D is for...

Design.

This is part of the knitting trifecta for me.  Design, fibre and fit.  If the design is wrong, the whole thing falls apart.  It is the tray upon which the other two rest, the foundation of the item being created.

Hobbit's Bunny Hat

I  have designed several things, mostly kid hats and dog sweaters.  I stumbled into designing by accident.  The first original design that comes to mind was Hobbit's Bunny Hat.  She wanted a hat the looked like a bunny and I was searching all over the place.  The only things I could find were for newborns - a size that wouldn't work for a her since she was 5 at the time.  So, since there wasn't one out there, I set out to make my own.  It wasn't too terribly difficult and the end result was adorable.  It was quickly followed by Peanut's Bella Beanie, a plea to take her cat to college that resulted in a black cat hat for her.

I branched out, as it were, and designed sweaters for Ramsay.  He was too small for the smallest dog sweater on the market.  I really needed to make him something because it was unusually cold here this past winter.  I got out my pencil, paper and tape measure so I could sketch out what I wanted to make.  This was a first.  I had never sketched anything out before since I had mainly been designing hats.  This would have been my first item that required measurements, decreasing, increasing and general shaping.  My first attempt was alright - plain and simple - but my second had a bit of flair to it because I had grown bolder.

The Cat's Meow

With a few bits and bobs along the way, I am now designing my first shrug.  Sure, I've done wraps and things but this is an honest to goodness sweater.  I have been working on this project for about a month.  I have the pattern all written out and I am just now starting the test knitting phase.  I have the banding done and have begun the underarm shaping.  I hope to get back to it soon - currently I seem to be obsessed with my new trick of creating Granny Squares.

D is definitely for design - delicious, delectable, delightful design.

This is a new series started by An Accidental Knitter that I thought would be fun so every Monday, we'll be learning our ABCs together!  Click here for more information or to join in the fun.