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Twist Collective BlogDesigner Post: Tuin
Today's post is brought to you by Tori Seierstad, and can also be founs on her blog, here. Tuin, the gorgeous yoked turtleneck from our newest issue. This is Tori's first design with Twist, and it sure is a pretty one.
You might have noticed by now, that I have a sweater pattern published in the Winter Issue of Twist Collective, Tuin. Isn't that just so cool!?! I'm really proud!
When I saw this old Slovak embroidery (38 weeks ago, according to Pinterest ), I knew I somehow had to use this in a knitting pattern. I spent a long time thinking about it, wondering what to make, a cowl, a pillow, pattern on the bottom of a sweater... before I suddenly realized it had to be a yoked sweater. I thought it would work, although it would be a challenge to incorporate the yoke shaping into the pattern.
Here it is, it did work out. (This is now on my needles going to be a child sweater.)
Then to find a yarn for the adult version. I wanted a gauge around 20 sts per 10 cm. Which can result in very heavy garments, which I did not want. So I chose to use two strands of yarn, both from Pickles: Pickles Merino Tweed, and Pickles Pure Thin Alpaca. It's super soft and warm without feeling to thick and bulky. It weighs 517 grams.
A while before, I had read a blogpost from Áine Ryan, describing the design process for a sweater she made for last year's Twist Collective's Winter Issue, Luggala. "Aim high", she wrote, having never designed a sweater before, and decided to submit it to Twist Collective. So I thought, if she can, so can I. And the rest is history...
Well, there was a lot of thinking and calculations and knitting. And waiting. First for the answer from Twist, of course. Then for the yarn to knit the sample sweater to arrive from the US. Then for the confirmation that the finished sweater had arrived in the US (it's a bit scary to send off a sweater across the Atlantic like that, I can tell you). Then waiting for the publication day. All the time thinking that they would get back to me saying that the sample was not good enough, or that the pattern had so many serious flaws they could not publish it, or something else. But it didn't happen, and the reception has been a great one, I think. There is even one finished sweater already!
 The first Tuin was worked without short row shaping in the back. So it can be worn both sides. The final pattern has short row back neck shaping, with the tulip in the middle on the front. There was an error in the first published version, so on Pinneguri's sweater, the rose is in the front. I like both versions, but I just had to make a choice.
 The yarn that Twist Collective sent me, Blue Moon Fiber Arts Targhee Worsted, was amazing. The blue colour was made specifically for this project. The yarn was really nice to work with, soft and bouncy and with a great stitch definition. I used 525 grams for a sweater size 40. If you have the chance to get your hand on the yarn, I highly recommend it. If you're interested in reading about the targhee sheep, you can find some information here (wikipedia) and here (US Targhee Sheep Association). The yarn can be found in the Blue Moon online store.
Twist Style Friday: Peloponnese
Every Friday we feature one of the garments from the magazine in a post about styling. We suggest different ways to wear the garment in question using mock-ups from Polyvore. We encourage readers to tell us what they think about these outfits via our Facebook page or Twitter, and if folks want to make their own outfits, please tweet them at us with the hashtag #twiststyle. You can find all of the Style Friday posts here.
So maybe it's thinking about community, particularly communities of women (that's my experience, I know there are tons of amazing guys who knit too!) that made me think of girl gangs. Maybe I've been listening to too much Beyonce and Bikini Kill. But this morning, when I looked at Peloponnese... I saw a modernized, super sleek version of the pink ladies jacket from Grease. Can you imagine, a group of knitters, wearing these in slightly mismatched ways? Like they all share a color scheme, but arrange the colors differently, or they all use the same main color, but everyone has their own contrast color? This mental image is giving me life today.
The best part of this cardigan (well, for colorwork wimps like me) - it's not stranded - it's a slip-stitch pattern! It's also a great way to use a bright or variegated yarn without making a garment that's overwhelming. I am always drawn to the boldest colors, and this is a way to use them in a garment that's still really polished and pretty. Of course, I also want to see folks knit this in a solid bright, with a neutral as the contrast color. That could be really fun. I think a tonal version could also be gorgeous. Two shades of grey, or a true blue and a greeny blue? You'd basically be knitting a mermaid. Please go knit a mermaid.
Ok, so back to Grease. I actually don't love the film, as a whole. The lesson is pretty gross, actually. But the music is boss and the clothes are kind of amazing, so let's just pretend that last part didn't happen, okay? Imagine your own ending where everyone gets to be exactly who they are. Care of this gorgeous sweater, I give you (from the left) Sandra Dee, Frenchy, and Rizzo. Updated a little, of course.
How will you wear Peloponnese? Designer Post: Folki
Now that the Winter issue of Twist Collective has been released, there is no denying it--winter is here. That's perfectly fine with me. As you'll see in my very first Twist Notebook, I happen to relish the season of silent snowy walks and cold early sunsets. That is, of course, if I'm swaddled in wool! That was the guiding principle behind the Fólki tunic and cowl I designed for this issue of Twist.
