The 2019 Manitoba Fibre Festival once again has gathered together a delightful collection of patterns prepared by local designers who were inspired by the prairie sunrises and sunsets. These designs are one aspect of the 2019 Create Make Collaborate initiative. If you have not prepared your own creation, we hope these designs will further inspire you.

Some of the designs will be available at the Festival as kits. All of the patterns are available as digital files on Ravelry, sold by the individual designers, and gathered to view in one collection (see link). The yarns used are all prepared by local yarn folk and can be found at the Festival.

 

For the first time, we have a children’s cardigan pattern in the collection perfect for all the wee ones in your life.  Designed by Natasha Dueck (locolama00 on Instagram) with yarn from Warm Wool Gallery, the Baby Tweed Cardigan comes in sizes newborn to 12 months.

 

Natasha has also offered up a design inspired by the shadows beyond the glowing skies. Dusk and Dawn is knit up in a soft, locally sources, alpaca-merino blend yarn from Hundred Fold Farm.  The natural colours of the animals shine in this two-tone design.

The Umbra shawl, by Alex Richards (October.Evening), is also inspired by the long shadows at the end of day and is knit up in an equally inspired yarn dyed by Blossom and Fern Yarn Co.  Umbra serves as a gentle reminder that the beauty of a sunset is not only to be found in the brightness of the sky.

The late summer has been cool, which is good for wool folk. If you’re thinking about the crisp days of autumn, you are probably also going to want to knit up a pair of cirrus mitts designed by ash alberg of Sunflower Knit and worked up in yarn prepared by Long Way Homestead.

Cool weather layers aren’t complete without something to keep the cold from your neck.  The bulky Cumulus cowl designed by Johanna Giesbrecht of Nojo Textiles in local Rambouillet yarn by Ferme Fiola Farm is clearly inspired by the rich array of colours in our prairie sunsets full of glowing clouds.

Given how wide our horizons are on the prairies, it’s no wonder that folks are often inspired by the clouds as we look out.  Whether you are dreaming wistfully with the cirrus clouds, imagining a nap on a cumulus cloud, or thinking of cuddling up somewhere cozy when you see the altostratus clouds, this collection has you covered.

If you are still wanting to dwell in the warm summer days, then an airy shawl such as the Endless Summer Adventures by Jocelyn Douglas (Amberdragun) in yarn dyed by Cloud 9 Fiberworks (Endless Summer Nights) may be the project you are looking for.

Finally, We Are Dawning is a small collection inspired by the dawn and changes. It includes a short and long cowl as well as a long scarf designed by Mandy Furney (Mandyz Moon).  Samples shown are knit up in yarn dyed by Cloud 9 Fiberworks and handspun (by Mandy) yarn using fibre dyed by Manjusha Fibre Arts.

Special thanks to the glorious prairie views – both rural and urban – that inspire us at the beginning and end of each day.   Thanks again to the local photographers whose work helped to inspire our collection of designs when we miss an opportunity to view the sun rise or set.

Ellen Paulley – Ayarnlover

Anna Hunter – Long Way Homestead