Tester Project #2: Mighty Like a River?

Hello everyone out there in cyberland ... and you know who you are! 

I'm showing off the second of my testers' finished projects. The design: the Earhart Stole. The tester: a Ravelry friend from the 12 Shawls Forever group, Joan. We've known each other from that Ravelry group for the last three years, and I was surprised to learn that this is the first design she's ever tested. I was thrilled and honored that she said yes! That's Joan, though. She's also made one of my crochet designs, which I was thrilled to bits to see her make. Joan is an impeccable, accomplished knitter, and her feedback on this pattern was invaluable.

She worked hers up in MadelineTosh Sport and while the color is a little washed in the left-hand shot, you can still see the wonderful stitch definition and that great, squoishy cable. Joan likened the cable to a river, thus the mention in this entry's title.

Joan and I also share a love of cats. At first I didn't want glamour shots of her stole with her kitty (which I've dubbed Ms. Fifi), but I changed my mind. This cat just loves to sit on all of Joan's shawl and stole projects. Joan's projects with her cat sitting atop them have become the norm, so I just decided to go with it.

I hope that Joan is getting good wear out of her stole. This colorway is wonderful ... with or without kitty.

Until next time ...

And Now for Some Tester Projects!

It's Friday and the day after Christmas, so I hope everyone is taking it easy and enjoying their gifts ... or just relaxing with the day off from work.

Photo used with kind permission
of Ammerican Photography

As for me, wonderful gifts came a little early, in the form of tester finished projects for the book. For those who might not know, I use test stitchers (in varying degrees) for all of my collections. They are invaluable in helping to work out pattern kinks, and each of them always produces projects that are great looking and are a much-sought after tool for others looking to work up the same design. I have had a social relationship with all of my testers for a while, so it always brings me much pleasure to show off their creations.

First up: my friend, mon amie Nicole. By day she's a French teacher (mais oui!), and she's also successfully wrangling three kidlets of her own as well as attempting to have a fiber life (she's become quite the spinner since we've known each other). Quite frankly, I don't know how she does it. I am in awe.

She tested the Leather + Lace Aviatrix Cap for me. Don't you just love how hers turned out? Her lace is slightly more open than mine (different tension + fiber used), and she placed her buttons differently (which look great). I also love this color on her, and her husband is the photographer extraordinaire who took the great photos.

Many thanks to both of them for taking time out of their 3-kid-hectic lives to stage and shoot these photographs. You can find out more about Nicole's project on her Ravelry project page, or search for her Instagram feed under the name massenzifroni.

Until next time ...

The Final Design Preview

Ladies and gentlemen, we've come to the end of the design previews for Leather, Lace, Grit & Grace. 

For this final design, I thought I would pay tribute to the person who started it all here in the U.S. - Susan Koerner Wright - yes, the mother of the Wright Brothers. We don't hear too much about her for a few reasons: (1) she left behind relatively little in the way of writings (as compared to her husband and children); (2) she was overshadowed in many respects by the aforementioned; and (3) tuberculosis took her at a relatively early age. 

Nevertheless, she was a remarkable woman for her time. Heck, she'd be a remarkable woman today. Educated, married slightly later than her peers, she gave birth to seven children (two died in infancy), knew her way around most things mechanical, yet still managed a household (much of the time on her own) filled with precocious, inquisitive children whom she encouraged at every turn. She left us not only five children including her two most famous sons, but also a daughter who went on to graduate from Oberlin. 

Of the few photographs remaining of Koerner Wright (and we're fortunate to have them!), she is always shown wearing some sort of collar, so I decided to assign to her my own interpretation of this Victorian fashion staple, with a twist:

Fur Collar + Pin in honor of Susan Koerner Wright,
the mother of flight here in the U.S.

My interpretation includes a simple bead-encrusted motif pin that acts as a fastener, and of course I used the wonderful Lion Brand Romance faux fur yarn for the collar.

Both of these pieces work up very quickly, and the collar only utilizes two skeins of Romance. I can envision this accessory pair easily going from day to evening.

While I'm not certain if Koerner Wright ever owned any collar with bling or fur, somehow I think she'd approve.

This concludes the end of the design previews, but not the end of the designs, or some other previews. We'll be taking a Christmas break here at Leather, Lace, Grit & Grace central, but come back on 12/26 with the first of several test stitcher spotlights. Not only were they instrumental in getting several of these designs into tip top shape, but each stitcher brought their own unique personality to the recreation of the design which, I hope, is what everyone who purchases the book will do.

For now, I wish everyone a happy holiday (no matter which you celebrate), filled with light and warmth and cheer.

Until next time ...