Howell’s knitting patterns to be featured in magazines

Contributed photograph
FULL VIEW — Kristy Howell displays a shawl she completed three years ago.  Howell has designed a shawl pattern, which will be featured in the Summer 2012 issue of Knitscene and a scarf for Knitscene’s 2012 accessories issue.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    Experienced in hand-knit items, Kristy Howell had never knit lace out of fine yarn and wanted to try it.
    “I didn’t even know if I would wear it when it was finished,” she said.
     About three years ago, Howell finished knitting her first shawl, discovering a new avenue for her craftsmanship, which she hopes will one day flourish into more of a business opportunity.
    “I learned that I really enjoyed knitting lace and I wore the shawl a lot more than I thought I would,” Howell said.
    Instead of selling products, Howell is offering the patterns for the knitted items.
    Time spent knitting a shawl varies, said Howell.
    “It depends on the complexity of the pattern and size of the yarn and needles used,” she explained. “A complicated pattern knit on small needles out of lace-weight yarn might take a month or two to complete, but an easier pattern on larger needles might only take a couple of weeks. I often work on more than one project concurrently, which makes it hard to estimate the length of time it takes to finish a project.”
    Items hand-knit, such as wool sweaters are in storage half of the year, said Howell, since they are too warm for the season.
    “But, I wear the shawls year round,” she said. “A light layer in summer to take off the chill from air conditioning or under my coat in the winter, more or less like a scarf.”
    Howell designs other patterns besides shawls, such as sweaters, socks, hats, mittens, scarves, felt bags and more. She uses mostly wool or a wool combined with another fiber such as bamboo, alpaca or silk.
Kristy Howell
    “Some with commercial yarn and some with my handspun yarn,” she added. “I have written patterns for shawls, socks, scarves, mitts and cowls. To date, my patterns have only been published online.”
    Sites featuring Howell’s creations can be viewed at Knitty, an online knitting magazine; Ennea Collective, knitting and spinning magazine; Knit Picks, a yarn company and she has published her own work at Ravelry, a website dedicated to knitters and crocheters.
    “I have had two patterns accepted for publication in upcoming issues of Knitscene magazine,” she said. “I have considered selling my patterns in yarn shops, but haven’t really pursued this yet. Other than those sold to the magazine publisher, I haven’t sold that many patterns.”
    One of Howell’s more popular patterns is the Snowblowin’ Mittens, which are knit with a free index finger for holding the throttle.
    “I started designing patterns partly to make some money and partly as a creative challenge,” said Howell. “I really like designing patterns from handspun yarns, but there isn’t much of a market for those patterns.”
    Most publishers, according to Howell, prefer patterns knit from commercial yarn, which is easy for knitters to get.
    “Self-publishing is always an option,” Howell said. “But, there are thousands of designers and it is hard for an independent designer to get their work noticed.”
    To look at Howell’s designs go to www.ravelry.com/designers /kristy-howell.
    “People can’t really see the shawls in person, unless they happen to run into me. I am often wearing one,” said Howell.
    Howell has designed a shawl pattern which will be featured in the Summer 2012 issue of Knitscene and a scarf for Knitscene’s 2012 accessories issue.
    For more information on getting a pattern from Howell,  go to Ravelry, as members can send messages to each other, or e-mail at kristyh2o@yahoo.com.