Alice, Alice, Alice. Your genius overwhelms me, heartens me, and inspires me. I have been enamored for decades and you continue to amaze! Alice and Jade Starmore just announced their new website and it is a stunner. They put forth their best efforts and created a much improved portal to their designs and yarns.
Both Sally and I have knit numerous Starmore designs. Mine include:
Eala Bhan
Oregon
Henry the VIII
Erisort
Berry Tree
Rona
St. Brigid
Capillifolium Baby Cap
Kimberley (Jade)
Rambling Rose
Sally has made many of the above and several fair isle baby blankets (Cats and Mice Blanket). We’re fans, what can I say? We also have had the honor and privilege of meeting Alice, taking classes, and dining with her…the highlight of my [knitting] life. Alice inspired me to attempt fair isle knitting with Rambling Rose and complex cables with St. Brigid.
The cool thing about the new website is that you can use a filter to find what you want. When you sort by “Alice Starmore,” you get all of her designs on one page. I was overwhelmed and overcome. What a talent!!
I am sure there are more Starmores in my future. I have yarn in stash and thoughts racing through my knitting addled brain. All I can say is WOW!!!
I’ve always suspected AS was a very nice person. Thank you for confirming this for me. Haven’t left your blog yet to visit hers, but am looking forward to it.
Comment by Chloe — August 31, 2011 @ 9:02 pm
I perused it this morning and remembered when I was totally in Alice’s thrall … I almost “clicked to buy” one of those fabulous Fair Isle wraps, when I stopped myself by thinking of two of three of some AS projects that are still sitting, unfinished ;-( hopefully I’ll get back in the groove once the weather really cools off here!
Comment by margaret — August 31, 2011 @ 9:14 pm
Someday, I will knit a Starmore sweater. My kiddos may not make that feasible for a few years yet, but I will. Wave – one of the new designs – is just lovely. 🙂
Comment by Katinka — August 31, 2011 @ 10:05 pm
I have a dream…
Comment by Needles — September 1, 2011 @ 9:59 am
Here I thought meeting me was the highlight of your knitting life. I’m with “Needles”, I have a dream…..
Comment by 2muchfun — September 1, 2011 @ 12:41 pm
So far: Rosarie de la Haye (my first ever stranded-and-steeked project), Elizabethan Jacket, and Grant Avenue. A kit’s worth of Elizabeth I is maturing in stash, while I try to decide between several contenders for my next Starmore project.
I too had the chance to take a class with Ms. Starmore, and on the Isle of Lewis to boot. It was wonderful.
Comment by stashdragon — September 1, 2011 @ 12:44 pm
9/2/11 7:45am DST on the East Coast recovering from Irene…..I met Alice on a Jean Moss Tour in Edinburgh….she remains my knitting heroine….two things I embedded in my psyche from her…..first,no need to weave in all those cut steek ends and second, how she was always patient and ready to listen to “oh this is how I was taught” reminding us that there are many ways to accomplish a knitting procedure (steer clear of teachers who think their own personal way is the only way)……she is so kind and practical and knowledgeable and inspirational and unassuming and downright “nice”!….and oh-those exciting little workshop boxes with her yarns inside and colored tissue and magic…..from Janet
Comment by janet — September 2, 2011 @ 7:55 am
Thanks for putting up the link to the new site. It’s lovely. How on earth do you pick which sweater to start with?! They are all so lovely.
Comment by Wendy O — September 4, 2011 @ 11:18 am
Hi Susan,
Reading this post reminded me of a knitting workshop I took in The Cities many years ago (+20?) with Alice Starmore when she was still with The Tomato Factory. A friend and I drove up from Rochester and stayed for overnight for the 2-day classes (fair isle 1 day and lace then next). Were you there too? Alice was a lovely teacher and graciously autographed my Celtic Collection book. I’ll never forget having the opportunity to learn from her.
Comment by RuthieJ — October 10, 2011 @ 12:23 pm