I was inspired by an outsized tunic that I bought in Iceland. Its proportions are generous and the sleeves abbreviated. The neckline is slightly Flashdance, which invites clever layering (the one of a kind shawl shown below is by the incredible Liber, an Icelandic fiber lover and pattern mixing phenom). I can never anticipate how much I'll love any given item I buy, but this one shot to the top of the list. With tights and boots it is an effortless, unique uniform for the coldest, darkest days.
I was also inspired by Iceland's next door neighbor, Greenland. After spending so much time obsessed with Iceland, I realized I knew little about Greenland. I'd only skimmed the surface when I noticed their incredible national costume. The intricately beaded cowls, embroidered boots and warm dresses and tunics were so striking in stark neutrals and the boldest primaries. I especially love this photo of beautifully badass teens.
I won't lie to you--this isn't a quick knit! But it's a massively enjoyable one when knit with Kenzie, the yarn I developed with a friend from another far away place, New Zealand. The lightweight worsted has a bit of all my favorite fibers--merino wool, alpaca, silk, nylon and angora, which lends a gorgeously subtle insulating halo. It's soft and knits up quickly, and even the dark shade has a complexity that can only be appreciated in person--the faintest glimmer of emerald green heathering brings a spark to otherwise pitch black yarn. If you just can't bear to knit with such dark yarn, take comfort, we've just expanded the range to 20 shades.
One of my favorite features of Twist is the way they quiz their contributors. I love reading strange little factoids about my fellow designers. Click here to see what keeps me warm in winter (besides giant wool tunics and furry cowls)... Twist Style Friday: Hepworth
Every Friday we feature one of the garments from the magazine in a post about styling. We suggest different ways to wear the garment in question using mock-ups from Polyvore. We encourage readers to tell us what they think about these outfits via our Facebook page or Twitter, and if folks want to make their own outfits, please tweet them at us with the hashtag #twiststyle. You can find all of the Style Friday posts here.
If I wasn't in the middle of making the lovely Burrard cardi, my choice would be simple. This thing beconed me right from the page the first time I saw it.
Hello Hepworth.
I feel like this is a sweater that brings it own accessories. It looks super cozy and warm, like the thing you want to wear every day when it's chilly, but the travelling stitch details keep it polished from every angle. Plus, pockets. Wearing this, you'll always look like whatever you're wearing is on purpose.
I also cannot get over the buttonband detail. Even though at a distance it's not super visible... the buttonholes are inside cables. It's so thoughful and perfect. Look.
I feel like I say this a lot, but I think you can really wear Hepworth a lot of ways! Like a blazer over workwear or with a cocktail dress, with jeans or leggings and chunky boots, with quirky pieces and basics. I can't wait to see your versions!! The three looks I made are all pretty different, probably worn by different people. There are some themes though; studs, prints, perfect shoes.
How will you wear Hepworth? Designer Post: Joist
The latest issue of Twist Collective is live and in it you can find more evidence of my obsession with surface design on knitted fabrics: Joist - pullovers designed for men and women.
I spend a lot of time swatching different textures and color patterns, and I get pretty excited working on fabric that's particularly sculptural. My first swatches for Joist were classic twisted-stitch lattice patterns straight out of Barbara Walker. They weren't substantial enough for my liking, though, so I tried out a few beefier cable patterns, but I still wasn't satisfied. I liked how the twisted-stitch lattice patterns were worked without purling - they relied on the twisting and direction of the stitches rather than on negative space created by purling. So I decided to give cabling a try with more stitches and without any purling. It took me quite a few tries to get the cables to be just the right volume, with deep enough valleys in between the cables, but once I had that swatch, I was in love. Not only do the cables have a strong, geometric directionality, but the stockinette stitch that forms the background also points one way, then the other, which is one of those lovely little things you have to get close up to notice.
My original plan for Joist was to make a men's pullover. I always want to add to the current library of men's patterns that men hopefully want to knit for themselves. The fabric I ended up with is quite thick due to the heavy cabling, and worked up in a woolen spun yarn like Brooklyn Tweed Shelter, it's especially insulating. Not only do the cables create lots of places for warm air to get trapped next to the body, but the yarn itself also has lots of little air pockets. The woolen spun nature of the yarn is also helpful for keeping the sweater to a manageable weight. All that thick fabric can make a pretty heavy sweater and I like the relative lightness of the Shelter. It makes for a great outdoorsy sweater that looks classic, but is extra cozy and warm.
Both versions include waist shaping, but the men's is simple reverse A-line shaping, while the women's has hourglass-style shaping. Since the fabric is fairly thick, it's helpful to have this shaping for a well-fitting sweater.
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Cirilia Rose is the author of today's design post, and the creator of the unusual textured tunic and mixed-media cowl set Folki from our newest issue. You can also find her post (and more!) on her 
Today's post is by Andrea Rangel, designer of the squishtastic pullover 
