news Archives - La Visch Designs

cherry blossom stole in tinyStudio Creative Life magazine

Cherry Blossoms Stole by La Visch Designs

I’ve got some exciting news for you: my Cherry Blossom Stole pattern makes an appearance in issue 11 of tinyStudio Creative Life magazine! I can tell you it’s a very special edition. Not only does it have over 120 pages of articles on spinning, weaving, knitting & crochet, it’s also available in both digital and print format!

I don’t know if you’re familiar with it, so I’ll just tell you. It’s a quarterly digital publication, with rich content like embedded videos, and slidable galleries of eye candy. It focuses on mindfulness, freedom from stress and clutter, and a conscious approach to fiber crafts. tinyStudio Creative Life is not just a magazine for spinners and fiber artists. There is also the tinyStudio TV video podcast. This gives hands on demonstrations of techniques, interviews with contributors, etc. to enrich and enhance the content of each issue. Below you can find the table of contents of this issue:

The underlying theme of this issue is naturally beautiful. Editor Suzy Brown has left this deliberately quite open, because it is a subject that could have many different interpretations. And indeed, throughout this issue you will see many naturally beautiful things. We all see beauty
in our own unique ways and find our own expressions of the inspiration it brings us by using our own voices.

To get your copy of this issue of tinyStudio Creative Life, visit this link. Not sure yet whether you’d like it? Visit this page to download the free anniversary issue of tinyStudio magazine, and see all the rich content each and every issue provides.

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green madeira in tinyStudio Creative Life magazine

I’ve got some exciting news for you: my Green Madeira shawl pattern makes an appearance in the Q2 edition of tinyStudio Creative Life magazine!

I don’t know if you’re familiar with it, so I’ll just tell you. It’s a quarterly digital publication, with rich content like embedded videos, and slideable galleries of eye candy. It focuses on mindfulness, freedom from stress and clutter, and a conscious approach to fiber crafts. tinyStudio Creative Life is not just a magazine for spinners and fiber artists. There is also the tinyStudio TV video podcast. This gives hands on demonstrations of techniques, interviews with contributors, etc. to enrich and enhance the content of each issue. Below you can find the table of contents of this issue:

Q2 2020 tinyStudio Creative Life magazine table of contents

The underlying focus of this issue is celebration of design and inspiration, which sometimes comes from ‘time out’! This can mean different things to different people. For some, time out is aimed at taking a complete break from a difficult or challenging project. We sometimes talk of putting our knitting “in time out because it is not behaving!”

Other times it can mean taking “time out” for ourselves, to find inspiration and relaxation. This, in turn, that allows our creativity to replenish and flow again when we return. Which ever way you look at it, this issue has plenty to offer.

Green Madeira, a design by La Visch Designs

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Time for a knit-a-long!

It’s time for a knit-a-long! And I’ve got just the pattern for it: Cinematic! Join the KAL on Facebook in the La Visch World of Fiber Crafts group.

Cinematic is a simple but stylish triangular shawl knit sideways in garter stitch. With its generous size, it’s perfect to wear as an elegant scarf. Eyelet rows and stripes in a contrast color, combined with a gradient yarn, make for a highly customizable accessory. Wear it with a shirt and jeans for a casual look or with that little black dress for a more dramatic look.

The KAL will start this Friday, August the 30th and will run for a month until and including September the 30th 2019. The pattern can be found on Ravelry and, of course, on the La Visch Designs website. Every person posting a picture of the FO before or on September 30th will receive a 25% discount code for a La Visch Designs pattern of choice 😃

Want to share your progress social media? Go ahead, I love to see what folks do with my designs! Make sure to tag your posts with #cinematickal, #lavischdesigns and #cinematicshawl so I can find your post.

So, get your yarn and pattern today, I’m looking forward to seeing you over in the KAL group for the Cinematic knit-a-long!

