Monday, June 4, 2012

Amazing Ingenuity

The ingenuity of people never ceases to amaze me.  I love seeing the ways that knitters alter and change patterns to suit their own needs and sense of beauty.  I'm especially amazed when I see a knitter take a design and turn it into something completely different. 

For instance, meet the Omelet Sunbrella


wyvon54 altered the pattern for Omelet to make it into a parasol (being a girl of the deep south, I understand the need for sun protection and beauty that is represented by the parasol).  But how awesome is that name: Sunbrella.  I just want to keep saying it over and over (until it stops making sense, then pause, and start saying it again. (You may want to avoid me for a while.))

Incredibly ingenious is EvaWood's Omelet Tunic.


Seriously, she made a sweater out of Omelet!  And it turned out gorgeous.  It kinda makes me want to make one too (but you know my history with sweaters).  I love the way the edging looks around the bottom of the tunic.  It also kinda makes me want to design sweaters (but again, I'd have to knit them, and you know how that usually turns out... although if I made it sleeveless...)

On a different note, I have potentially exciting news.  I decided to have a contest.  When Omelet topped 3000 favorites on Ravelry I was super duper, oh my goodness, ridiculously, beside myself excited (I like to keep my excitement goals modest) and I want to share the excitement with a contest.  The prize includes: three skeins of Koigu KPM (100% Merino, 175yds (160m)/50g) 1043 colorway, a $5 coupon from GiGi's Etsy shop (Thanks GiGi!), and a couple of surprises. 


All you have to do is leave a comment on this post by June 10th telling me who your favorite ingenious knitter of all time is.  I will draw the winner's name and post it Monday the 11th.  Good luck!

Can I enter my own contest?
Joyce

34 comments:

Robin said...

The sunbrella without a doubt!

Unknown said...

I have to pick one? Why you of course! YOU started the ball rolling with the Omelet pattern!

Its a bit amazing what you can do with a bit of knitting isn't it? just the basic knit and purl, a yarn over or two, a few paired decreases--and out of nothing--beauty.

Christen said...

Sheesh. I'm laughing already because I always feel so lame announcing my favorites. Favorite female singer: Janis Joplin (duh), etc. Ingenious? I'm still startled by Elizabeth Zimmerman. I mean, really. How did she do that? But I'm surprised she didnt invent magic loop, what with her genius and all. But I do have another: have you knit anything by Heidi Kirrmaier? I hope i spelled that right. I can see you in her Vitamin D (or maybe I did already? Did you make a mustard colored one?) I also love love love designs by Carrie of Winged Knits. I obviously have a love for designers who present something elegant and simple but with AMAZING construction. I dream of being amongst them one day. Truly. Beautiful Sunbrella! And great question for a giveaway. Not to mention great giveaway! :D (out of the blue, are you in Pennsylvania?)

Andi said...

Hmm, most ingenious knitters... So hard! I think the designs f Romi are spectacular. But Cat Bordhi is just so clever with her techniques.

Casting on omelet tomorrow! So excited to try my hand at a lace shawl it's so gorgeous!

Maija said...

Love the sunbrella! =) My favorite designer is Suvi Simola or villapeikko (in ravelry) go and see her blog: http://50villapeikkoa.blogspot.fi/

beads unlimited said...

Would be several and I am sure hundreds I have never heard of but---
wouldn't it be all knitters because we have mastered the art of these needles and string

Thanks for Omelet

tbeads

Rhea said...

wyvon54!! That is one of the coolest knitted projects I've ever seen! I'm definitely going to have to make one (I live in Phoenix) for me!

Anonymous said...

Hello, I always admired your omelet pattern since it came out. One day I'll have the courage and wool to knit it. The most ingenious knitters I know is a) my mother who taught me to knit and of course EZ.

Babbz said...

Original ingenious knitter/designer - EZ of course. But right now I'm all about clever construction, so I have to choose Sandra McIver.

Thanks for the Omelet pattern - it's lovely!

Anonymous said...

Really enjoy the collaboration of ideas that come through Ravelry. So it changes and often looking and playing can be so much fun!
Katielgold on ravelry
thanks :)

Karin said...

