Hello 2014!

Social media is inundated with New Year’s resolutions today.  But instead of the typical resolutions, I’d like to take a minute to provide a New Year’s Eco Chic Knits preview! Hopefully the following information will help budget your yarn stash without giving away too much!

I’m excited to grow into garments and have at least 4 planned for 2014: 1 skirt, 1 tank, and 2 vests. The garments will feature structured lines and proportional design elements. For instance, for cables the designs will be sized proportionally to the different graded sizes so as to accentuate curves and maintain balance. I will also be publishing a number of accessories. Nature continues to inspire the accessories, but plan to see shawls and other accessories as well as cowls and scarves.

As for yarn brands, look for returns to Blue Sky Alpacas Skinny Cotton, Worsted, and Multi Cotton, Galler Yarn’s Inca Eco, and Americo Originals. Due to the plethora of recommendations in the eco yarn thread, I’m looking forward to expanding the yarn brands I use. There is a treasure trove of eco yarn resources for the finding. I’m excited about working with new companies and hopefully indie producers as well.

Spring/ Summer designs will feature linen and cotton in finger, lace, sport, and DK weight. Inspired by oceanic breezes, my first design for spring will be a skirt in Americo Original’s Linen Tanguis with accents of Quince and Co’s Sparrow. Look for a structured tank featuring cables in a sport or DK weight organic cotton. Lace is a technique well matched to the seasons, so I hope to include several accessories highlighting lace designs, which may be enhanced with beads.

Fall/ Winter designs will feature organic cotton in DK, worsted, and aran weights. Inspired by trees, bushes, mountains, valleys, and hiking with Puddles, the accessory designs will feature simple stitches matched with unique construction and complex designs with beads, cables, and bobbles matched with simple construction. One of the aforementioned vests will feature S. Charles Collezione’ Nepal – 100% organic cotton. Another vest will feature Blue Sky Alpacas Skinny Cotton.

I’m dedicating time submitting designs to 3rd party publications and hope you will soon find Eco Chic Knits in multiple venues.  Since the 2013 Indie Design Gift-A-Long was so energetically received, the wheels are already churning for a 2014 event.  I’m also seeking out eco indie dyers to do collaborations with, but this may run over into 2015.

After a long look forward, it’s great to get a chance to glance in the rear view for a second.  In closing this preview, I’m pleased to recap Eco Chic Knit’s 2013 releases:

From Right to Left:

Collegiate Variegation Cowl

Lake Breeze Tank - Eco Chic Knit’s debut garment design!
Drifter Cowl

Galaxy Cowl
Twist Me Up Cowl

Cleopatra Scarf - first 3rd party publication!
City Girl Cowl  - also available in the In The City ebook
Northern City Girl Cowl  - also available in the In The City ebook
Evergreen Sprig Cowl - also available in the Evergreen Sprig Collection ebook
Evergreen Sprig Headband - also available in the Evergreen Sprig Collection ebook
Evergreen Sprig Scarf - also available in the Evergreen Sprig Collection ebook
Geometry in Motion Cowl

Thank you all for your patronage and support!!

Happy Knitting!
Lindsay