April 28, 2022
Amy Spahr | Spahrkle Knits | Designer Spotlight
We are delighted to feature kits for the new Tulip Festival Sweater by our good friend Amy Spahr of Spahrkle Knits.
For those of you who have not had the pleasure of meeting and knowing Amy, we are pleased to introduce you to her through this Designer Spotlight.
What was your source of inspiration for the Tulip Festival Sweater?
When did you first learn to knit and who taught you?
I taught myself to knit using The Knit Stitch book by Sally Melville. About 20 years ago, my mom and I went to a small yarn shop in Ann Arbor, MI. After years of cross-stitch, some drawing/painting and crocheting blankets, I was ready for a new craft. The idea of being able to knit a sweater was appealing. My mom encouraged me to buy the Miss Pam’s Raise the Bar Scarf kit. It was novelty yarns, knit lengthwise in garter stitch stripes. At the end, the tails were knotted together to create fringe. No weaving in ends! Perfect for a beginner. I was immediately hooked on knitting. My second project was the Einstein Coat from Sally’s book. I still have and wear that coat.
As you were learning to knit, what was your biggest challenge?
How and when did you decide to design patterns?
I am not sure it was a conscious decision. I have been modifying sweater patterns almost since I started knitting sweaters. I wear my sweaters all the time, so a good fit is important to me. I usually tweak a pattern due to gauge issues and to get the fit I like.
What are your sources of creative inspiration?
Yarn and color. Colors that are bright and cheerful or remind me of flowers or spring or being outdoors are my favorites. Pinks, blues, yellows, greens. Along with the finished object, the sensory experience of the color and feel of the yarn is what brings me joy and fuels my love of knitting.
How would you describe your design aesthetic?
The ideas in my sketch book are born of desire for a garment and not easily finding the right pattern. One that uses the amount of yarn I have, or yarn weight I want, or highlights the yarn in a way I want it to be highlighted. I have discovered I am not afraid to try making what I want and hopefully others like it too!
Do you have a “secret” knitting tip you are willing to share?
What do you enjoy doing when you are not knitting and designing?
January 21, 2022
Faïza Mebazaa | HandSoOnKnits | Designer Spotlight
We’re absolutely delighted to feature kits for the new Les Dunes Cardi by our good friend Faïza Mebazaa of HandSoOnKnits. For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of meeting and knowing Faïza, we are pleased to introduce you to her through this Designer Spotlight.
What was your source of inspiration for the Les Dunes Cardi?
When did you first learn to knit and who taught you?
As you were learning to knit, what was your biggest challenge?
How and when did you decide to design patterns?
What are your sources of creative inspiration?
How would you describe your design aesthetic?
Do you have a “secret” knitting tip you’re willing to share?
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not knitting and designing?
November 12, 2021
Hats Off to Holiday Knits! Baldosa Hat & Saturday Hat by Tanis Gray
This stranded colorwork hat combines merry and bright colorways for a modern twist on the holiday classic of red and green, as well as a textural element using baby suri alpaca/silk blend held double with an organic merino. It’ll be sure to keep you cozy while you celebrate the holidays!
This easy cabled hat is perfect for a kid on the go! Sweet tassels create a playful look while the simple cables create latticework and texture for added warmth.
For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of meeting and knowing Tanis, we are pleased to introduce her through this Designer Spotlight.
What was the inspiration behind your patterns?
The tassels on your Saturday hat are the sweetest little design element! Do you have any tips or tricks to share for the perfect look?
What else is on your needles for fall/winter knitting?
Any special recipe you’d like to share as we prepare for the holidays? (Beverages included! 😁)
November 12, 2021
Hats Off to Holiday Knits! My Bumpified Hat by Grannyknits4U
My Bumpified Hat is a riff on the tuck stitch, stacking the “bumps”, one on top of the other to create a wonderfully textured look.
This hat knits up quickly and is well suited to all skill levels. The pattern includes 4 different sizes and has notes for creating additional sizes if you wish. It looks great as a close fitting-beanie or as a taller hat with a bit of slouch. Possibilities abound, so pick your style and get creative!
