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Author: Allison

Fall

Posted by | Sep 30, 2009 | | 0

The leaves are turning a bit. As our weather becomes crisper, I am reminded of what inspired me to knit. The fall always brings back memories of when I was a young girl and wanting to play outside. I would dash out the door without my gloves or hat, and barely a jacket. Feeling the burn on my little ears from the biting cold, I’d try to ignore the fact that I needed anything besides my little legs. My mother would quickly call me back to the house. I’d be fitted with a thick hand knit hat and cozy knit gloves. As a child, we try to ignore the fact that we need comfort and that playing is the center of our world. As an adult, I keep going back the memories of how I was loved and cared for. Learning to knit was a part of that for me. Now as I full time knitter, I cherish the fact that I can outfit my loved ones with the same simple accessories that I needed as a child. I want to cloak then with hand knits, to shield them from the cold. Though, in the back of my mind I feel my mission is more than that. Secretly I want to protect them from the harsher times of life. Of course, I would never tell my family this! But...

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Design!

Posted by | Sep 8, 2009 | | 0

It has now been several weeks since I started at Plymouth Yarn Company. I’ve been working closely with Creative Director JoAnne. Many of my patterns have been designed and made. It has been so thrilling to see the final product! The process to go from idea to finished pattern is definitely not short. I wanted to talk about the basics of how a pattern is made. I usually get my ideas late at night, between half awake and almost in dream land. My sketch pad is right by my bed side just because of this! Usually my ideas come from what I observe in nature and from the past. I love mixing modern and new together to form a completely new and joyous knit; a hand knit that looks as much fun to make as it is to wear. I’ll sketch several versions of the knit I have in mind, tweaking each one… perhaps changing the trim width, making the collar larger or smaller, working on the stitch details. I’ll swatch the stitches I plan on using from my sketch with the yarn I have in mind. Sometimes, the swatch I make is perfect. However, sometimes it takes practice to perfect that one stitch. Like a fellow knit designer once said, “It takes many frogs to make the perfect prince.” Once I have the perfect stitching and the best...

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DIY

DIY

Posted by | Sep 3, 2009 | | 0

Do It Yourself An era of DIY’ers has emerged, not just as a popular cable network, but as a way for people to express themselves.   It will make you feel as you have accomplished something.  You feel proud for trying something.   Try a new yarn or a new pattern.  Take a class – learn something new.  Experiment with color. Our Hand Dyed – Trabajos Del Peru, 100 % Fine Merino Wool, is a perfect yarn!  I just love the subtle texture and the color – OMG – just beautiful.  Try this 2 skein cabled scarf! Materials: 2-100g Hanks of...

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Encore Colorspun

Encore Colorspun

Posted by | Aug 19, 2009 | | 2

We have had some calls regarding some of the colorspun colors.  We have serveral types of Colorspun: 1-Print- some are varigated like 7118 2- Spot prints like 7401 3-   Faded like 7138 4- Self Striping like 7511 5-  Drifting like 7021 I had some samples of a new color 7722 Drifting Shade knit to show how each ball can look slightly different – even from the same dye lot.  So many possibilities from 1 color: We have been selling the drifting shades for over 20 years.  They are always the TOP sellers in the Encore Colorspun range.  Sometimes...

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My Life At Plymouth

Posted by | Aug 10, 2009 | | 2

Being the newest member of the Plymouth design team, I have a lot of legacy to look up to. I’d like to give a little insight into the workings of the industry! Please follow me on my journey… During my first day at Plymouth, I felt like a college student again. There were new faces to meet and new places to learn. The whole building was very nostalgic. Years back, I had been to the Plymouth warehouse when my mother and I came to visit. We got the tour and saw all of the antique ball winders and knitting machinery, the pattern room with the intimidating gigantic printers and copiers, the humungous boxes of Encore (Plymouth’s staple), and the inviting staff. It was so great to put a face to a voice. However this day was special. This would be my new home and workplace. JoAnne had me follow her as I met the staff I would work with. Busily, I hurried along to the color cards shelves. JoAnne carefully plucked cards that I would need for picking out shades and hues. Finally, we sat down and went over lists of yarns we would start designing for. In the fashion industry, as well as the yarn industry, designers always plan at least one season in advance. Spring 2010 promised half a dozen new yarns that needed pattern...

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