Featured Designers

Cheryl Beckerich

Cheryl Beckerich is new to knitwear design publication, but has been designing for herself for several years. The pieces that she designs are fashion forward designs that are inspired and influenced by current couture designs and fashion trends. Cheryl uses the elements of design that are most flattering to women’s bodies.

“I use shaping to accentuate curves rather than to cover them up. My goal is to design sweaters and cardigans that are not only fun to knit, but are also fun to wear, because they make the knitter (or the recipient of the garment) feel great about the way that it makes them look. I like to incorporate stitch patterns and cables and often use more than one yarn in a design. Currently, I am not using much color work in my designs, but I am not opposed to it if done in a way that does not look dated. I also enjoy working with and designing felted items, such as handbags and household pieces.”

Current published work includes a fringed felted rug published in the 2009 issue of Interweave Felts. Cheryl has five designs published with Scarlet Fleece (including a cardigan published in Feb., 2009 Knit N Style), and a little girls hat and purse in an upcoming book, Pack and Go Knits Part 3. In addition, she have several self published designs that I am selling through local yarn stores and on her blog, Ravelry, and Patternfish.

Follow Cheryl's designing journey by catching her blog at
http://cbknits.blogspot.com/

Dee Smith

Dee Smith has designed several popular patterns for Scarlet Fleece including the Diamond Ruffle Bolero,the Impressions Lace Hoodie and the Country Lace Shawl. We love her unique ideas!

Hi Everyone,

Knitting is my passion. I have been professionally knitting for about 20 years now and knit for fun 10 years before that.

I have done test knitting for Beth Brown-Riensel, Cindy Taylor, And Claudia McClean of Claudias Hand Painted Yarns.

Just this past year I've ventured into designing for myself and have started teaching.

Thanks,
Dee Smith

Paula B. Levy

"I originally started designing because I am “hard-to-fit” and even harder to please! With the idea of making sweaters for myself, I was drawn to Knitting Workshop by Elizabeth Zimmermann and Knitting From the Top by Barbara Walker. What amazing results can come from mixing creative engineering with the simple act of knitting!

To me, knitwear design is about combining the cerebral elements of structure and technique with the tactile qualities of yarn and needles. I aim to produce projects that excite the imagination as well as are a pleasure to knit and use.

My inspiration has a number of sources. Sometimes it is a yarn that begs to be knit. Other times I will start with a technique or stitch pattern to see how far I can push it. Often, I try out interesting functions of my drawing software just to see what might result.

My most popular design has been “Festive Fish” a children's afghan originally published in Knitter's (Summer 1998) and recently reprinted in Babies & Toddlers – a Knitter's Dozen by XRX books."

Scarlet Fleece
P.O. Box 958
Powhatan, VA 23139
phone: 804-492-9593
fax: 804-492-9608
scarletfleece@gmail.com