For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of meeting and knowing Granny, we are pleased to introduce her through this Designer Spotlight.
What was the inspiration behind your My Bumpified Hat pattern?
I love the look of bobbles and I wanted something that had that feel but was much simpler to knit. The word “bumpified” got its start long ago and while you won't find it in the dictionary, it is now a family classic. As a child, I was trying to explain to someone that my sister's case of the chicken pox made her look all bumpified!
Bumps that are not bobbles add great character and the possibilities for switching up the stripe sequence in this design are endless. What goals do you have when placing stripes or playing with color?
What else is on your needles for fall/winter knitting?
Any special recipe you’d like to share as we prepare for the holidays? (Beverages included! 😁)
November 12, 2021
Hats Off to Holiday Knits! Muscadine Hat and Mittens by A. Opie Designs
Dots and stripes add the perfect blend of whimsy to your Holiday accessories with the “Muscadine Hat and Mitten” combo. Three contrasting colors of your favorite Plucky Knitter sport weight yarn are used to create a bold yet playful design. The hat pattern is written in three sizes and the mittens in two.
For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of meeting and knowing Amy, we are pleased to introduce her through this Designer Spotlight.
What was the inspiration behind your Muscadine patterns?
A few years ago, fabric designer Tula Pink launched a collection called Pom Poms and Stripes. I fell in love with all the vibrant and cheerful color combinations and have used several of these fabrics in various quilts. Often I notice parallels with my knitting and quilting projects. Most often it is similar color combinations that make their way into both of my hobbies in tandem. It was only a matter of time before I added a dots and stripes combo to my knitting pattern repertoire.
People always comment on your Pom Poms. Do you have any tips or tricks to share for making fabulous Pom Poms?
- Start with a good Pom Pom maker…I use a Clover. These are readily available at most craft stores.
- Wrap the yarn around each arch until your arch is level…and I mean wrap and wrap and wrap! Here’s a helpful link to a video tutorial that Clover produced: https://youtu.be/lM9u4LL9-ic
- Sharp pointy scissors! They really do make it easier to cut thru the thick wraps of yarn.
- Cotton Yarn to tie your pom pom. I use some inexpensive DK 100% cotton. You have to tie a pom pom really tight… the cotton yarn is STRONG and will not break!
- Give it a haircut to tidy up any longer strands of yarn. I stand over a garbage can and cut away…once again, good sharp scissors are a must.
- Lastly…I gently steam my finished pom poms. I use my iron on the steam setting and let it hover over the pom for a couple of seconds. This makes the yarn bloom, similar to blocking.
What else is on your needles for fall/winter knitting?
I’ve got several designs in the works including new cowls, mittens, hats and even a couple of sweaters. Right now, I’d say I have 6 active projects on needles…I really want to finish all of them before the end of the year…but don't hold me to it!
Any special recipe you’d like to share as we prepare for the holidays? (Beverages included! 😁)
November 12, 2021
Hats Off to Holiday Knits! Tremblant Hat by Fiona Ellis
A fun and cosy hat with an added touch of whimsical flair. Chevron patterning is used both as a smaller scale around the hat and a larger scale feature as a panel. Worked in just two colours, the stranded colour work floats add an extra layer of warmth. The top of the hat is completed by making I-cords that spill from the crown. This is an optional detail which could also be worked as short cords, knotted together for a less whimsical look. It could also be easily lengthened to give a more slouchy look.
For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of meeting and knowing Fiona, we are pleased to introduce her through this Designer Spotlight.
What was the inspiration behind your Tremblant Hat pattern?
What else is on your needles for fall/winter knitting?
Any special recipe you’d like to share as we prepare for the holidays? (Beverages included! 😁)
I love the flavour of ginger, and in the colder months ginger cookies are especially great. We always feel nostalgic around the holidays, so here is a link to a recipe from the region where I grew up in the UK - Grantham Gingerbread Biscuits
August 19, 2021
2021 Fall/Winter Collection Designer Spotlight | Amy Opie, A.Opie Designs | Rockford Shawl
We’re delighted to feature the Rockford Shawl by Amy Opie of A. Opie Designs as the “grand finale” of our 2021 Fall/Winter Collection. One more time, Amy’s wonderful sense of design and color shine through, and we’re thrilled she approached us to include this fabulous pattern in our collection. We think you’ll find this accessory is a “must have” to add to your autumn and winter fashion play.