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dutch knitting festival 2019 Zwolle

The Dutch Knitting Festival Zwolle is the most popular knitting and crocheting event in the Netherlands. There will be more than 80 exhibitors, inspiring guests from the world of fiber crafts, over 30 classes and workshops, free yarn tastings, and demonstrations, and, of course, lots of opportunities to knit and crochet together. Perfect for inspiration-filled days with and among like-minded people. And parking is free!

At the upcoming edition in the IJsselhallen in Zwolle, on October 11 and 12, 2019, there will again be a surprising program. And I’ll be teaching a workshop on Friday the 11th on fixing mistakes in your knitting!

Fixing Knitting Mistakes with La Visch

You are knitting happily along when suddenly you notice it: a mistake in your knitting, 5 cm down in your project! Ripping it all out is a waste of time, that’s why you will learn in this workshop how to correct mistakes while the project is still on your needles. You will learn how to pick up fallen stitches (in the middle and at the edge of your work!) and how to correct a decrease or increase. You will also learn a good approach for repairing mistakes in a lace or cable pattern. If you have a project in time-out with such an error, do take it with you! In that case, a cushion in a light color and a pack of pins is also handy to have.

This workshop is suitable for a wide range of knitters; we all make mistakes when knitting. To get the most out of this workshop, it is, however, advisable to have already completed some knitting projects. These do not have to be very complex projects, but experience with simple decreases such as k2tog and ssk/skp, increases such as the yarn over and m1 as well as with simple lace knitting is useful.

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For more information on this workshop, visit the workshop page (in Dutch) on the Dutch Knitting Festival website.

Early bird tickets for admission and this class are available through the workshop page from July 24th, 19.00 (GMT+1).

Will I see you at the Dutch Knitting Festival Zwolle? Do let me know if you plan on visiting. In case of questions or remarks regarding the workshop you’re, of course, also welcome to contact me. I’m very much looking forward to seeing there!

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5-year anniversary!

It seems like it was yesterday, but it really has been 5 years since I started designing professionally. Of course, I published some patterns before, but it was in June 2014 that I made it all official by registering La Visch Designs as a business with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce. And yes, I know it’s July by now. June was a bit too hectic to add 5-year anniversary celebrations into the mix, such is life. And there will be celebrations!

I had so much fun preparing everything when I went through all my designs. It seems that in the past 5 years I really found my own style and voice. I also have moved towards designing larger shawls, vs the one-skein shawls I started out with.

Anyway, will you celebrate my 5-year anniversary with me? Read on for more information!

How does it work?

The upcoming 10 days, once every 2 days, I will post below a gallery of designs for each of the years that I’ve been designing. Only in those 2 days, the patterns presented are available with a whopping 50% discount of the regular price, using the code that will also be posted below. The code can be used more than once by everyone.

Place your patterns in the cart and use the coupon codes given below for a 50% discount on the regular price. Each coupon is valid for 2 days only:

Year 1: Valid from July 5, 0:00 to July 6, midnight CEST 2019.
Year 2: Valid from July 7, 0:00 to July 8, midnight CEST 2019.
Year 3: Valid from July 9, 0:00 to July 10, midnight CEST 2019.
Year 4: Valid from July 11, 0:00 to July 12, midnight CEST 2019.
Year 5: Valid from July 13, 0:00 to July 14, midnight CEST 2019.

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kurkuma KAL!

My LYS Sticks & Cups and I are organizing a Knit-A-Long for my latest shawl design Kurkuma. It’s very spicy and so much fun, so join the Kurkuma KAL!

We cast on Thursday 11 April during the Cast-On Party at the Sticks & Cups store in Utrecht. Also, I’ll be there with a bunch of my designs, so if you want to take a closer look at some of my shawls and try them on, this is your chance! Can’t make it to the party? No worries! Get your kit before the 11th and post a picture using the #kurkumakal #stickscups and #lavischdesigns hashtags!

The pattern is available through this website, but if you can also get it at the shop in a kit. Visit Sticks & Cups on Instagram or Facebook to see some of the yarn combinations Lili has prepared.

Prizes!

