Short Trips Yield Big Inspiration - Day 3

Day 3 – In Paris

Authored by: Phyllis Howe

Even a few days in another locale can result in your creativity getting a real boost. A recent trip to Paris, as well as a visit to the Cluny Museum, resulted in a lot of new ideas. The Cluny is a museum that focuses on the medieval history of France.

Check the image here

Among its many treasures is a series of Tapestries known as the Lady & the Unicorn. Woven in the 1500s, this magnificent set of 6 is regarded as one of the great masterpieces of the international art world. The vibrancy of the color is a testament to the superb conservation practiced at the museum, as well as the original vision of the artists who created them.  Strong reds, greens, and yellows, working in concert, give rise to ideas about the use of dominant color in a background or its interaction with lighter value tones.

A recent search on Ravelry for patterns using the word “tapestry” turned up some tapestry crochet projects that are impressive, to say the least.  This beautiful “mandala” type 4 color crochet project evokes the same feeling of medieval beauty that the unicorn Tapestries invoke.

Try with worsted weight yarn, imagine it in colors from Symfonie Yarn’s Bella.

For the fun of it, try another search using the term “Unicorn” and see what turns up. In addition to a lot of cute ideas for kids, you will find some truly inspiring designs, such as this one:

Check the image here

This is done using a technique known as “fillet crochet".

As a rule, fillet crochet looks best when using a lightweight yarn, like Terra. Terra is actually termed a sock yarn because it has a small amount of polyamide blended in and is most often done on hooks in the smaller size ranges. While the fiber artist does not see or feel it, polyamide is a good addition since it adds to the durability of the yarn. It also gives the yarn a little body, which makes it ideal for socks and kid’s wear.

Here’s a glimpse of some of the wonderful colors available in  Symfonie Yarns, Terra. In all, there are over 45 colors offered, solid and variegated hues.

Time spent in another country does not need to be more than a few days in order to enjoy yourself and fuel your interests. Just be sure to outline your wish list before you depart.

A recent afternoon spent at Versailles Palace turned up some ideas that are in development. Using the same trick employed when hunting for unicorn ideas, try typing in “Versailles” and see what comes up on Ravelry:

A Versailles Lace Shawl would be remarkable in one of these colors, or, for that matter, in any of the colors offered in Luna, the silk and merino wool blend.

The silk in Luna (25%) provides a soft shimmer and a smooth finish to garments. When combined with the merino, it is as heavenly to knit as it is to wear.  Please note: A number of knitters enjoy using the Mindful Collection needles for lace work. The finely defined points easily slip in and out of the stitches and the stainless-steel needles glide smoothly with this heavenly yarn.

The simple google search technique of using a significant word of interest in combination with the word “knitting” or “crochet” is an interesting way to discover some fiber artists who may share your interests.

For instance, a lot of people, both young and old, find Amigurumi fascinating. Here’s one that turned up when that word was used in a Ravelry search:

Find the crochet pattern here

This looks like a sturdy little fellow.  He stands about 12” tall and is made with worsted weight yarn so he can withstand a lot of cuddles. Thankfully, Bella comes in a great assortment of colors (46) that will give you lots of options to consider.  How about making more than one?  We think using one of these for that round tummy would be appropriate! You could use a few complementary solids for the rest of him.  He’s not ferocious now – more like ferociously cute.

Don’t forget!  To maximize your pleasure in your knit or crochet projects, it is important to use the right tool.  To check out the full range of needles and hooks available, visit knitpro.eu. There you will find the widest range of needle styles and materials as well as the best assortment of crochet hooks on the market.