Designer Interview: Boo Knits

Felicia’s blog post sharing the pics of a recently finished Spellbound Shawl was well timed as I’d spoken to Bev at Boo Knits earlier this summer about her Midsummer Night’s Dream series, of which Spellbound is a part of. The series is made up of three collections and Bev tells us all below:

You’ve been a busy lady since we last chatted about the launch of the SweetGeorgia Soakbox in the UK featuring your design, the Mimosa Shawl. How have things been going for you? Tell us about what you’ve been working on?
I have been working on the Midsummer Night’s Dream Series. It is three separate collections all inspired by the Shakespeare classic. Each collection consists of four shawl patterns, three that are available individually and one that is strictly exclusive to the collection. I have just released Spellbound, a crescent shaped shawl, inspired by Titania, Queen of the Faeries and knit the stunning SweetGeorgia Merino Silk Lace. The pattern offers the choice of an all over lace body or a stocking stitch body – both are finished with a flourish of beautiful, beaded lace.

How did you decide to do a whole collection around A Midsummer Night’s Dream? Where did the inspiration come from or what was your creative spark?
I wanted to create three collections with a common theme but it had to be romantic and magical – what story could be better?

Tell us a little bit about the other designs from the collection.
The first collection is inspired by the Handmaidens to Titania – Cobweb, Mustardseed, Peaseblossom, and the fourth is Thistledown. I know that Thistledown is not one of the handmaidens but I really couldn’t call the shawl Moth! I am sure Mr. Shakespeare would not begrudge me a little artistic license on that name given the circumstances; no one wants moths in their knitting! [AT – We agree completely!]

The second collection is called Things Unknown and takes its inspiration from the faeries in the play. Mischievious Puck is a unisex shawl/scarf in double knitting – perfect for winter walks, Love in a Mist is an elegant crescent shaped shawl in a fingering weight and then, of course, there is Spellbound, lacy, romantic and a little dramatic. The last of the collection will be called Changeling but that, I am afraid, is top secret at the moment.

The light, lace detail of Spellbound’s beaded border – definitely dramatic! Photo: Kei Yamamoto

Are you working on any other new designs? What’s next for Boo Knits?
The next pattern to be released will be the last of the Handmaiden Collection, Peaseblossom. Then I shall continue working on Changeling, the final pattern in Things Unknown and then the last collection, Star Crossed Lovers; a collection of patterns inspired by the human characters of the play.

Anything else you’d like to tell us about?
There is always something happening in the Boo Knits group on Ravelry. We are currently having a KAL called Red, Red Heart. We are all knitting red Fragile Hearts and raising our own awareness of the signs of a heart attack in women, quite different to those experienced by men. We have declared 25th November as Wear a Red Shawl Day and we will wear ours with pride, take photographs and post them in the group. We hope to do this each year so we remember what to look out for.

September, well…we haven’t announced that one yet but check the Boo Knits group on Ravelry, you will be made very welcome and I am sure you will love every second! [AT – Looks like the Boo Knits’ September KAL is to knit a shawl with something from deep within your stash!]

Many thanks to Bev from Boo Knits for chatting with us about her gorgeous A Midsummer Night’s Dream series . We can’t wait to see what comes out of the final collection!

And if you’re in the UK and would like to track down Merino Silk Lace to knit your own lacey Boo Knits shawl you can find it from our stockists Aragon Yarns or Purlescence. Purlescence will be attending the upcoming Yarndale festival in Skipton on 27 & 28 September where you can see it in person and give it a squish! And of course if you knit anything with Merino Silk Lace, please share your pictures with us!