Of course, there will also be prizes! The prize drawing is on May 18th during the Beltane Yarn Festival at the Sticks & Cups store in Utrecht. There will be 2 prize drawings, both to be held on May 18th:

The first drawing is for all who join by getting a kit at Sticks & Cups: You get a number when you buy your kit at the shop with which you are entered in the prize drawing. Prizes consist of yarn and your pick of a La Visch Designs pattern of choice.
The second drawing is for all who love to join the KAL but don’t have the option to visit Sticks & Cups for a kit. On May the 18th I will select my 3 favorite pictures tagged with #kurkumakal & #lavischdesigns. Each of the 3 winners may select a La Visch Designs pattern of choice that will be gifted to you. Both (pictures of) WIP’s and FO’s count, so share pretty pictures on Instagram and Facebook as often as you like! During the KAL I will repost some of the pictures that catch my eye.

Make sure to follow La Visch Designs on Instagram or Facebook for all the latest news about the Knit-A-Long. Also, visit the Kurkuma KAL event on Facebook for more info on the KAL.

Recap

The KAL runs from 11 April to 18 May 2019.
Get your Kurkuma kit at Sticks & Cups or just the pattern here.
The prize drawing is on 18 May.
Post lots of pictures using the hashtags #kurkumakal #lavischdesigns and #stickscups.

So go get your pattern and yarn and be ready to cast on with us on Thursday. I’m looking forward to seeing your WIP’s and FO’s!

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Indie Design Gift-A-Long 2016

It is finally Gift-A-Long time again! I’m very excited to announce that the Gift-A-Long 2016 (or GAL for short) has started. This year I’m of course also participating again as both a designer and knitter/crocheter. However, I’m still trying to decide what patterns to buy and make myself.

What is the Gift-A-Long 2016?

The Indie Design Gift-A-Long is a 6-week long international event hosted in the Indie Design Gift-A-Long Group on Ravelry. Thousands of knitters and crocheters come together in Knit-A-Longs (KAl’s) and Crochet-A-Longs (CAL’s). The goal is to get our holiday knitting/crocheting done using patterns designed by participating independent designers. In the statistics overview below you can see (besides are fun facts) that a whopping 335 designers participate!

From November 22, 2016, at 8:00 pm US EST to December 31, 2016, at midnight US EST there are fun games, contests, and 8 KAL/CAL’s. The KAL/CAL’s are a wonderful way to make your gifts, either for yourself or for others. Lot’s of chatting and cheering are also a big part of the GAL because enthusiastic company makes those needles and hooks really fly.

There are multiple categories for projects, and chat threads for each of these. Any design by a participating designer is eligible for joining in. Any paid (not free) pattern from these designers is eligible for winning prizes. Prizes are won through fun games, random draws, and trivia questions. And splendid prizes they are! In this thread, there is an overview of physical prizes donated.

The GAL sale

In addition to the KAL/CAL’s, there is of course also the GAL sale. The Gift-A-Long 2016 kicks off with the Giant Gift-A-Long Sale: From November 22nd, 8 pm EST to November 30th, 11:59 EST, participating Indie Designers are offering between 5 and 20 of their independently published patterns at 25% off. To take advantage of the sale, use the coupon code: giftalong2016.

A full list of participating designers can be found here. In the picture below you can see some of the participating designers by location. The complete map with all Gift-A-Long 2016 designers is here. A wonderful handy searchable bundle of all sale patterns is also available.

In conclusion: the Gift-A-Long is a wonderful event that you really can’t miss. Most of all because it is just soooo much fun.

See you in the GAL!

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MY Make Along 2016

Moeke!

“Moeke”, a somewhat old-fashioned word that makes most people probably think about their mother or grandmother. For me my first thoughts go out to the wonderful rustic yarn by Moeke Yarns. Somewhat thick and thin, and not the softest yarn in the stash, it does not sound like a yarn to idolize.

That I am nevertheless crazy about it is because of the great character of this 100% wool yarn, how it feels, how it smells… I would swear that there is something addictive in these specific wool fumes.

