A New Chapter…

A new chapter…

A new design label…

A new Website…

After several months of soul searching and contemplation, I’ve come to the realization that it is time for me to resign as the pattern designer for Shibui Knits. It is time for me to slow down and pass the torch. 

My time at Shibui Knits has been truly amazing. I am so very grateful to have been given the opportunity to work with the design team and create some incredible knitwear. It has been a wild, fast-paced ride and I am grateful for every minute. I just completed the FW18 Collection that will probably release next fall. That makes eight collections and 75 designs I’ve created in the past 4+ years. Wow. That’s a pretty big number. I really enjoyed creating all of them. And I learned so much. Every piece taught me something. Some of them created fun challenges. For example, I had a hard time getting a nice, loose cast on for the sheer panel of Silk Cloud on Mirage. Just going up a needle size or two wasn’t giving me the effect I was looking for. Thanks to a Google search, I happened upon the Rotated Long Tail Cast On. Who’s ever heard of that one? It ended up being perfect. Well, you get the idea. There have been innumerable fun challenges along the way, trying to turn a design element into a knitted piece.

I am very proud of my work on those 75 designs. You can see definite growth and improved skills, and thanks to the design team, a refinement of the Shibui Knits aesthetic. Now, it’s time for me to discover what my aesthetic is. 

What is the aesthetic for S h e l Designs? Therein lies the fun of discovery. I know that I love the clean lines and sophistication of Shibui Knits. I also know that I love cables and stripes and texture and color work and… It will be fun to try to combine those things. This new brand will be an evolution. The most exciting thing for me is the fact that I can create anything I want. And I have soooooooo many ideas! Stay tuned!

I am going on vacation to visit my parents in Tucson and get rejuvenated. Once I return, I will get focused and prioritize my design ideas. The pattern page on my website is currently empty but I will be adding to it this summer.

I have had some amazing women help me create this new design label. Jocelyn Okubo helped me create the brand identity and she created my logo. M. F. Corwin created my website and they both worked on the website text. Thank you so much and it means the world to me that the two of you are a part of this transformation and journey.

And thank you for taking the time to read this and for following along on this designer’s journey. 

Knit on!

Shellie