Where is my 'design compass' leading to?

Intentions & ideas, Lessons from the past, design updates etc.

I am not very big on setting goals. I am not one of those designers who have a very clear calendar of designs to be published before the year starts. 🗓️

However I do take some time to reflect over the past year and adjust my ‘design compass’ as well as life in general. 🤓 For the past few years, this process has been starting as early as November for me (as Thanksgiving and my birthday rolls in).

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Where is my ‘design compass’ leading to? 🧭

Looking back at my own work over the past few years, some patterns begin to emerge. (Excuse the pun! 😅)

💟Repeatable Knits Knitting at its very core is utilitarian and I would like at least some of my designs to be of repeatable clothing items. I love to create repeatable designs with relatively easy-to-memorize stitches. Many knitters I know, love the reassurance of a wearable item and the meditative quality of such knits.

None of my own hat got the love and attention this year, thank you so much!! ♥️

Do you have a pattern that you love to repeat? I’d love to know about it.

💟Overcoming the fear of fit I finally feel ready to attempt designing more garments. I confess, I took my time in researching, learning and experimenting for a while before releasing my first adult garment last year - Niyat Pullover.

Even accessories that have to fit the body - like socks, mitts are more challenging than, say, a cowl. My fingerless mitts 🧤designs, like Tuberose mitts have been successfully knitted repeatedly, to fit a variety of sizes and I am so glad about it.

I intend to continue designing garments this year. I am leaning towards building more basics into the wardrobe - keeping up with the previous idea of repeatable knits.

This might also be the year for socks. 🧦I have started on a design idea currently. I’ll keep you posted on how it goes. (Sneak peek below!)

💟More shawls, perhaps? I resorted to shawl knitting mainly as a way to keep designing and exploring while I tried to gain more confidence with garments. But I must say I have developed a taste for shawls over the years.

Currently I love long and shallow shawls that can be wrapped around multiple times and I love finding new ways to incorporate them into my everyday outfits.

Spinning and working with handspun is another area I am excited to explore this year. Brioche continues to intrigue me, so I intend to keep teaching/designing with it as well. So more shawls, perhaps? 💓

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Things that will keep me grounded in 2024

Here are some lessons from the past that I think is worthwhile to carry along further into the new year.

👉🏽Finding joy inside the work I do. Most of the times, it is the act of doing the work that is truly fulfilling. In my case - the knitting, thinking about a design and fit, experimenting the placement of a design element, crunching numbers on a spreadsheet - all of these processes are enjoyable and rewarding by themselves.

Focusing on the processes allows me to do my best while also enjoying them.

👉🏽 Building connections in better ways. Starting this newsletter (in late 2022) has been one of the best decisions I made. It feels so much better to communicate clearly with like-minded people regularly than have your well-intended writing crumpled away by social media algorithms.

My heartfelt thanks for allowing me a spot in your inbox and I promise to do my best with that privilege. 💌

I am grateful for the teaching opportunities at my LYS Fillory Yarn. I get to connect to crafters in person - discussing yarn, techniques, life bits. It has been a deeply rewarding and humbling experience to witness first-hand, absolute beginners take to crafting and enjoying it. I am certainly looking forward to more of this in the coming year. 💝

👉🏽 More commitment to learning Over the years, staying committed to learning has kept me going even at the worst of times. I believe learning and sharing with others is a small step towards more connection and a more positive world. 📈

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CraftDoodling Designs Updates

(1) I am almost ready to share two pattern testing calls with you. If you wish to be notified first when the testing calls go up, please JOIN MY SLACK COMMUNITY here and DM me your Ravelry and Instagram Ids. (Some of you have already signed-up on Slack, thank you!)

(2) I have two new designs on my needles currently. Here is a sneak peek for you. Do you recognize the stitch pattern from one of my older designs? 😊

A new sock design in progress…

(3) CraftDoodling Designs KAL ends tomorrow. Please make a Ravelry project with complete pictures and make a final entry in the Slack channel as well. I will be randomly selecting two projects for KAL prizes.🎁 Thank you for your support!!

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OTHER THINGS YOU MIGHT LIKE

Just finished reading 📖

• 29 seconds & Lies - Two books by T.M.Logan.

• The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies - Alison Goodman

Currently Reading 📚

• Watchmen - Alan Moore

• Real Self-care - Pooja Lakshmin

I will leave you with my good wishes for the New Year. May there be peace and kindness. Happy New Year 2024! 🎊

Until next time,

Kavitha. ♡

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