Criosanna: a tale of a transatlantic cardigan

Ok, people, I've finally done it now. I have finally reformatted Criosanna to my template and released it to Ravelry.

This sweater was designed in 2009 and presented to Jamieson & Smith for use in their pattern collections. There were some issues with the written pattern (hey, I was new!) and the garment was mailed back to me to fix. When things were sorted out, it was returned across the Atlantic.

After a bit, J&S emailed to ask permission to send the pattern (and the sweater) to a leading British knitting magazine. Boy, howdy!

Time went by...and I never heard from the magazine.

By now it was 2011 and my husband and I were in Shetland for the Tall Ships race. While visiting J&S, I asked about the sweater. Apparently, the magazine was going through a reorganization and communications were a bit spotty. The J&S sales manager suggested I try to contact the editor myself....maybe I would have better luck.

On our return to the states, I did just that. The new editor was familiar with the sweater...which apparently was sitting in her office with no identification tags. She wanted to use it for the new magazine. Boy...hmmmm...ok.

Time went by...and I never heard anything else from the magazine...

...until another editor emailed.

It seems the reorganized magazine didn't make it...and another publisher had bought them out. This new editor had inherited the sweater in the transition...and wanted it for the August 2012 edition. hmmmmm...ok.

Criosanna appeared in the August issue of Knitwise in 2012. Woo-hoo!

After the designated exclusivity time, the rights were returned to me...and in May of 2013...so was the sweater!

Now things get crazy on this end....that same month we moved to North Carolina. September 2013, we purchased a new home. October 2013, we closed on our old house in Atlanta.

So...finally...a little over a year later...I have gotten my act together to reformat Criosanna to my pattern template...and here it is!

Whew! It has been a long ride...but done...and done.

Varian

Brandon Knitting Designs
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Adventurous

I have been thinking lately about change...and what it takes to bring about change

...and those thoughts have led me down side roads of having courage...and being adventurous.

...and off to the seemingly non sequitur of knitting. (Fair warning: most of my thoughts come back around to knitting in some way or fashion.)


Merriam-Webster defines “adventurous” as “not afraid to do new and dangerous or exciting things” “disposed to seek adventure or to cope with the new and unknown” “being innovative”.

When it comes to knitting …is this you?  Are you adventurous? Do you love a good challenge?

Ok, I totally understand that no one can be intrepid on every project. There has got to be some mindless knitting. Right? Some soothing projects where you don’t have to think too much…

…but what about those times when you are sick of the mindless projects? When you are just kinda bored with the same ol’ same ol’? When you want to use your brain?

What is your challenge of choice? Do you move from simple scarves and hats to sweaters? Or do you go for patterns with different techniques…

cables…

lace…

or my passion, stranded work?

Whatever adventure you choose…completing the challenge can be rewarding. That sweet feeling of triumph at knowing you have stretched your abilities and created something new… or different than what was previously on your needles.

Like all triumphs, it’s kinda of addictive…which is why you will venture out again, my friend. You know you will.

It’s a good thing…being an adventurous knitter.

Varian

Brandon Knitting Designs

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Adalour...a new design.

Some time ago, Karen and Valerie of Mountain Meadow Wool handed me four skeins of their wonderful Wyoming Series Cody yarn in four colors....Charcoal, Silver, Teal, and Tesa Orange. And just so you will know....Cody is a 2-ply sport weight yarn which comes in 200 yd, 50g skeins.

Because this yarn is so soft and therefore perfect for being next to the skin, Karen, Valerie and I discussed the possibility of a largish cowl. The outcome I'm calling Adalour...for no other reason than I liked the sound of the name.

When it was finished, my husband and I went walked up to a nearby vineyard...ok, we kinda snuck up to the vineyard...early one morning and shot some photos. (Can I just say right now...I really hate being the model...but until I can find someone who will work for the cheap...I guess I am it.)

Adalour Cowl

...and while we are on the subject of largish cowls, they can be a bit difficult to wear, especially the stranded versions. If you just put them on without any styling, you get something like this...

...where the 'B' side out shines the 'A' side with all of the patterning.

Here's where the glorious shawl pin comes in...

allowing you to gather up the 'A' side for better viewing and keep the back of your neck warm.
The pin is from Jul Designs....if you are interested.

Another option that works as well is the dpn...which is actually kinda perfect for knitters.

So there you have it...new pattern...and a bit of large cowl styling.

I'm heading back to my needles...how 'bout you?

Varian

Brandon Knitting Designs
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