MY Make Along 2016 and make a La Visch Designs pattern! — © Moeke Yarns

Story

The story of Moeke Yarns is as special as the yarn itself. It’s a real family business consisting of Ioana (living in the Netherlands), her brother Radu and his wife Simina and their parents (in Romania). In 2013, Ioana was visiting her parents in Romania and found two large bags of yarn spun by her grandmother.

It was then that she realized that Romania has a good number of traditional breeds of sheep and a long tradition in wool processing. However, this tradition likely to be lost due to the poor economic conditions: shepherds can’t find people to sell their wool to and eventually burn it to get rid of it. What a terrible thing!

Ioana and her brother decided to start making yarn from the fleece of animal friendly kept Romanian sheep. In line with the traditional way of processing, the wool is washed without harsh chemicals and spun locally using machines that have been in use for over 100 years. And to remain with the ecological responsible thought, the yarn is only available in natural colors. Now, several years later, the brand is (unsurprisingly) a worldwide success

MY Make Along 2016

And that brings me to the following: The MY Make Along 2016! This is an international event, which starts on September 12. It is dedicated to knitting, crocheting and weaving, using yarns by Moeke Yarns. An event which designers and creators who share a deep love of creating, respect for animals and nature, are brought together.

And yes, I am one of the participating designers! Two of my designs will be eligible for the Make Along. One of these is my Elena Half Hap design, the other (a cowl pattern) will be published in a couple of weeks.

Participating

To participate in the Make Along there are 2 conditions: 1) make one or more of the selected patterns designed for Moeke Yarns that are or will be released this year, and 2) use a yarn by Moeke Yarns to make your project.

On the following website you can read all about the participating designers, the sponsors and the prizes you can http://www.moeke-yarns.com/index.php/MY2016

The Make Along will run through Instagram and Facebook. Join the Facebook group to get involved, find the group on https://www.facebook.com/groups/538312436376878/
Also, you can follow the hashtag #mymakealong2016 on Instagram and Facebook as well as the blog of Moeke Yarns (http://www.moeke-yarns.com/index.php/blog) for updates and news about the Make Along.

I’m looking forward to see you in the MY Make Along 2016!

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national spinning day 2015

October 3^rd it was the Dutch National Spinning Day again, also affectionately called LSD which is short for “Nationale Spin Dag”. Over 200 women and some men traveled to Conference center Mennorode with their spindles and spinning wheels to spend a day together. And yours truly was there as well for the very first time!

The national spinning day is organized annually by The Dutch National Spinning Group. The Spinning Group brings spinners in contact with one another since 1999 and also collects and provides information about spinning materials, techniques and the further processing of spun yarns.

Preparation

First, I had to think about which spinning wheel I would take with me. I first thought of my beautiful Saxony wheel Noortje. But Noortje does not quite fit in my car and is somewhat temperamental to spin on. So better to go for one of my trusty castle wheels “schippertje”.

Of course, a decision also had to be made on the spinning project to bring. After some deep digging into my stash, I found these gorgeous self-carded batts: A blend of gray and blue merino, blended with tussah silk.

It’s LSD time!

Because all the fun would start around 9.00 in the morning, the alarm was put on the usual weekday schedule. After a quick breakfast, I left my husband and children to dedicate my day to everything related to spinning. Of course my schippertje first had to be secured in my car. Then I went on my way to Mennorode in Elspeet!

After having installed myself in the main conference room, I took a good look around me: So many different spinning wheels! The hall was soon completely filled, with an amazing number of spinning people together, truly a sight to behold.

After the opening, there was first a market with all kinds of spinning supplies. I had not realized that it would only be possible to use cash there. That got me in somewhat of a pickle: so many things and no means to bring it home with me! Fortunately, the reception of Mennorode was able to help me out, so I could buy the things that made my spinners heart beat a little faster.

After lunch, which was very good indeed, there were workshops for those who had subscribed. I myself just decided to socialize and spin with the other ladies. I had loads of fun and managed to get quite a bit of spinning done.

All in all a very nice National Spinning Day, I’m going again next year for sure!

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