Showing posts with label Design Inspiration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Design Inspiration. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Designer Secrets - The Gauge Swatch

The answer to Mondays post question is that I knit the larger swatch and my friend J.J. knit the smaller one. We took a class together and were working on swatches when J.J. looked over at my work and asked why I wasn't doing the same sample that she was? I said "I am". 

That's when I really learned how much gauge can vary between knitters. It's rare to sit with someone else and knit the exact same thing on the same size needles and with the same yarn. Most of us rarely get to see the impact of gauge as it changes from one knitter to the next. We see our own gauge changing between needle size and yarn weight. Those of us who teach often see it if we have everyone working with the same sample yarn but that's rare as we normally tell students to bring scrap yarn and appropriate needles to work with. Even very experienced knitters are surprised when I show them these swatches.


Oh and by the way J.J. is not an especially tense person. I'm often asked that when I show these swatches.











Wednesday, November 11, 2009

What If ?

I have more idea's for knitting than I can get down on paper or on to my needles. When I teach creativity in my design classes I work with students on techniques to generate ideas.



These are the two most important words for stimulating creativity.


What if ?

Take an existing garment and ask these questions.


What if I made it longer?

What if I make it a different colour?

What if I used a hand painted yarn?

What if I change the neckline?

What if I use a different yarn than the pattern called for?

What if I changed the silhouette?

What if.......Just keep going and by the time you are done you will have a totally different garment design to knit.