For those of you who haven’t the pleasure of meeting or knowing Amy, we’ve captured some of the fun banter we’ve had with her over the past weeks and invite you to read on.
What inspired your design for the “Rockford Shawl”?
I wanted to take a break from stranded color work (just for a minute! 😉) and design something a bit different. I’ve always loved the wearability of top-down triangular shawls and began playing around with textured patterns and color combinations. So really…my inspiration was simply the need to explore and expand my design repertoire.
Please share your favorite color pairings(s).
Blues and greens are speaking to me for Fall and Winter…so the Eyelet, Corduroy, Open Sesame combo holds a special place in my heart. And I can’t lie….the 70’s retro vibe of the En Garde, Hey Sunshine, Powdered Sugar pairing is pretty awesome too!
What will you be wearing your “Rockford Shawl” with for a casual lunch?
Hands down…I’d be in jeans, my favorite loafer tennis shoes, and a classic white button down. When the temps dip a bit, I’d just swap out my tennis shoes for boots and add a jacket. I’d top it off with the shawl worn with the “V” in the front! It’s my favorite way to wear a triangular shawl.
And how about a nice dinner out?
No question….I’d throw on my iconic “shirtdress” from a beloved Atlanta women’s clothing store. This dress is a wardrobe staple…it’s a flattering silhouette and easy to wear, plus shawls look great with a shirtdress. And guess what…I’d probably style the shawl the same way ….“V” in the front!
And, if the temps drop below 40 F, boots and tights get added to the shirtdress and shawl combo…this southern girl’s gotta stay warm heading into the Winter months!
What else is on your needles?
Because color work will always be my heart….you can guarantee there’s some stranded color work in a couple of project bags. Then there’s my ongoing obsession with mohair….and cashmere…oh and Plucky's new Luxe Ultra Fine Merino….hahaha….is that enough to make your head spin?
We know you like to bake! Any yummy favorites you’d like to share for enjoying with a favorite tea or coffee as the temperatures dip?
If you aren’t following Half Baked Harvest on Instagram, you should. Her recipes are fantastic. I’ve made this delicious buttery berry crisp several times. It’s prepared and served in a cast iron skillet and is a real crowd pleaser. I think any fall fruit would be outstanding as a substitute for the berries, maybe apples? How delicious.
Here’s the link to the recipe. https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/buttery-cherry-berry-skillet-crisp/
August 17, 2021
2021 Fall/Winter Collection Designer Spotlight | Fiona Ellis | Rideau Cowl
Today, we are excited to present the Rideau Cowl by world-renowned knitwear designer, Fiona Ellis, who was born in England and now resides in Canada. It’s been a joy to work with Fiona and an honor to include this amazing pattern in our 2021 Fall/Winter Collection! For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of meeting and knowing Fiona, we are pleased to introduce her through this Designer Spotlight.
How and when did you decide to design patterns?
I received a BA in Fashion Knitwear design at University in the UK. After graduation, I started designing for ready-to-wear fashion houses in London and New York. Through this avenue I met Trisha Malcom, long-time editor of Vogue Knitting magazine, in New York. She encouraged me to transfer my design skills towards the hand knitter (rather than mass-production) and Vogue Knitting was first to publish my designs in this arena.
What was the inspiration behind your Rideau cowl for Plucky’s 2021 Fall Collection?
The very first assignment we were sent when studying knitwear design at university was to design “interesting stripes”. This proved to be much more of a challenge than we first anticipated. And it sucked me in, so much so that I have returned to the idea over and over. For me the stripes not only have to be attractive but also fun and engaging to knit. For the Rideau, I came up with a long sequence that is repeated three times, with the colour placements changing each repeat so that the sequence is not immediately obvious at first glance. Finishing details are important to me so I layered on some understated techniques to give the cowl a polished, elegant, understated look while being a fun “just one more row” project to knit.
