September Quickies Pattern: Sweetheart Highway
September, the (official) start of fall in just around the corner here in the US, but if you are just leaving the cold weather and getting ready for the warm temperatures, hopefully you had a sweet sweater season! This month we are kicking things off with a Quickies project that is perfect for this time of the year- a quick accessories project worked in a thicker yarn, and sure to satisfy any color pairing options that make you smile.
Sweetheart Highway is a shawl designed by Helaina of Chic and Regal Knits. Helaina first learned to knit in 2018 and has since published 52 tested patterns and counting. She loves creating pieces that are fun, colorful, and much easier than they look. She is also an author, journalist, and editor based in NYC. She donates 25% of all her pattern sales to animal rescue, and is a fierce advocate for being kind, giving back, and buying tons of yarn with no plan for it at all.
Sweetheart Highway is knit in just 2 skeins of Malabrigo Worsted and is shown in Pagoda and Sauterne. Helaina shared a little bit about the design and the design process with us and we are excited to be able to share it with you!
What is your favorite part of your Quickies design and why?
Knitters who have never done mosaic, lace, or slip stitches are in for a fun and fabulous first time! All instructions are written and super clear. It’s also a Quickie since it goes by so fast and uses less than 2 skeins. Yay!
What should knitters pay attention to when working this pattern? Do you have any tips or tricks that will make knitting this pattern easier?
People often ask me whether they should cut or carry their yarn up the side when it comes to colorwork shawls. I don’t think there is necessarily a right answer. My personal preference is this: if any given color is due to come into play again within eight rows or less, carry it. Otherwise, break away! Note to self: I need to eventually attempt the Weavin’ Stephen (West) technique instead of just watching the video while simultaneously drinking coffee, browsing Instagram, and weaving my ends in the old-fashioned way.
What is your favorite color in Malabrigo’s catalog?
Don’t make me choose! I have an entire Malabrigo shelf. (It may be two shelves. Who can say. Not me). And it’s overflowing. But….is it overflowing enough? Discuss.
What does your design process look like?
It varies! I’m often inspired by the yarn first. Once I fall in love, my wheels will instantly start turning around the best way to make a colorway/color combination shine. Then, it’s time to play around with shape, texture, and other design elements! Sometimes, I’m inspired by a concept first (this happens three hundred times a day), and then it’s off to find the perfect yarn. I’ve been fortunate to be able to team up with as many amazing dyers, shops, and brands as I have so far.
As I knit my samples, I find that I tend to stick closer to the “plan” on more complex design concepts, and follow my intuition around changing shape, style, or direction as I move along on other designs with more wiggle room! I am extremely intuitive when it comes to figuring out what the garment wants and doesn’t want. My yarn tells me what it wants, and I listen. My yarn will confirm this under oath.
What is the one thing you wish people knew about you as a designer?
For me, this is really about three things: 1. Having fun and loving what you make 2. Creating a digital community and forming meaningful relationships with other amazing knitters. 3. Donating to animal rescue! I am so incredibly humbled at how people have responded to my patterns…the online yarn community is such a gift and best of all, I have definitely made some lifelong friends. Now all I need is ten more lifetimes to get through half of my current yarn collection (read: out of control stash).
You can find more of Helaina’s work in the following places:
IG: @chicandregalknits
Facebook Group: Happy Knitting by Chic and Regal Knits
Ravelry ID: craftyhelaina
Happy Knitting!
Post by Jessica Anderson @ajoyfullmesswithjess