Issue 49 of UK based The Knitter magazine hits news stands today, and Shapes + Form is highlighted in their “The Knitter Loves” series on page 8!

Cookie A designs take shape

US designer Cookie A is one of a new breed of superstar knitters, with thousands of projects on knitting community website Ravelry.com made from her incredibly intricate sock patterns. Now Cookie has branched out into garment design, launching Shape and Form, a complete collection of eight garments and five accessories based on mathematical concepts.

She said: “Socks are different from garments, in that there is not much room to change the form of a sock. Garments are less restrictive in form. Instead of fitting a texture onto a rigid form, I experimented with taking shapes and using them in unusual ways to create forms that could still be worn as garments.” We’re struggling to decide which pattern to start knitting first!

Buy the patterns via www.ravelry.com/stores/cookie-a-knitwear

Shapes + Form is now available through Ravelry! You can buy the whole collection for $18 or purchase patterns individually.

Here’s the introduction which I think sums it up pretty well:

This is my first foray into publishing sized garment patterns, though I’m certainly not new to sweater knitting. Those who are familiar with my sock patterns may be surprised by this collection at first glance. The majority of my knitwear design so far has been socks, and the design features usually focus on texture. On closer inspection, the same principles that I enjoy applying to socks are also applicable to sweaters: Taking pieces and fitting them together like a puzzle to form a functional whole.

Socks are different from garments in that there is not much room to change the form of a sock—at the end of the day, the sock still has to fit on a foot. Garments on the other hand are less restrictive in form. As long as there are holes for the arms and the piece can drape around the body, there is actually a great deal of leeway in what constitutes a pullover or cardigan. Instead of fitting a texture onto a rigid form, I experimented with taking shapes and using them in unusual ways to create forms that could still be worn as garments.

Being mathematically inclined, I borrowed concepts from geometry, algebra and topology. Some are fairly straightforward in their meaning. Parallelogram is a scarf or shawl pattern with a parallelogram shape, Rectangle is a rectangle with two holes to form a draped and textured vest., and Conic has cone shaped sleeves-. Cylinder and Quotient both borrow from topology and the concept of “glueing” flat pieces into 3-dimensional ones in much the same way that Möbius strips and Klein bottles are formed.

There are 13 patterns in the booklet—8 garments and 5 accessories patterns. Some of the accessories patterns use the same textures and yarn as garment patterns found elsewhere in the collection and were originally intended as leftover yarn projects. Some of the yarns used for the garments come in very generously sized skeins, and you may find yourself with a decent amount leftover.

Here’s a look at some of the patterns and Laura Kicey’s awesome photography. This is Parallelogram (Ravelry link) which is… a parallelogram. There are two sizes: a narrower scarf version and the shawl shown. It’s knitted from tip to tip using a welted knit / purl diamond pattern.

This is one of my favorite photos. Slant (Ravelry link) is a great leftover yarn project worked in Miss Babs Yowza:

And Conic seems to be a runaway favorite so far. I am going to admit something too… The smallest size is shown and it barely used just over 2 skeins of Malabrigo Sock yarn, weighing in at 203g. Of course, I added extra yardage to the pattern Just In Case, but I thought you should know that if you are that size, you could probably get a whole pair of socks too. Or maybe shorten the sleeves just a smidge to get it out of two skeins.

I’m hoping to round up some friends this week to take photos of the sweaters on “real people” to show how the fit varies with body shape, since I know that’s always a concern. Yay, sweaters!

I’ve put together a pdf lookbook for the upcoming collection that will be released tomorrow. Click to download the pdf!

Edited to add: I was so excited earlier when I posted that I left out all the details! Patterns will be available individually or as a whole collection. There are 8 garments and 5 accessories (yes, there is one sock pattern). Individual patterns will range from $5 to $7, and the e-book will be $18. There is a possibility of a print edition, but I’m not completely sure yet. Of course that means I haven’t ordered a printing, so if the print version becomes a reality, it would be released near the end of September.

Well, if you hadn’t guessed by now what’s going on… yep, those are sweaters on that chair.

And here’s a little sneak peek at the yarn…

That’s Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd’s Wool, Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Worsted, Miss Babs Yowza, and Berroco Ultra Alpaca across the back row… Quince & Co. Osprey, Shepherd’s Wool again, Wollmeise Lacegarn, and Quince & Co Finch across the middle, and The Plucky Knitter Primo Fingering and Malabrigo Sock down in front.

I’m busy putting the finishing touches on everything. Keep your eyes peeled here on the blog, Ravelry, and CookieA.com for lots more information and the big launch on the 15th!