- In nature; the colour combinations in flowers, texture of tree bark, patterns found in ripples in sand after the retreat of the tide.
- In architecture; the elegant columns of gothic cathedrals, ornate Art Nouveau building facades, even the lines found in a grate on the street.
- In music & dance; the shape and lines created by the human body as it moves, the way a break in music adds interest and punctuation.
- In trips to museums and learning from history, most often this is other textile forms; Paisleys and drawn-thread work have been past favourites.
- I also find springboards in other media; food styling and photography, the overall mood created in a film, a phrase or an idea in a novel.
August 13, 2021
2021 Fall/Winter Collection Designer Spotlight | Jody Campbell of GrannyKnits4U
We’re delighted to introduce the Charlevoix Vest and Petoskey Socks, designed by Jody Campbell of GrannyKnits4U in collaboration with Plucky Knitter, as the first offerings of our 2021 Fall/Winter Collection. We knew when we decided to include a vest and sock patterns, our good friend Jody was a natural “go to” for bringing the concepts to life.
Working together on these pattern designs has been such great fun! Jody is a prolific knitter with incredible knowledge and expertise that she happily shared throughout the creative process.
For those of you who haven’t the pleasure of meeting or knowing Jody, we invite you to read on.
What design elements are you especially excited about in the vest and the socks?
The vest is all about mixing bases to create a fabric that is feather light and floats over the body. By mixing Lustre Fingering with Aura Lace in the body of the vest, I was amazed to find it would knit to a DK gauge! And, Lustre DK was the perfect fit for all the ribbing.
The socks were super fun to design, as the goal was to kick a knitter’s skill set up a notch. I wanted to take a basic sock and turn it into something special. Hopefully, knitters will discover new techniques that will expand their repertoire!
Do you have any special tips you can share when knitting these items?
In preparing the yarn for the body of the vest, I carefully wound the two bases together to create one cake. This helped tremendously in avoiding those irksome spots where one of the strands gets knit but the second strand doesn’t.
When knitting the socks, I paired an eastern purl with a western knit. This is fully explained in the pattern and something that can tidy up those transitions from knits to purls.
Among all of the kits, what are your personal favorites?
Totally unfair question!!!! Every one of these kits speaks to me. As I scroll through the choices, I change my top picks every twelve seconds. I have several that will make their way to my shopping cart, but the wise momma never lets on that she may or may not have a favorite child!
How will you be pairing the vest?
I am a vest lover from way back! During colder months at home, I wear vests over a tee shirt almost every day. When I’m out and about, I usually pair a vest over a shirt that is longer than the bottom of the vest. Leggings, jeans , crops, or slacks, you can’t go wrong by adding a vest!
February 19, 2021
Amy Opie, A.Opie Designs | Designer Spotlight Union Shawl
Q. What was your inspiration for this shawl?
This is a design that I began in Spring of 2020. It was knitted in the early days of the pandemic when many, including myself, thought we’d be back to “normal” by the Summer. At the time, I was inspired by Spring colors and a hopeful fresh beginning...and now almost one year later I have those same thoughts. The design itself is a reflection of my love of color, a long-time admiration of mosaic knitting, and a more recent infatuation of textural Japanese knitting stitches.
Q. What’s the significance of the name?
I’ve become a little obsessed with names of small towns in Alabama AND Michigan.
Sometimes (Not Always😂) a name pops up that just makes sense. “Union” is a small town located in both states...but also the word “union” is about melding, joining, and coming together. Seems fitting to me.
Q. So many beautiful kits! What are your personal favorite(s)?
I had the luxury of getting to swatch several color combos...and I want to make EVERY ONE! The kit containing Pinky Swear with Hotsy Totsy, Feather Dusters and Sockeye is in my queue! Then there’s Miss Manners with Wax Poetic and Barely Birch....not to mention Enchantment, Ogre, Gilded Age...both of those have Wintry Mix as a neutral and I’m having a hard time making my final decision. I need to take a class on speed knitting!
