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Inspired to Knit: Creating Exquisite Handknits
Four mini workshops with 24 patterns and spectacular photography in this compilation help knitters think creatively, find inspiration in their surroundings, and shape those elements into garment design. Stunning patterns are arranged by season, reflecting the colors and beauty of nature that inspire feminine designs. From an amber-beaded cardigan that captures the feeling of hay fields drying in the sun to a long, belted coat with a spray of coral roses inspired by flowers in local markets to an intarsia jacket that evokes memories of a fall hike in a forest, each pattern is rich with color, detailing, and romantic knitting style. The design workshops throughout this guidebook challenge knitters to find inspiration in their surroundings, build color palettes, swatch creatively through knitting and sketching, and finesse their style and fit.
152 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2008
4 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Michele Rose Orne
1 bookMichele Rose Orne, Partner and Knit Design Director for Swans Island, has been designing hand knits for over 25 years. She brings a rich combination of passion and experience to Swans Island’s line of all-natural, hand-dyed yarns and timeless patterns that are inspired by classic favorites and daily life along the coast of Maine.
After graduating from Yale University in 1985 with majors in fine arts and economics, Michele spent several years in the garment industry in New York designing knitwear for many major retailers. She has also worked as a freelance designer in the handknitting industry since then, contributing hundreds of patterns to major national magazines, knitting books and yarn companies.
Michele moved to Maine in 1990 where she continued her design career until the birth of her fourth child in 2002. After taking a few years off to focus on being a mom, she published Inspired to Knit (2008), which was her reentrance into the world of hand knitting design. Michele lives in Camden, Maine, with her husband Matt, four children, and various other domestic creatures.
After graduating from Yale University in 1985 with majors in fine arts and economics, Michele spent several years in the garment industry in New York designing knitwear for many major retailers. She has also worked as a freelance designer in the handknitting industry since then, contributing hundreds of patterns to major national magazines, knitting books and yarn companies.
Michele moved to Maine in 1990 where she continued her design career until the birth of her fourth child in 2002. After taking a few years off to focus on being a mom, she published Inspired to Knit (2008), which was her reentrance into the world of hand knitting design. Michele lives in Camden, Maine, with her husband Matt, four children, and various other domestic creatures.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 18, 2010
Update: This is finished too:
I WILL have my own pictures at some point!
So, I did this in two strands of a chunky cashmere, and my gauge was way out. Instead of something with a foot of ease, mine is almost body-hugging. Happy accident, it looks totally gorgeous. Oh, I made the neck lower, I thought the original would make me feel imprisoned.
It took no time to knit - though this wasn't the point for me, I wanted something WARM!! The pattern is a delight.
I just can't imagine anything in this book going wrong.
--------------------------------
I've just finished the cover design from this book:
It was the first remotely complicated thing I've set out to knit for about a year and I chose a very different gauge so there were ways for disaster to ensue. The fact that I breezed through it without a hitch is such a testament to how wonderful this pattern is. The body is a cinch. The collar and cuffs are a combination of cables and drop stitces which are just lovely to knit. Simple, easy to get into the groove of.
Mine, in cashmere and at a gauge of about 18 st/4 inches looks gorgeous. I added 10 small buttons instead of the zip. This was largely because on big breasts that zip can end up looking like a third one, when two is quite enough in the first place. Because the buttons were small, button holes weren't needed and there was no need for a button band. I planned all along, however, for this to be a close fitting garment which would be worn as a jumper, not an over-jacket.
There are a zillion patterns I'd like to knit in this book, the title is apt, it does inspire. Highly recommended!
I WILL have my own pictures at some point!
So, I did this in two strands of a chunky cashmere, and my gauge was way out. Instead of something with a foot of ease, mine is almost body-hugging. Happy accident, it looks totally gorgeous. Oh, I made the neck lower, I thought the original would make me feel imprisoned.
It took no time to knit - though this wasn't the point for me, I wanted something WARM!! The pattern is a delight.
I just can't imagine anything in this book going wrong.
--------------------------------
I've just finished the cover design from this book:
It was the first remotely complicated thing I've set out to knit for about a year and I chose a very different gauge so there were ways for disaster to ensue. The fact that I breezed through it without a hitch is such a testament to how wonderful this pattern is. The body is a cinch. The collar and cuffs are a combination of cables and drop stitces which are just lovely to knit. Simple, easy to get into the groove of.
Mine, in cashmere and at a gauge of about 18 st/4 inches looks gorgeous. I added 10 small buttons instead of the zip. This was largely because on big breasts that zip can end up looking like a third one, when two is quite enough in the first place. Because the buttons were small, button holes weren't needed and there was no need for a button band. I planned all along, however, for this to be a close fitting garment which would be worn as a jumper, not an over-jacket.
There are a zillion patterns I'd like to knit in this book, the title is apt, it does inspire. Highly recommended!
July 10, 2017
some more difficult projects.
