Friday 9 October 2015

Northern Lights Dress and Intarsia Knitting


The idea for this design came from the beautiful colours in the wool (James Brett), and also that I sort of love Polar Bears. I knitted a polar bear sample square a while ago, with the idea of using it on a garment. I have an idea for a polar bear hat, possibly with smaller bears.


The dress/top pattern is basically the smallest version of my Baby Daisy Dress, and although I love the finished result, I've decided not to publish this polar bear version as a pattern, mainly because it was such a tricky knit. I thought the snowflakes would make it a bit easier, as the white wool is carried across the back on the blue parts, but the blue is not carried behind most of the bear (except on the leg section), as it was such dark wool it would show. 

Here is a photo of the chart that I made to use on this design. As you can see it all gets a bit scrappy. When I make a chart it usually involves a lot of tracing paper and transposing marks. There is also then the problem of how to get a large chart into a pattern document. (I had the same problem with my Tree Cushion, where the chart was absolutely enormous.) 


There must be an easier way to make a chart I thought, and with a bit of surfing around, I have found it. The Knitting Site has software to convert any digital picture into a knitting chart. You can scale the chart up or down, according to the wool you are using and how much detail you want in your design. So although I didn't use it for this bear, and can see myself coming back here for some other intarsia designs.



And here is the little lady wearing it ...


25 comments:

  1. What a gorgeous dress, I'm a polar bear lover as well and the blue background is just perfect. Thanks for the link to the chart creator site, it's really helpful.

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  2. So cute ! Dress and baby !!!
    Have a cosy weekend !
    Anna

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  3. Very pretty sweater!! Thanks for sharing!

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  4. Awh, so cute! (and the little dress is pretty cute too!)

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  5. Oh, so adorable!! I would love to have you share at my new craft party: http://craftymomsshare.blogspot.com/2015/10/crafty-weekends-paper-playhouse-review.html

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  6. Hehe, this is so cute! Gorgeous colour and design :) x

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  7. So, "BABY" Bear is pretty AWESOME, too!
    :-D

    BTW, thanks for the LINK to the charting site. I've been looking for one of those!

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  8. I love it, so sweet and the model is perfect

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  9. Oh, how very sweet that is! I love the yarn and the vest and the dear little one in it!

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  10. absolutely adorable in every way! <3

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  11. Ah bless her, she looks fab in her beautiful polar bear top!

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  12. Oh that's so cute! She looks adorable in it and it's definitely been worth all the effort with the stranding!

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  13. Argh that's so gorgeous! I love that dark yarn, such a pretty shade :)

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  14. I know I'm just repeating everyone else... but that little dress is so freaking adorable! Well done.

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  15. Aw how adorable :) The knitting is rather nice too ;-)

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  16. It's SO cute, but then when I saw it on the baby, OH MY GOODNESS! Well done!

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  17. Wow that's just beautiful!

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  18. Absolutely love this, the colours and pattern are gorgeous. If there was an adult size I'd wear it :)

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  19. That's the cutest thing I've seen in a while, and the model looks like a cutie too!

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  20. That is so adorable. challenging but very much worth it

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  21. The sweater is darling and the little bambino is cuter yet.

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  22. Adorable, and the pattern is too. I love it, its gorgeous. Thanks for sharing!

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  23. I love icebears!! Ever since I read 'Seekers' from Erin Hunter I seem to meet 'Kallik' everywhere :-)
    Nice work!

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  24. You did a great job on that tunic and the graph charting!

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  25. What a gorgeous dress! I can't say enough good things about it! I love the charting site tip too. It's always so nice to find helpful tools. (This will be a feature at this month's Yarn Fanatic Party.) :-)

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