People had heard of Knit-A-Longs( KALs) where everyone worked on the same project together, perhaps selecting different yarns. However, the question that I was asked over and over during the signup phase was,“ Exactly what is a DAL?” I could only describe it as a cross between a design workshop and a design“ boot camp,” where everyone would be invited to work through the four steps of my Design Process, as introduced in Knitwear Design Workshop, and create their own masterpieces. With everyone signing up responding to that explanation with“ great!”, I knew it was going to be lots of fun, and unlike anything that any of us had ever before experienced with our knitting!
A few weeks later, we took off with 30 intrepid and eager design students, holding hands and eagerly anticipating this new type of creative experience. I began by posting a chart and a swatch that I had used to design a scarf, then announcing the DAL equivalent of,“ Ready, set, go!” which was“ Profile, sketch, swatch!” And the design process had begun!
Since the group was composed primarily of American and Japanese knitters, we posted instructions in both languages. People would visit the American group site and wonder if they were at the right place, with large passages of text posted in Japanese. However, between the participants, no one seemed to notice that we spoke different languages. We all spoke knitting, and were eager to design. That kept the atmosphere charged with excitement.
Four months passed quickly with everyone interpreting the DAL stitch pattern to create their individual designs. Some were designing garments and some accessories. As in-progress photos were constantly being posted to the group, there was lots of visual stimulation. This resulted in nonstop virtual chatting and learning as we walked together through each step of the process. Each time we completed a step, there would be a burst of energy that would fill the air for weeks. It was that constant creative energy bubbling over that continued to propel us forward. Finally, the participants began crossing the finish line by posting photos of their completed pieces. At that point the group atmosphere became electric! It was then that I realized that the worldwide design experiment had been a wonderful starting point for bigger and better design events.
In the years that followed, four additional Design-A-Longs were held. They were all truly memorable experiences. As you turn the pages here, you will see some of the different“ things of beauty” created in those virtual“ Design Workshops”. They brought out true excellence in design craftsmanship in all of us.
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