August 14, 2012
BOTTOM LINE: Another strong pattern book from Interweave, with really gorgeous designs, well-planned format for the book, good (if a mite chi-chi) pix of the patterns, AND most of the stitches are shown precisely how-to within the patterns as well as charted.
While nothing absolutely screamed at me Make Me Now!!!*, there were many very beautiful designs that looked to be rather interesting to make up, and I enjoyed looking through this book very much. A few of the patterns were what I call "runway kitsch" (i.e., what WERE they thinking???, nobody would wear that in real life!) and some of the pix too, but overall this would be a good book to keep in the personal library, with several strong basic designs and some good ideas within the text as how to re-arrange the patterns, or use them as basis for your own projects. The use of Four Seasons as a grouping style is one of my favorites, and there are several patterns in each section that I'm likely to work up over the next year. The instructions are charted as well, and all-in-all this is a very thoughtful book, with really good write-ups about designing your own variations on the patterns, and instructions for a design workshop process. Not spiral bound, and while most of the patterns have very generous sizes available, there are several that only work up to 42-45".
*well, there *is* one pattern for a shrug that's simply glorious , more a true sweater than a shrug, in a beautiful pattern called Lily of the Valley....!
While nothing absolutely screamed at me Make Me Now!!!*, there were many very beautiful designs that looked to be rather interesting to make up, and I enjoyed looking through this book very much. A few of the patterns were what I call "runway kitsch" (i.e., what WERE they thinking???, nobody would wear that in real life!) and some of the pix too, but overall this would be a good book to keep in the personal library, with several strong basic designs and some good ideas within the text as how to re-arrange the patterns, or use them as basis for your own projects. The use of Four Seasons as a grouping style is one of my favorites, and there are several patterns in each section that I'm likely to work up over the next year. The instructions are charted as well, and all-in-all this is a very thoughtful book, with really good write-ups about designing your own variations on the patterns, and instructions for a design workshop process. Not spiral bound, and while most of the patterns have very generous sizes available, there are several that only work up to 42-45".
*well, there *is* one pattern for a shrug that's simply glorious , more a true sweater than a shrug, in a beautiful pattern called Lily of the Valley....!
August 20, 2018
This book was published in 2008 so some of the designs are a bit dated (big floral coat-like cardigans), but some are still as fresh and unique as when I first saw them in past issues of INTERWEAVE KNITS magazine.
My two favorites are the Evergreen Sleeve Tunic and the Whisper Cuff Cardigan. I have not yet knit either of them, but they’re still on my Wishlist—just waiting for the right yarn! Actually, the Fair Isle Capelet and Gauntlets are pretty cool, too, but I’m not a capelet sort of person. (I know I’d never wear it.)
This book is more than the usual collection of designs from past magazine issues. The book is organized by season, with design notes by the author/designer. These notes don’t really interest me because I have no desire to become a designer, but they may inspire those who do wish to begin designing their own knitwear patterns.
My two favorites are the Evergreen Sleeve Tunic and the Whisper Cuff Cardigan. I have not yet knit either of them, but they’re still on my Wishlist—just waiting for the right yarn! Actually, the Fair Isle Capelet and Gauntlets are pretty cool, too, but I’m not a capelet sort of person. (I know I’d never wear it.)
This book is more than the usual collection of designs from past magazine issues. The book is organized by season, with design notes by the author/designer. These notes don’t really interest me because I have no desire to become a designer, but they may inspire those who do wish to begin designing their own knitwear patterns.
October 3, 2008
I was surprised, I didn't think that this volume would inspire me, but it has: the photos, the drawings, the layout, the short essays. Oh and the knits. They surprised me. It's rare that I like the majority of a patterns anywhere. I don't want to knit every pattern but I do want to change and modify and find more time to knit. I was looking for a creative boost and I think this is the type of book to do it time and time again. I hope to one day give it a permanent space on my bookshelf.
October 1, 2008
Orne is a genius. I loved the design workshops in the book. They were well explained and after reading this book I felt like maybe I could actually design a sweater on my own. I felt like eventually I might even be able to come up with designs almost as beautiful as hers. I especially love the idea of mood boards.
December 1, 2008
Knitting porn, but it made me feel how far away I was from the objects of desire ... I'm sticking with blankets and scarves.
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December 10, 2008Amazing designs, almost extravagently so. A lot of great description about the why's behind the choices.
June 9, 2009
Beautiful patterns, though not very practical.
January 4, 2010
It wasn't that bad, just mostly not my style of knits and too advance for my minimal knitting skills
August 25, 2015
Lovely women's sweaters, complicated; too difficult for me.
July 8, 2012
This book has a lot of nice patterns that are wearable and some requiring a bit of boldness. Very nice pattern, nice detailing -- a lot of cabling, lace work and color work.
February 23, 2010
This book is beautiful, but I was not inspired to knit any of the patterns.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews