All posts tagged: Mari Lynn Patrick

Buffalo Knitting Guild Presentation, 2016

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I want to capture, in writing, some of my thoughts from this last week when I was invited to speak to the Buffalo Knitting Guild’s Membership and be the first of its programming for the 2016/2017 season.  The talk was advertised as such: SEPTEMBER 8, 2016 HOW DOES YOUR KNITTING GROW? Presented by Marja Coons-Torn, Holly Olmstead Our Guild President and Vice President introduce the theme “Grow” for this year’s Knitting Guild Season with a program to help you grow your skills through photography and technology. We’ll learn tonight how to photograph our knits beautifully and stylishly, just like the top designers do! And we’ll go on an interactive journey into new technology that the Guild will be incorporating this season. 

A study of color and elements of design

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So, my stash is well bundled now.  The ‘new’ yarns for projects continue in waiting and the scraps, which I prefer to call remnants, are bundled according to weight.  I can easily pull out the same-weight remnants and mix and match to my heart’s content.  This also helps me to get my creative juices flowing as somehow when I pair colors together, ideas come forth.  The project that this post is about has come into existence in exactly this manner. When I purchase yarn for a project I always purchase at least one extra skein.  Many times I cut into that skein as my gauge rarely matches the gauge of the knitter who actually knitted the garment photographed in print.  If there is little yardage on a particular skein, I have been known to purchase more than one extra skein.  If the yarn is on sale, I have been known to buy out a particular color.  In doing this, that means there is typically extra yarn after a project has been knitted.  I LIKE that as then, without further yarn …

Yarn Fest or Yarn Fast . . . or both!

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The Knitting Guild of Greater Buffalo is hosting its annual Yarn Fest.  Vendors far and wide have been invited to share their wares and tease us with their latest color ways, fibers, and other such goodies.  Knitting lessons and/or help as well as other goodies will be there and, of course, to us knitters, crocheters, spinners, and other such yarnies, we will be thrilled with the display and it will be like Christmas all over again.  Of course, I want to support this event being an active member of the organization. It also happens that I’ve spent many an hour these last few weeks taking down my own yarn stash. When I say taking down, I mean taking off the shelf every yarn ball I’ve ever purchased and making sure it is used to its and my best advantage.  I’ve set a goal of not purchasing any new yarn this year, an actual yarn fast!  I’ve been talking about this is recent posts, specifically here.   Aside from the bundles of yarn I’ve created and re-created for current …

ON the Runway, 2015

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From couch to runway…  Well, let’s just say I have always been a private knitter.   For years I’ve knitted right here in my house, wherever it might be, in the location that was designated by the family as Holly’s knitting spot, and pretty much under the same lamp that has traveled with us from one location to another.  The lamp itself blinks due to age or an ill kept electrical connection and we need to turn over the cushion of the seat often to prevent the sag that ultimately is formed.  I do not belong to a knitting group (currently, but that could change) as I’m too tired after life’s responsibilities to find and get to one and I do not take my knitting with me when I travel or to work.  Teaching does not allow time for knitting (what the heck job does?) and I like travel time to be reflective in nature.  These are the habits that I’ve developed and we all know that people are creatures of their own habits.

Why Knot

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Oh, what a fun project this was and how creative is this designer, Mari Lynn Patrick?  She continues to amaze me with her flawless details and unique designs.  The front and back of this sweater, found in Vogue Knitting, Holiday 2011 are shaped a bit differently so that the front will have enough fabric to fold and tie as you wear it.   There are so many details that must be pointed out… How about the chevron pattern is simply made with increases down the middle of the front and back?  That is it, no fancy color blocking or counting of stitches and rows, just an increase down the middle that causes the stripes to pull upward!  How ’bout the fabulous additional ribbing along the sides so that when you pull the knitted ties tight, the sides conform to your shape making it very flattering and figure forming.  How ’bout the  little knitted patches on the inside at the point of the ties where there would be added stress due to the pulling!     How ’bout this is …

Inspiration as Guide

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Anyone out there having the challenge of choosing their next knitting project?  I used to  have the conundrum about four times a year, every time I received a new Vogue Knitting in the mail.  And, I thought I was inundated with choice, then!  Now, with Ravelry, social networking, and independent designers both far and near and accessible to the masses,  the choice nowadays really is overwhelming! I have written about this before, the criteria for choosing the next project (see below).  In reviewing my own list, I have come to realize I left something out. immediate excitement of pattern or construction of a project challenging in some way can be paired with existing pieces in current wardrobe has a purpose or becomes a focal point must be a style that works for me original and hopefully not able to be found in a clothing store Inspiration, I left out inspiration.  Somehow, when I am perusing patterns, I notice I am talking to myself.  (In teaching “workshop methodologies”, the gurus call it eavesdropping on one’s thinking). …

Equestrian – Finished Project

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I am hoping to share my latest project with you before the calendar year turns over… if I can get my thoughts together in a fluent manner to “publish” this, I will have just made it.  No apologies for the lack of new posts, I have come to accept that some months are simply busier than others. Again, a Mari Lynn Patrick‘s design from Vogue Knitting Early Fall 2010, here I am in my beautiful new Equestrian tunic, very shapely in its cutaway pieces and finished off so thoroughly with rolled edges along all sides, ribbed capped sleeves, and shawl collar with one button closure.  I love the color of the merino/possom/silk blend “Kauri” from Zealana, however the finished photos show more of a greenish hue to the garment than I expected which I actually like.

Ribbed Bib

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Time has found me ready to post a project I completed this summer.  I am writing with a heavy heart, however as I pause to think about others coping with deadly destruction of unfathomable proportions, those battling the loss of their homes due to wind, water, or fire and I pray for their recovery, hopefully sooner than later.  It is bittersweet that while others are suffering, I find myself with this luxury of time.  This pattern had been in my head for near ten years, a beauty (I think) from Vogue Knitting Holiday 2003, designed by Mari Lynn Patrick.  I just love its simple yet sophisticated styling.