I stumbled onto a wonderful tidbit last evening as I was roaming the internet. It is an article by Dorothy Siemens, designer of the Peacock Feathers Shawl, on the site Knitting Beyond the Hebrides. In this piece, Dorothy describes the design process she went through in creating her Peacock masterpiece. She also discusses some of the response she has had to the design by those of us who long for a Peacock of our own.Â
It is a very fun read and really lets you in on the ups and downs of design. I do not profess to be a designer in Dorothy’s league by any stretch of the imagination, but the frustrations and “indirect route” that define the landscape of knitting design are very familiar territory. I have often said that a sweater designs itself, though very cryptically. You have an idea in your head, but it will not let you get there. It will take you where it needs to go, but you find it only by trial and error.Â
I emailed Dorothy in what amounted to a gushy fan letter and her response was so warm and generous — very cool!! It is wonderful that we have the opportunity to recreate all the gorgeous shawls she has designed — see them at Fiddlesticks Knitting. Thank you, Dorothy!Â
I might have a few coughmaybefourorfive of her designs at home waiting to be knitted.
Comment by surly — May 31, 2007 @ 8:51 pm
I’m a huge fan of hers too. Her patterns are beautifully designed and incredibly well written. They are an absolute pleasure. 🙂
Comment by Romi — May 31, 2007 @ 11:20 pm
Susan- Dorothy was the president of our Guild, and I’ve met her many times.
She’s every bit as lovely as her designs, and she owns a Whippet!
She’s a great Canadian success story.
Comment by Lorraine — June 1, 2007 @ 9:55 am