Tag: fashion

Spring Beach Update… Err, Knitting Update

Leave a comment
Image

Crescent Beach on a crisp spring day.

I must get better at blogging more regularly. I promise I will. As is usually the case around here, things have been rather busy. But not too busy to get to my favourite beach for a walk or two. Getting outside and into nature always gives me new ideas, from colour to texture to shape.

Image

A riot of tulips.

 

I saw a garden full of tulips that was an amazing sight to behold. Truly there were tulips in all the spring colours filling someone’s back garden. I was delighted. In the centre of the photo lies a very large anchor.

ImageIn another garden, an anemone was in bloom, looking gorgeous. I can’t see anemones without thinking of being in Greece, which was the first place I had ever seen anemones growing – and in the wild, too. I think this anemone has really inspired me in terms of colour this spring.

Image

Also growing quietly in the same garden was a crop of mushrooms hidden behind daffodils. The mushrooms looked like they had been stretched and seemed somewhat mystical.

 

Image

Despite the serious expression (honestly, I don’t really like having my photo taken), I really enjoyed the fresh walk earlier in the month. If you look closely, I’m wearing my sample for the new Granville Hat, which will be released in early May. The hat kept me warm against the beach breeze!

Granville has been been tended to by my lovely tech editor and my wonderful test knitters. I’m in love with the nearly anemone coloured alpaca yarn by DROPS that I used to knit up the sample. I promise to blog more about Granville for its release.

Image

This photo is a clue for the secret project. Admire the Herdwick sheep.

My secret project is coming along well, too. I’ve finished the sample and the photography with the kind assistance of undisclosed helpers. The pattern is off to the tech editor and I’m aiming to release the hat mid-May. I’m pretty thrilled with the result.

The book project is also humming along. There will be a photoshoot or two in May to show all the pattern samples that will be in the book. I’m excited about this and trying to figure out some locations for the shots.

There’s always a few more things up my sleeve too. But in the meantime, enjoy the gorgeous spring out there.

x Rena

 

Spring Fever + Design Projects

2 Comments

anemones

Well, I think the spring fever has hit around here. I’m in love with all the blossoming and growing things.

blossoms

tulip

There’s been a flurry of cleaning and organizing on the home front, and lots of work on the design front too. I have two hat designs for upcoming release this spring. One is a Top Secret project. Since it’s Top Secret, I can’t say much. Other than I’m super excited to be working with this company, hint hint. And I’ll be able to reveal what’s going on in a few short weeks, I promise.

The other spring project is in its final stages of pattern writing. Once she’s back from the tech editor, the hat will be ready for release within the next few weeks. Here’s a sneak peek…

The Granville Hat.

The Granville Hat.

And the Granville Hat isn’t just a regular sort of hat. It’s a convertible hat. As in, the top goes down for the good weather, ha ha. Seriously, though, it does turn into a cowl…

granville 4

The hat cinches up in the back with the most rock ‘n’ roll ribbons I could find, and the ribbons dangle nicely when Granville’s in cowl form (and do you like my sheepy t-shirt?). Granville has lots of texture and it’s a quick knit too. And it’s got plenty of style for you.

I have another, bigger, not quite as Top Secret project going on. I’ll let you in on that secret. It involves a manuscript and rhymes with ‘look’. I’m working on releasing several of my designs in booklet format, which is deep in the works right now. I can’t reveal too much more than that. I’m hoping for a release this summer, if all goes well. I always expect the unexpected with bigger projects.

I’ve also got several bigger designs in the works too. I’m working on some clothing designs in the pullover department, which will hopefully start to reveal themselves by summer to you. I think most designers usually have their fingers in lots of pie, which suits me fine because I love pie. And projects.

booth fibres west 2013

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Fibres West 2013 held last month in Surrey, BC. I had a great time. There were lots of pattern sales and lots of blog readers and Ravelry followers stopped by and said kind things about my work. I was thrilled to hear, ‘Hey! I’ve seen your stuff on Ravelry!’ Awesome. You guys make me tingle, really and truly.

The only downside to the whole affair was that I caught a bugger of a cold that weekend and was laid out for about a week. But I’m mended now and back on the projects…

x Rena

Knot Canadian Interview

Leave a comment

Screen Shot 2013-01-04 at 2.39.52 PM

 

I had the good fortune to meet Erin of Knot Canadian through Ravelry this past week. Amazingly, she wanted to interview me about The Red Fox and Gown. She had lots of really good questions that made me think, and think hard. Not only is she great with the questions, she’s a very quick elf – the interview is all polished up and already posted on her blog, Knot Canadian. If you’re curious about what we talked about over the internet, check out the interview! Thanks Erin!

x Rena

Happy New Year Foxes!

Leave a comment

Happy-new-year

Hello everyone and happy 2013 to you all! Best wishes for health, prosperity and good times in the New Year. Some of you may be regulars to the blog and others are new this year following the great Ravelry giveaway of 2013.

For those who don’t know, I had a free pattern offer on Ravelry on New Year’s Day. I was off to late start, and I decided to carry through the 2nd. I’m completely floored by the incredible response from Ravelers and I am so excited that so many people were inspired by the patterns to try them out and drop me a line to say thanks. You all are the best!

