Twist Collective Blog

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Published: 03 February 2014

 Lacy Volk is the author of today's post, and you can also find it (and so much more) on her blog, here. Scrimshaw, the delightfully graphic cap from our most recent issue, is her first with Twist Collective. A striking combo of super squishy brioche rib, striped (reversible!!) stockinette, and an unconventional crown make this hat original and adorable.

 

I was looking at a lot icy images and winter cabin interiors at the time I was designing this hat, which definitely influenced the high contrast design. I really like the idea of embracing the stark contrast of winter and turning it into something modern.I even made a pinboard of some images that inspired this hat. You can look at the whole board if you like (here), but here are a few of my favorite images:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve been going through a bit of a black-and-white phase. Black jeans, black boots, white cardigans. Black and white patterned everything… stripes, polka dots, stranded sweaters. A strand of pearls. A faux-leather blazer.

 

 

And why not? It’s classic yet bold. Edgy or refined. Minimal, maybe. Everything and nothing.

 

 

 

 

 

In this case it’s also a hat, called Scrimshaw… and it’s reversible. Black and white, inside and out.

 

 

 

You can find the pattern in the Winter 2013 Twist Collective. Since I had never published with Twist before, I took these photos in preparation to publish Scrimshaw myself if it wasn't accepted, and I love how they turned out! I’m so excited to be able to share them with you now.

 

 

 

Is there anything better than black and white with a pop of red?

Scrimshaw is sized for babies through adults, and is a quick knit in dk-weight yarn.

 

Details

Published: 31 January 2014

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.

Last night I watched the first few episodes of a really terrible Australian teen drama called Dance Academy. I have a weakness for dance and sports themed movies and shows because they have so much drama and teamwork and triumph! In case you share a similar proclivity and want to know my all-time faves, Friday Night Lights, Mighty Ducks, and Take the Lead are standout films in this genre. In this one, the ingenue has an ongoing feud with her scheming roomie, and one of the many nasty things roomie girl does is email to everyone in the school the pro/con list the protagonist made about pursuing her crush, dreamy older dance guy (and half-brother to her best bud). The pro list includes such gems as "the way he talks about things" and "he smells like Christmas."

I have a tendency to get enamoured with things (and people, and projects, and ideas). So here for your viewing amusement, is my crushed out pro/con list about this week's stunning sweater, Thorntower (but first, some pics)!

PRO

- Stunning cables

- Elegant curved hems

- Just the right amoung of squishy garter

- Asymmetry

- Gorgeous neckline

- Pretty short-row collar

- Sleeve cuff details

CON

- I'm not currently wearing it.

I had a lot of fun styling this, because I think the shape and lines of it make it really wearable in a lot of ways. It can be a cozy weekend sweater, an officey blazer, or an evening jacket, depending what else you wear it with.

I put two shoe options with the outfit on the far left, because I think you could easily go cutesy with it, or the weird creepers take it to a kind of femme-punk place.

How will you wear Thorntower?

Details

Published: 24 January 2014

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.

Happy Friday Twistfans!

It looks like a snow-globe outside my window right now. On days where the temperature isn't colder than Mars (it really happened!), I actually sort of love winter. I love hot beverages and wool and velvet. I love snow and scarves and excuses to snuggle. My the middle of February, I'm usually ready for it to be over, but in the meantime, I'm going to enjoy the sparkle-dusted streets and opportunity to flaunt my handknit accessories.

I finished my Burrard cardigan last weekend. I think I've worn it five of the last seven days. I don't have any great pics of me wearing it, or I'd post one here, but I think it's the best thing I have ever made for myself. It's also my fourteenth Twist project! I try to knit something from every issue, but that goal may be slightly beyond my reach.

Enough about me. Let's talk about texture-treat Tarian.

It's simple, but complicated! Plain, but not at all boring! Fun to make and easy to wear. This top is calling me, people.

I'm not knocking this white, I think it shows off the texture beautifully, and is super easy to wear. But folks... imagine the color possibilities!! I'm thinking about a tonal charcoal, or something saturated like a kelly green, or watermelon pink.

I think it's pretty easy to see how Tarian is the dreamiest thing to wear with sweats or jeans or whatever you happen to have on when you wake up, so I wanted to take her out a little. Someplace a little dressier. Someplace a little sexier.

How will you wear Tarian?

Details

Published: 17 January 2014

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.

Hello Twistfans! The bright spot in my week was knitting with friends last night, something that used to be a weekly ritual when I lived in Montreal (more when I lived with my buddy Mara, who is an *amazing* knitter, highly skilled fixer of knitting mistakes, and expert in untangling the tangliest yarns). We ate tasty snacks and compared projects and sipped beverages and it was so so nice. I hope that you all get to share this craft with people you love.

We also chatted about styling this week's sweater, Greek Steps. Let's have a look.

At a glance, it's a simple top. The sleeve length, wide neckline, and slashed hems make it a sort of elegantly casual tunic. The mosaic panels in the front, back, and cuffs provide some pretty detail.

What really makes this sweater exciting to me is the construction. If you're familiar with how sweaters are generally constructed, you should check out this pattern. It might turn your brain a little inside-out. 

There are only a couple of seams to sew, but this thing is an adventure in knitting. First, you make the slip-stitch panels for the front and back. Then you pick up stitches along the long edges and knit sideways to the side seams, which are sturdy three-needle bind-offs (Check out that sideways stockinette in theimage above). The sleeves you knit seperately, and then seam into place. Doesn't that sound fun? Plus when it's done you get to wear it. 

This top also gives you an opportunity to use a smallish amount of a pretty handdyed or variegated yarn and produce something that's not at all busy. What colors would you use? I'm thinking charcoal and chartreuse, or pale grey and cranberry.

For styling options, we went with a look for the office (left), a comfy casual look (right), and something a little witchy in the middle. I was thinking about Tara from Buffy the Vampire Slayer when I was putting that one together. You could swap out the intense Vivienne Westwood witch boots for low heeled ankle boots, you know, if you wanted to.

How will you wear Greek Steps?