Designs

Spring comes early and wet in the Pacific Northwest. We often joke that one can only tell that summer is coming because the rain is warmer. But even in early spring when the rain is still cold, the garden begins to wake up. The stitch pattern on March Showers represents new green leaves seen through rain-streaked windows in early spring.

The yarn pictured is the lovely Marco Bambino from Pico Accuardi Dyeworks in the “Spring Garden” colorway.

Judy Becker designed this sock for the Picco Accuardi Dyeworks Community Sock Club.

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Crater Lake formed when the volcano Mount Mazama collapsed and its empty caldera filled with rain and snow melt. Legends of the Kalamath Native Americans tell of a great battle between Llao, the god of the underworld, and the sky god Skell during which Mount Mazama was destroyed. The water in Crater Lake is some of the purest and clearest in the world.

This slouchy hat with its curving rows of glistening beads was inspired by sunlight on the blue, blue water under the clear blue sky.

Skell was designed by Judy Becker for Created in Oregon: A Knitter’s Datebook 2012 by Pico Accuardi Dyeworks Publications

Created in Oregon: A Knitter’s Datebook 2012 includes twelve knit patterns from Oregon designers, twelve recipes using local ingredients, lots of Oregon stories and facts.

Grandma’s Fan turns a classic doily shape into a sweet kitchen staple. Designer Judy Becker was inspired by antique lace medallions she inherited from her grandma and great aunts, many of which featured flowers and fans. While those were made with a variety of methods—crochet, tatting, bobbin lace—this swirling cousin, which borrows from those motifs, is all knitted.

Grandma’s Fan was designed for My Grandmother’s Knitting: Family Stories and Inspired Knits from Top Designers by Larissa Brown

When most people think of their grandmother’s knitting, they might not mmediately see the connection to a modern knitter’s life. But in My Grandmother’s Knitting, Larissa Brown shows us that nothing could be further from the truth. Many of today’s hippest and most popular knitters found their passion for knitting under the tutelage of their grandmother or another revered family member, and in this book, they share stories and patterns inspired by their memories and their gratitude.

The Andes Mints colorway from Northwest dyer Stitchjones knits up in yummy mint and chocolate layers and the spiral lace pattern reminded designer Judy Becker of the twist on a soft ice cream sundae. Mint Parfait seemed the perfect name.

The stitch pattern looks complex, but is made with a simple combination of increases and decreases. The spiral is worked clockwise on one sock, and counter-clockwise on the other sock.

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