Knitting
Variations on a Theme
Don’t forget that the
Stories In Stitches™ #1 is currently on sale
One of my favorite parts of creativity is variations on a theme. Whether it’s a jazz riff, a poem, a series of sketches, or even just doodles, there’s something inspiring about seeing how one simple idea can be changed, expanded, revised, or turned upside down and inside out to create something that appears entirely different. I love experimenting with variations on a theme in my knitting, too. Take a pattern stitch and knit it up in lace-weight, worsted-weight, and super-bulky yarn, or use the same yarn and try the stitch out on three different sizes of needles. Sometimes I like to work the same design in solid, heather, and variegated yarns, or use the same pattern stitch on a pair of socks, gloves, and mittens in different colors, or on a sweater, a shawl, and fingerless gloves in yarns made from different fibers.
I love when things are related but not identical, and variations on a theme are used in every project in Stories In Stitches 1. I took the motif worked in fine cotton yarns for the original counterpane found at the Plainpalais Market and in my Geneva Pillow Sham and decided to work it up in the chunkiest, softest yarn I could find. One square with a few extra rows added and the border is all I needed to make an afghan. Using a finer thread and larger needles than were likely used on the original, my pillow sham is both airier and lacier than the vintage piece which was likely used as a table runner.
Ava took the design used to make a bedspread that is now in the Lincoln bedroom in the White House and created her own pillow sham out of cotton thread, as well as a lovely shawl out of Shetland wool. The edging that was included on the vintage pattern for the bedspread is not the same as the edging on the one that is in the White House.
Ava didn’t care for how the edging went with the counterpane motif, so she used a heavier thread and made it into a pretty pillow case edging that is a great project for learning how to knit edgings and also a fairly quick knit for a wedding gift.
I hope that when you put your hand to creating your own projects based on our ideas, that you won’t only try to reproduce exactly what we’ve made here, but that you’ll have an adventure at your local yarn shop, a fiber festival, or a wool market and use the original yarns you find to invent your own variations on our themes.
The thing about creativity, is that there is never anything entirely new. Every invention or inspiration is related to and built upon those that came before it. This is as true in knitting as it is in any other form of art or craft. Each designer tweaks, molds, and changes what other designers have created, using the standard forms of sweaters, cowls, gloves, hats, and so forth, as canvases on which to paint their own masterpieces. I don’t think idea this in any way belittles the creativity of each artist. Rather, it shows that we are all connected in ways we may not even be able to imagine.
We may not even recognize the influences on our work as we are in the process of inventing and designing, but those influences all work together, a melding of styles and processes, to make each person’s work unique. I like this idea of a melting pot of styles and processes because it reminds me of the melting pot of America, particularly of New York, where I grew up. One of the things, perhaps the single most important thing, that makes the United States unusual and strong, is that we are a nation of immigrants and our culture is a unique blend of influences from around the globe. I hope that same kind of gestalt is reflected in my work.
We should never be afraid of being influenced by the work of other great designers or knitters, nor should we be afraid of others being influenced by our work. That is the way creativity works, has worked, and will always work.
Don’t forget that the
Stories In Stitches™ #1 is currently on sale.
Buy now to get the best price ever!
Experience level – advanced beginner
After I finished my Arctic Lace Knitting Book, I finally allowed myself to explore the world of lace knitting and discovered that is is much more varied and elaborate than I could have imagined. Around the world and over time, knitters in different countries and regions have developed unique styles of lace knitting that range from easy-intermediate (like the knitting of the Oomingmak knitters) to advanced-insanely- difficult (like some of the Victorian patterns designed by English knitters). Other lace styles are used in Estonia, Russia, South America, Lithuania, Germany and Austria, and New Zealand. I’m sure there are even more, but these are the styles I’ve explored so far. – Donna Druchunas –
Experience: All skill levels, basic knitting skills required.
Have you ever wondered why some people can read charts easily and others find them incomprehensible? The truth is, charts are written in a code that can be deciphered by knitters who learn the symbols on the page and in their knitting. Charts do not use arbitrary symbols, but each symbol includes the instructions on how to make the indicated stitch! In this class, you will learn the secrets of interpreting chart symbols for texture and cable stitches.
Useful post and great responses. Donna I hope you keep writing more blogs like this one. Thank you for the article Donna.
Useful post and great responses. Donna I hope you keep writing more blogs like this one. Thank you for the article Donna.
Hi Donna.
Love your book on Lace Knitting which arrived in the post. Can’t wait to get started. I recognise one of your counterpane patterns, I knitted it
about 35 years ago, my mother-in-law was knitting one and she passed the
pattern to me. Unfortunately it got lost in the many moves I have made since then, so I think I will start another if I can find a pattern for it.
Love your blog. Mary
Hi Donna.
Love your book on Lace Knitting which arrived in the post. Can’t wait to get started. I recognise one of your counterpane patterns, I knitted it
about 35 years ago, my mother-in-law was knitting one and she passed the
pattern to me. Unfortunately it got lost in the many moves I have made since then, so I think I will start another if I can find a pattern for it.
Love your blog. Mary
Thank you. I am sorry I did not reply earlier. I am so happy you like the blog and the book. Which counterpane pattern did you make? If you have a photo, I may be able to help you find the pattern. Or maybe we can figure out how to chart it together!
Donna
Thank you. I am sorry I did not reply earlier. I am so happy you like the blog and the book. Which counterpane pattern did you make? If you have a photo, I may be able to help you find the pattern. Or maybe we can figure out how to chart it together!
Donna