks ago several hundred knitters cast on for the Costa Maya KAL. Since we started, our ranks have grown to over 600 knitters! Now that we are less then a month away from the final prizes, I thought it would be fun to step back and see a tiny corner of how a design comes to life.
Specifically, the tale of a text thread between two friends. I like to call this (to quote my brilliant friend Amy Herzog)…
Tales from Inside the Monkey House
When you have friends who also happen to be brilliant knitwear designers, a design consult is always a text away.
When you work all day long, alone in your office, you can get a little stir crazy. Sometimes a text with a simple “got a minute” can be a reach out to share, laugh, vent, or get an opinion.
Last summer I was starting to sketch for the spring KAL when I got a text from my pal Amy. What follows is a selection of our epic text thread that is only partially edited for language 🙂
It all began with this text (you can click to enlarge)
What started as an off hand comment about coffee took a design turn when eagle eye Amy spotted my first sketch ideas . . . and we were off (swearing redacted to protect the innocent.)
or 
Then more back and forth nerdy construction chat. After I described (in tedious detail) what I wanted to do with the bust construction with the increases, we moved on to . . .
After falling even deeper down the rabbit hole of discussing stitch direction and where I wanted to add the stitch panels, we moved on to yarn ideas. Yes folks, I owe a big thank you to Amy for suggesting the stunning Classic Elite Firefly.
Time to debate stitch patterns . . . and more coffee talk.
Several Days Later. . .
Fast forward, I’ve finally figured out the construction, so naturally, Amy was the first one I texted after I finished my mini swatch.
Next decision that needed some chat . . . what to do with the shawl collar (spoiler alert, after swatching a million different stitches, I returned to my first instinct, good old stockinette.)
FINALLY, the design is done, the knitting is under way and it’s time to block. One last peek at the ridiculousness that is us . . .
I now return you to your regularly scheduled day. Thanks for listening.
If you want to get the full 3 1/2 hr video sweater class for Costa Maya, it’s on sale for $5 off until May 8th
To join in on my sweater fun with Patty and Amy, check out Amy’s retreat
Make Wear Love Sweater Retreat
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