Why I Started To Design Knitting Patterns

It was the first trip I had taken since the world had shut down. The first trip after my whole life came to a halt and all of the pieces of a life and a career that I had slowly built and absolutely adored fell apart piece by piece. My job and my housing disappeared and I was dropped unceremoniously into my parents' guest room.

We were exploring Nova Scotia's south shore and taking the day to take the scenic route on the way to Lunenburg. We stopped in Mahone Bay for lunch and I spotted a yarn shop. Like most knitters, I love a yarn shop. Even if I emerge from the store empty handed, the experience of feasting on the rich colours and textures is one I rarely pass up.

I took my time wandering through, gently touching and imagining what each skein could be. I hadn't planned on purchasing anything, truly. The loss of my job a couple of months previous had me double and triple checking all of my would be purchases. However, sometimes spending a little to bring yourself some joy in an otherwise upsetting time can be just the ticket. As soon as I touched the balls of Geilsk Bomuld og uld, I could imagine a bunch of possibilities. The yarn was soft and light, a fantastic combination of cotton and wool. I wasn't sure what I would make, but I could feel inspiration tingling.

This moment was the spark that led to the Shorebird Pullover knitting pattern. The design process took several months, as I contemplated the perfect way to use this special yarn. There was also a learning curve as I developed skills that were new to me. I had previously drafted sewing patterns however designing and drafting patterns for knitting is a whole different beast. This experience flipped everything I knew about pattern making on its head. I am so thankful for this experience as it has opened up a whole new way of understanding design.

Now that I have one pattern under my belt, I have what currently seems like an endless supply of ideas. My eyes have been opened and I am finding inspiration everywhere I look; I see it in the way the receding tide has left ripples in the sand, in the curious shape of a mushroom in the forest, and in the vibrant colour of the turning leaves. I am working hard to focus my inspiration and to keep producing more knitting patterns. I hope to have a new design to share very, very soon.