While our upcoming Issue 44::EMERGE is at the printer, we wanted to share with you a little behind-the-scenes look at how the pieces inside came to be! We talked to a few of our contributors to find out more about their process. You can also find these on our Instagram stories and highlights (@taprootmag). Allison Lutes designed a sock knitting pattern for EMERGE.
Tell me a little bit about the inspiration behind your pattern submission?
AL: I’ve been reading Taproot since the first issue, and I’ve wanted to submit work for a long time but never felt like I had time. I finally decided to just go for it! When I saw the theme “emerge,” I knew I wanted to create socks that showed flowers growing.
A few years ago I knitted the Polka Dot Party Socks from Issue 27::BLOOM in pink and white, so I decided to use those colors in my design. Also, the polka dots remind me of raindrops, so I had that in mind as I designed and found a way to incorporate it.
How did you select the yarn for your project? Did you try a variety of options or what considerations went into that decision?
AL: I tried quite a few yarn options! I wanted to use wool yarn with another natural fiber for strength. Echoview Fiber Mill’s Lapidary yarn has beautiful colors and sheen, and it’s made from wool and Tencel, a fiber derived from wood pulp. I visited the mill a couple of summers ago with my family and had a great experience. I love the work they’re doing!
Any particular stories or moments that stand out in the process of creating your pattern?
The design process was really fun! This is my first published design, and it helped me make so many connections with editors, test knitters, and Instagram friends. And I loved photographing my own design and even getting to involve my kids!
The name Flower Gathering socks seems pretty straightforward, but I was also thinking of the connections I made with people through this design and one of my favorite poems from E.E. Cummings:
Tumbling-hair
Tumbling-hair
picker of buttercups
violets
dandelions
And the big bullying daisies
through the field wonderful
with eyes a little sorry
Another comes
also picking flowers
-E. E. Cummings
Finally, how can people find you and more of your work? Any other upcoming projects you'd like to share?
AL: I have another sock pattern slated to come out this summer and am working on more behind the scenes. You can find my work @fieldwonderful on Instagram.