Falling Blossom Sweater in The Knitter Issue 139

A virtual snow-storm of falling blossom is the inspiration behind my Falling Blossom sweater design for The Knitter! Long lines of twisted stitches are worked all over the body of the sweater, outlining the blossom shapes. Eyelet petal centres are worked within these outlines, filling the upper part of the sweater with tiny flowers. The lower section of the sweater has a series of individual eyelet flowers gently falling away from the tree-full of flowers above.

Falling Blossom Sweater by Emma Vining
for the Knitter

The lovely yarn is John Arbon Knit By Numbers, DK in a delicate shade of pink, KBN65. I love finding inspiration for my knitting designs from the natural world and the garden setting for the lovely styling and photographs in the magazine, combined with this beautiful yarn, really reflects this!

Cholla Shawl in Knitting 196

My Cholla Shawl design for Knitting Magazine, Issue 196 is inspired by a fascinating cactus plant growing throughout the Arizona Deserts in the USA. Although there are a large number different varieties of Cholla Cacti, my design represents the complex branching structure common to many of them.

Cholla Shawl by Emma Vining
for Knitting Issue 196

This triangular shawl has two main sections of pattern. The shawl begins with a border with the eyelet and twisted stitch pattern worked on a stocking stitch background. As the shawl widens, a second section is added, this time with a reverse stocking stitch background. This change of texture represents the long shadows which are cast on the desert surface as the sun begins to set. The golden glow of the cholla cacti spines with the desert sun behind them is beautifully captured by the gorgeous Opus Yarn from Walcott Yarns, in the stunning shade of Goldenrod.

I am really delighted with the beautiful styling, the stunning model and the way that my shawl has been teamed up with a lovely design from Pat Menchini! Thank you Knitting Magazine!