Spinning a Yarn- Knitted Accessories for Style Imitating Art

Hello, it’s time for another Style Imitating Art. I didn’t have anything in my archives so today’s post is hot of the press.

Today’s work of art was chosen by Kim of Fierce Fashion. This winter landscape entitled Garden Under Snow is an early work (1879) by Paul Gauguine. Typically, Gauguine is know for his later works painted in Tahiti, after he ditched his wife and kids to go paint on the island. It’s a little more complicated that that, but basically that’s what he did.

There are a lot of textures and subtle colors going on in this painting, but mainly it’s a winter day, not to different from what we have here in Missouri. In turn, I concentrated on winter white in my interpretation of this work.

I am emphasizing hand-knitted (and some hand-spun) accessories; a hat, mitts and a shawl. They are all 100% wool left in its natural color, which is winter white. Also, the knitting has a subtle texture like snow; from the wool texture itself to the cables and lace used in the knitting patterns.

As a base for my knitting, I picked my skinny black jeans (sort of reminds me of those skinny trees), a very old wool/angora sweater that I’ve had since the 80’s and my Rebecca Minkoff snake printed heeled mules that I picked up last year during her Winter clearance.

So let’s get to the knitting.

Take The Pain Out of Counterpane

The shawl and mitts were knitted in a modular knitting system that I developed and taught at wool festivals and knitting conferences around the Midwest a few years ago. The main system is centered around a few counterpane squares and triangles, with addition of easy lace patterns if needed.

Counterpane, briefly, is just knitted or crocheted squares that are assembled usually into a bedspread. I took the idea and created garments using them.

Back in the day, when I only blogged about art and design, I wrote articles explaining the technique.

The Mitts

First, here is the link to the original post when I talked about my mitts.

These mitts are knitted with store yarn and are knitted in three separate pieces; the counterpane tops, stockinette body and lace edges.

The Counterpane Shawl

The Link to The White Counterpane Shawl

The three squares used in this shawl are knitted in the same pattern that I used for the mitts. I just used lace weight yarn that I hand-spun using merino wool, angora and silk and large needles.

The Hat

My hat is not part of the counterpane modular system. It came about because I had hand felted some merino and wanted something to do with it. I cut a circle from the felt, knitted a strip in a cable pattern and attached it to the circle. Lastly, I knitted some cording and made a ball knot to put on the top. I had a hat! And it has turned out to be one of my favorite hats.

A Little Different Kind of Accessory

This painting also has a blue tone to it. I consider finger nail polish as an accessory and used one of my favorite blues along with a blue stone ring. Picture Polish is an Indie polish brand from Australia. When I was buying polish, I purchased from Color4Nails (a few years ago). I am happy to see that they still carry Picture Polish. Harlow carries Freya’s Cats but is sold out at the moment. However, their Triton is very close blue. It’s a tad expensive now (it does come from Australia).

More Knitty Gritty.

The Jungle Jim Cable

On my old iPhone, I had a Vogue Knitting app. With the app, came a stitch dictionary. Vogue never updated the app for the new phones and have taken the stitch dictionary off their web page. It’s a great cable and I went back to my old phone and did a few screen shots.

Jungle Jim Instructions

I didn’t want to take up space on the post for the Jungle Jim cable instructions (they are rather long) and have created a page just for them and you can find it HERE.

Another page that might be interesting to knitters is my “Square and Triangle page-the two main components of my “Take the Pain Out of Counterpane” knitting technique that is found here.

That finishes up my winter white take on a winter scene. I hope you enjoyed a glimpse into my knitting life. I have another knitting post planned right around the corner using my “Rows of Many Colors” technique.

Napoleon, my Merino sheep, says hi. We got him when he was about three months old and he is a good thirteen years old now. He’s a good old boy and has supplied me with a lot of great fiber to work with over the years.

And….

If you want to have some fun, check this bi-weekly challenge out. Every Monday, there is a post on the ladies’ websites announcing what art work is going to be used. You don’t have to have a blog or even an Instagram account to participate-just send your photo (if its from your blog or IG, that will be published too). Include a statement of how that work of art influenced your decisions in styling your look. There are no wrong answers and all submissions will be published the next Wednesday by the curator for that round. Check it and them out!

Daenel of Living Outside the Stacks (this weeks curator)

Kim of Fierce Fashion

Salazar of 14 Shades of Grey

Take care and stay safe