What a fantastic giveaway and great subject/question.
I have to say I just adore ANKESTRICK Designs by fallmasche. I might be my 2nd favorite, lol! I'm still a fairly new knitter and altered the pattern of my first sweater and my 2nd as well. I am on my third which started life out as a wrap/stole and after some sketches is now a soon to be finished cardigan. (the stole bit is the back panel) I love this about knitting, I can be brave and go for it and know that if it doesn't work out I can frog and knit the yarn again. Truly liberating!

sylvie leblond said...

Oh!! Great giveaway!!! I love to knit socks and my favorite ingenious knitter would be Cookie A. I love her designs!

Sylviemom on Ravelry

Jackie's Stitches said...

What a generous giveaway! My favorite ingenious knitter would be Elizabeth Zimmerman.

Quinn said...

Gotta say Elizabeth Zimmermann. Thanks for the chance to enter such a nice giveaway!

quinn on rav

oopsudroppedthis said...

My favorite is Fridakahlo on Rav. I love seeing what she comes up with. She tells a story with each project, and the pictures are so awesome :) Makes me wish I could just call in sick from work and make stuff!

amchart said...

I would have to say that my "favorite ingenious knitter of all time" is my sister. She can knit anything, adjust any pattern, make it better, make it unique, fix any error, teach any technique, etc. etc. etc.! She may not be well-known, but she is my favorite and she is ingenious! Rav amchart theharts at windstream dot net

the knitting aunt said...

I'm always so impressed with Cat Bordhi's ingenuity.

The omelet parasol is truly amazing!

Knit-Chat said...

My favorite is Anne Hanson of Knitspot. Thanks for the chance to win the beautiful giveaway.

I'm Loves2Dance on Ravelry.

victoria barton said...

my favorite s tiny owl knits on ravelry. I am morgaine1 on ravelry. vbarton24 at gmail dot com

RoamingKnitter said...

I am totally blown away by the Sunbrella! Awesome work.

Zabbers said...

My favorite ingenious knitter of all time is the Very First Knitter. What a way to play with string and sticks,

Malucruz said...

Cookie A is amazing!
I am addicted to socks!

affiknity said...

It is difficult to pick one, so I will name some of my favorite designers: Elena Nodel, Ysolda Teague, Yarn Harlot, Norah Gaughan and the list goes on...

Debbie said...

My fav designer is Wendy Johnson. Love all her stuff especially socks. Thanks

Lindr said...

What a gorgeous prize! Thanks for the opportunity to win. I'm inspired by Mmario's designs. The quantity and complexity of the designs that spill out of his brain is amazing.

Sgbooth88 said...

First off I have to say I LOVE omelet, I haven't mustered up the courage to knit it yet as I am still kind of raw at knitting.

I would have to say one of my favorite designers, and in my opinion a pretty ingenious knitter would have to be Susan Ashcroft, or Stitchnerd on ravelry

Syeda's hobbies said...

Nancy bush and Cat bordhi are my favorites designers.
The sunbrella is so lovely and beautiful design.
Ravelry ID: syeda
Blog : www.syedaiffat.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Syedashobbies

Anonymous said...

Barbara Walker of course, she came up with some amazing designs and I love that she led a double life as a Tarot reader.

Rosebob from Ravelry

Anonymous said...

Another vote for Wendy Johnson, especially her socks.

reiki off Ravelry

Beathag said...

I love Romi's work! The desingsa are so unique!
I wish I could design stuff like them!

craftink on raverly

Joyce F. said...

Thank you all for your entries! Entries are now closed so I can randomly choose a winner. Good luck!

Marilyn a.k.a. Merry said...

My friend Andrea is the most ingenious knitter in my life. She can just wing patterns and knows every trick in the book.

Unknown said...

I admire anyone who can design a pattern and get it to come out correctly. Even if is just a hat or a complicated lace pattern. I love independent designers, they always seem to be coming up with new ways of using the yarn or stitches. Like Cat Bordhi or Jared Flood and Cecily (oh darn I can't think of her last name, UGH!!!!)

mysticmoon said...

The dame of knitting -EZ!