Q: Do you have any tips or secrets you’d like to share that are useful in your making?
Color plays a large role in my process, and my iPad goes hand in hand as a part of this. Lately I’ve been using the Plucky Knitter App to help me create different color combos. I use the “favorites” section of the App to create my own color pairings. I have the ability to ❤️ a color and it shows up in a list that I can later edit or make adjustments to. If you want to see how two colors look next to each other, or need to see subtle differences between two close colors, then this is a fabulous tool.
Q: What’s on your needles for Winter knitting?
I took a few weeks away from A.Opie Designs for pleasure knitting....I made “Sweater No. 11” by My Favorite Things Knitwear...and currently on my needles is the gorgeous “Pressed Flowers” by Amy Christoffers. I’m using Terra DK and it is stunning. Must. Finish. This. ASAP so I can wear it!
Never fear...I’m also in the design cave with so many fun ideas for 2021. Behind me right now...on a table in my office...are quite a few color combos laid out in several different Plucky bases...all designated for various designs in the works. They are calling my name...waiting patiently for me to dive in. I can’t wait to share them!
Q: And we’re guessing you’ve also been up to some wonderful Winter baking…and cooking?
I have joined the party and discovered hot chocolate bombs! (Look ‘em up on social media.) I ordered the chocolate molds....plus some VERY awesome sprinkles to make them fancy! This is all thanks to Instagram for gently suggesting these items in my feed....hmmmm...do I say thank you, or should I be concerned that they know me so well?
But, It needs to be said...they are so much fun to make and give away. My friends’ children are on a constant sugar high. Oof....sorry about that.
January 10, 2021
Amy Opie, A.Opie Designs | Designer Spotlight #3
Q. What Inspired the “Troy” pattern?
Q. Your favorite color combos?
Q. New Year's Resolutions?
Q. Reflections on 2020?
Q. Plans for 2021?
I would love nothing more than to be able to gather with friends and visit family that we haven’t seen in well over a year. I’m hopeful and optimistic for the coming year. As far as knitting goes....I’m always thinking of new designs and I also plan to knit a few things for myself as well. I learn and fine tune my skills with every project I knit.
November 19, 2020
Amy Opie, A.Opie Designs | Winter Collection Designer Spotlight
Creating our Winter Capsule Collection presented another wonderful opportunity to collaborate with our good friend Amy Opie of A.Opie Designs. Once again, the fact that Amy lives in Alabama and we live in Michigan didn’t hamper our collective creativity, nor the wonderful comradery we’ve developed. No matter the distance, it is always a joy to see how knitting can bring us together.
As you will see, Amy’s great sense of color and her charm shine through in her Fairview hat. We love how the rotation of color offers a variety of coordinated hats, maximizes yarn usage, and minimizes remnants. Thank you, Amy, for another truly great collaboration!
For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know Amy, we invite you to read on!
Q. What inspired your fabulous Fairview hat for our Winter Collection?
I wanted to design a color work project that was mindful of yarn waste while appealing to gift knitting’s need for smaller projects. However, using multiple colors in a small item generates quite a bit of leftover yarn. I challenged myself to create something that minimizes the remnants and still satisfied my love of using multiple colors, so I designed a hat where the colors were interchangeable. Each hat is distinctive yet harmonizes with the others. 4 skeins, 4 colors...4 hats!
Q. How did you go about selecting the bases and colors?
Q. Are you inspired more by color or by yarn type?
Q. Among all of the color kits, do you have some personal favorites?
Q. When you design your patterns, do you draw inspiration from any particular style icons?
Q. How would you describe your own style?
Q. What’s the most rewarding part about designing?
I really do love seeing what others knit with my patterns. It’s very flattering to scroll through social media and see what people have made! If someone knits more than one...it’s the ultimate compliment.
Q. What do you have in the works for holiday gift knitting this year?
Spoiler alert... everyone in the Opie family is getting a hat! Oh... and homemade baked goods... because that precedent has been well established!