After several weeks (or months!) of holiday gift knitting for others, it’s time to reward yourself with a special project just for YOU. Our recent Malabrigo restock couldn’t have come along at a better time, wouldn’t you agree?
Resolve to start 2012 off with a gorgeous project from the latest set of patterns released via the Malabrigo Freelance Pattern Project (MFPP), Hot Child in the City! Consisting of 5 new accessories to make with mmmmmmmmMalabrigo, we know you’ll love knitting these patterns. To get 15% off these hot new patterns, be sure to enter “MFPPJan”
at checkout when you purchase via Ravelry!
We recently got a chance to interview this month’s MFPP designer Bree Miller – read all about her designs below, and don’t forget to enter our contest (details below), too!
Gayla: When did you start designing? How did you get started?
Bree: Well, I’ve always been an improviser – I like to figure things out in my own way. In 2006 I created several knitted pieces for a college fashion show, and then my knitting skills began to escalate. It’s interesting to think about those designs now – they were all fun fur and crazy colors!
It’s funny, but I don’t really enjoy knitting from patterns. I find them fussy and I hardly ever understand how people explain things without reading the instructions several times over. Maybe my brain isn’t wired correctly? When I write patterns I try to explain things as clearly as possible, and I use stitch patterns and techniques that are repeatable, easy to memorize, and soothing to work on.
Gayla: Describe your approach to creating your ‘beautifully simple’ patterns.
Bree: Most of the time, less is more. Sometimes I get crazy ideas for colorwork, multiple textures and conceptual shapes, but then I realize…”who is going to enjoy knitting and wearing this?” and it helps rein in my creative monster. The object of all of my designs are to be enjoyable to knit, and to be wearable for many types of people. I stick to small pieces and accessories because those are the types of projects I like to work on. I also like to let the yarn shine through, which means that I swatch non-stop when I’m working on a new concept!
Subway Tiles Hat using Malabrigo Silky in Blackberry & Manzanilla Olive
Gayla: Tell us about some of your other design work.
Bree: While working at yarn shops, I began creating simple patterns to show off specific yarns – this resulted in several patterns that are now available on Ravelry, like the Neck Truffle and The Cowl. I did some self-publishing and then I was introduced to the folks at Malabrigo and designed a few items for Book Three, and then I went to to create the “Hot Child in the City” collection as part of their independent designer freelance pattern project. I also recently contributed three designs to Swans Islands’ Fall 2011 pattern collection.
Gayla: What are your design plans for 2012?
Bree: Right now I’m working on several designs for The Wool Dispensary, which is a new independent dyer you should definitely check out. And I have several ideas bouncing around in my head you can look forward to seeing soon!
Tribune Scarf using Arroyo in Prussian Blue
We’ve partnered up with Bree to offer our first Giveaway for 2012: 2 skeins of Arroyo in your choice of in-stock colors + 1 free PDF copy of the Tribune Scarf Pattern! Simply leave a comment on this post sharing your favorite Malabrigo yarn or pattern from Hot Child in the City – be sure to leave some way for us to contact you in case you’re selected as our winner (i.e., Ravelry ID). We’ll randomly select 1 winner to be announce on our next blog post January 27th.
Be sure to become a fan on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more exciting giveaways and updates this month. Good luck!
The Subway Tile Hat is too cool. The color combos are endless! Would love to try the Silky Merino. Rav amchart
Tribune Scarf and Wrap. thanks! Debbie H
love the Roscoe Village Hat
I will be making the Roscoe Village Hat in Snowbird that I bought in November and December. I need to get started, we have 50 MPH winds today!
Love the Roscoe Village Hat and Rios is my current mal fav!
Love the Roscoe Village Hat … adding it to my must knit this year list!!
love the lakeshore cowl! and all of malabrigo’s yarns!
Oh man, that’s like asking me which child I like better!! I love them all but going with a positive vibe, I’ll go with starting on the Tribune Scarf in Plomo. Yeah, that’s a good way to put it.
I’m PprmntMochaMama on Ravelry and thank you (both you and the fabulous Bree) for such a beautiful prize.
love the roscoe village hat! and all things malabrigo!
-gardemangergirl (ravelry)
I love the subway tiles hat!
culabrat on ravelry
I would knit: Roscoe Village Hat – love it!
I really like Bree’s lakeshore cowl and the Tribune scarflette. The Roscoe Village hat has a lot of flavor as well. I enjoy Malabrigo’s silky merino. I also think they do a great job with their colorways.
I like the Subway Tiles Hat. Especially the purple-yellow version!
craftink on raverly
I love the Tribune Shawlette, and I’d love to try the Arroyo. I helped test this pattern but didn’t have access to the Malabrigo Arroyo at the time. It is a beautiful piece.
Nashvilleknippie on Ravelry
I love Malabrigo’s Rios, so I’m sure I’d love Arroyo too. Can’t wait to try it out!
PintSizePhoenix on Ravelry
the Subway Tiles hat is my favorite!
Great patterns! I have a skein of Malabrigo Rios that I have been wanting to use for a hat – will have to make the Roscoe Village hat!