And also if you don’t know, there’s a new group for The Red Fox and Gown on Ravelry. Following the momentum of New Year’s, I’ve set up a series of knit-a-longs (KALs). Join the group to share updates about your progress, photos and more. I have plenty of news to share as the year goes on, so it’s a great place hang to know what’s happening with The Red Fox and Gown.

photo 5

One of the exciting developments is the pending release of the Foxy Business Hat. It’s really soon, I promise! Thanks to all of the lovely test knitters who have done such an incredible job (and joining the group above may give you some insider leads if you want to test future RFG designs). Now I need to get through the last round of edits and she’ll be ready, no later than 15 January, promise.

Another new thing for a New Year… I’m steeling against my natural aversion to seeing myself on video or photos, but I will kick off a video blog (I’m sure there’s a much cooler name for it) this month for your entertainment and information. I’ll cover upcoming news and designs, RFG events, reviews, random stories and even bits of history about fibre. I hope you’ll stick around and join the fun.

Red Fox and Gown – Video Podcast 1. Introduction and where to find us on the web.

x Rena

Foxy Business Hat: Sneak Peek

Leave a comment

photo2

 

It’s been a productive week! I’ve fnished up the Foxy Business Hat this morning and here she is in a sneak peek. The alpaca fibre hat features cozy ear flaps and white pompoms at the end of the ear flap braids… you’ll have to wait to see those babies! But check out those lovely fox ears in the meantime! The hat will be coming soon to Ravelry and Etsy, I promise.

x Rena

Sheepish Ring

1 Comment

Sheepish ring.

So you may have been wondering why the radio silence lately. I have been busy knitting up a storm with custom orders. And getting ready for the SFU Winter Craft Fair in Burnaby, BC at the end of the month. If you’re in the Vancouver area, please stop by The Red Fox and Gown booth at the SFU Burnaby campus from 27-30 November 2012 and say hello.

Star Slouch Hat in grey merino wool.

Cable knit smart phone cosy.

I’ve been knitting up our signature Star Slouch Hat in a variety of colours and fibres, fingerless gloves, phone cozies and rings. And preparing patterns to sell at the craft show too!

And I’ve had a lot of fun with the rings, let me tell you. I’ve been using Rain City Knit’s fingering weight merino wool in some of their lovely vivid colours to make up the rings. I have made our Sheepish Ring, heart rings, button rings and plain knit rings. More photos to come!

x Rena

A Little Update

Leave a comment

I was inspired today to do a bit of work on the site. I’ve added a proper domain name at last and also added a link to my knitting designs on Ravelry. I’ll continue to work on this space but I’m off to a good start, I think! I’d like to show each design and link to the Ravelry page with its immediate download following online purchase. And last but not least, a new banner is up with our fox and a couple of other goodies.

I headed out yesterday yarn hunting for my custom orders and visited Black Sheep Yarns in Port Moody, BC. I recommend visiting this shop – great selection and friendly and helpful staff. As you can imagine, my yarn hunt was successful.

Meanwhile, I’m also working on promised patterns for designs including my Kiki hat and Smart Phone Cozy, among others. As always, I have more designs up my sleeve that I can’t wait to tell you more about. Until then, I want to show you some yarn that I fell in love with yesterday, Madelinetosh’s Thunderstorm.

x Rena

Signature Red Fox Fingerless Gloves and Knit City 2012

Leave a comment

Our signature Red Fox Fingerless Gloves.

Autumn is seriously kicking up its heels here in Vancouver, Canada. Our seasonal rains arrived with a roll of fog mid-month and hasn’t let up since. The good news about this rather abrupt transition from the hot weather we had previously been enjoying is that it is perfect knitting weather. And some fun stuff has been in the works for the season, not least of all The Red Fox and Gown’s new signature Red Fox Fingerless Gloves knitting pattern.

The cozy gloves are warm and ready for new fall and winter adventures. The gloves can be made in two lengths, short and long, as well as in two sizes, s/m and m/l. The short version in m/l is shown.

RainCityKnits colourful booth at Vancouver’s Knit City event during October 2012. Complete with guide dog in training in crate under the table!

Last weekend, despite the horizonal lashing rain, throngs of knitters descended on Vancouver’s first annual Knit City event. I was proudly helping out Krista of Rain City Knits at her booth. Her gorgeous yarns are now also available in a worsted weight in a range of colours. I spent the weekend imagining which colour I’d pick for my next pullover or cardigan.

Do you have any fall knitting plans? I have so much more to share with you, stay tuned!

x Rena

Knit Cable Fingerless Gloves

Leave a comment

I have a new knitting design sample ready in time for autumn – knit cable fingerless gloves! I knit my sample using Diamond Luxury’s Lima Peruvian Highland Wool and it was absolutely lovely to work with. The gloves feature matching cables on both the back of the glove and palm, incorporating ribbing at the ends.

Cable fingerless gloves, palm view.

You can custom order a woolen pair for yourself or as a gift through The Red Fox and Gown’s Etsy shop. Pattern coming soon…!
What do you think?

x Rena