Well, I sound like a broken record, but the Roscoe Village hat is next on my list, and I have changed my favorite color to the Escorias in Arroyo! (It used to be Chispas…still like it though..)
I love the Lakeshore Cowl. Gorgeous! And Malabrigo anything is OK in my book, but I’m partial to Worsted.
(ahappyaccident on Ravelry)
I love the Subway Tiles Hat pattern.
ikkinlala AT yahoo DOT ca
My favorite pattern is the Tribune Scarf, which is quite convenient since I’m going to win it (power of positive thinking, don’t fail me now!).
My favorite yarn would be anything Stonechat or Indiecita, or at least 30 other hot colorways. Thanks to everyone for the wonderful giveaway, I can be emailed thru my blogger profile.
Definitely the tribune in aguas, but they are all very very pretty
I love the Roscoe Village Hat. The pattern is just perfect for Malabrigo Yarns. My Ravelry user ID is GSHD. I’ve also liked your site on FB. Thank you for this great giveaway!
I love all the Malabrigo yarn bases I have tried, but I think Worsted is always great for winter hats and Sock makes great shawls. I have yet to try Arroyo yet, but would love to! (sjn821 on Rav)
The Lakeshore Cowl keeps catching my eye.
I’m in love with Malabrigo yarn. It all has such a nice feel and makes knitting a pure pleasure.
I’ve made a couple things with the sock yarn and am currently working on an afghan with Malabrigo Worsted. I can’t wait to try Arroyo.
I’m milehihounds on Rav.
I love the lakeshore cowl. Especially since I used to live in Chicago. Lakeshore Drive is goregous!
I love the Tribune Scarf wrap and the Subway tile hat. Beautiful designs!
My favorite Malabrigo yarn would have to be the silky merino in the new color 76 Manzanilla Olive!
Ravelry- Factwoman
I like the Roscoe Village Hat, and I loooooove Malabrigo worsted so much!
I really like the Tribune Scarflette, and I would love to try the new Arroyo yarn- heard so many good comments about it! Thank you for an awesome giveaway!
~ Knitmish on Ravelry
Love the Roscoe Hat!
I love all of Bree’s designs they are simple yet interesting. I am so happy DB partnered with her for this month giveaway!
Thanks Gayla for doing these interviews with designers and dyers so we can learn more about what inspires them ;D
I dig all the patterns that Bree did for this book, but if I had to pick just one it would be the Tribune Scarflette. I’d probably make that one in 4 or 5 different colors and wear it all the time. And Arroyo is one of my fave Malabrigo yarns! Fave colors being Jupiter and Purpuras! Fabulous!
Subway Tiles hat i LOVE and Silky Merino is probably my favorite Malabrigo yarn (although Arroyo might take it’s place…)
All of the patterns are great! I really love the Roscoe Village hat and you can never go wrong with Malabrigo Worsted. ~shantimama @ Raveley
My favourite pattern is the Tribune Scarflette, and I really want to try rasta!
I like the Roscoe Village Hat pattern.
Malabrigo Lace
Adia – Ravelry
Love the Tribune scarf. Everything is better with Mal.
heydear on Rav.
I’ve recently become infatuated with Malabrigo Rios; it’s so soft and the colors are amazing! Haven’t tried Arroyo yet. I like the Subway scarf and the color it is shown in.
My favorite of the five patterns is the Tribune Scarf, with the Subway Tiles Hat hot in the running! I would like to try Arroyo in that fabulous mix of red and purple.
I am skysinger on Ravelry.
i love the Roscoe Village Hat
The patterns are lovely. I can picture myself wearing the Roscoe Village Hat and Tribune Scarf. I’d love to try the Arroyo yarn, too.
I love the Roscoe Village Hat and would love making it in Azul Profundo color.
Sisterrobinson on ravelry.
I think the Lakeshore Cowl is my favorite; it’s especially gorgeous in zarzarmora colorway Bree used! (susanpak on ravelry)
I like the subway tiles hat
I love Mal Rios! I also love the Hot Child in the City Roscoe Village Hat – too cool!
Wow – beautiful patterns! I love the Tribune Scarflette – and the Azules color of Malabrigo is gorgeous!
Walknknit on Ravelry
I adore the Tribune Scarflette. I would love to make it in any of the malibrigo yarns.
girlieknitwit on rav
I like the Tribune Scarflette.
bookwormdjibouti on Rav
I would love to make the Tribune Scarflette in either Prussia Blue or Archangel I think that the colors in those would stand out very well in that pattern
wildthing1058(rav)
I really like the Roscoe Village Hat!
Rav: Chels580
The Tribune Scarf seems like a terrific take-along winter knitting project.
I’ve only tried worsted, but it’s great!
Crazy for hats right now – Roscoe Village or Subway Tiles. Malabrigo yarns are wonderful – so soft and in beautiful colors.
I really love Borragas, beautiful color and Tribune Scarflette is very nice too.
I would knit a Tribune Scarflette in Prussia Blue, these two are my favourites:)
rosebob on ravelry
Subway Tiles is a great pattern! So far, my favourite Malabrigo is Sock, but I haven’t tried Arroyo yet.
I love the Tribune Scarflette. So pretty and I love Malabrigo yarns