• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • SHOP
    • Upcoming Release Gallery Photos
    • Free Classes/Workshops on Teachable
    • Special Offers on New Releases!
    • Why Jill Wolcott Knits Patterns are Expensive
  • BLOG
  • LEARNING
    • Free Classes/Workshops on Teachable
    • What Is An Action Chart?
    • Menu of Techniques
    • Techniques Library : What’s In There?
    • Abbreviations
    • Sizing Tables / Charts / Guidelines & Croquis
    • Pattern Difficulty Levels / Type of Knitting
    • Why Jill Wolcott Knits Patterns are Expensive
    • Inside a Jill Wolcott Knits Pattern
    • How-To Videos: Learn from Jill
      • Why I Love . . . Techniques
    • Jill Wolcott Knits: A Fit Background
    • 2021-2022 Workshops With Jill Wolcott Knits
    • Overview of ASOG – A System of Grading
  • ABOUT
    • Designer’s Story
    • Calendar Events Schedule
    • Inside Scoop Subscribe & Newsletter Archives
    • Fundraising Projects
    • Jill Wolcott Knits
      • Jill Wolcott curriculum vitae
    • Techniques Library : What’s In There?
    • Abbreviations
    • Errata
    • Privacy Notice for Jill Wolcott Knits
  • CONTACT
  • My Account
  • Press

Jill Wolcott Knits logo

February 2, 2021 Leave a Comment

Ruth Brasch Design is Rise Up Designer Six

RISE UP DESIGNER SIX

Ruth Brasch is Ruth Brasch Design. Welcome, Ruth.  I love your tagline “patterns to satisfy your curiosity”.  That pretty much expresses what I look for in knitting and designing!

You are the sixth designer in the Rise Up collection; I love what you chose to do with the stitch pattern inspiration.  Let’s talk about how the design process works for you.  Although I’ve asked these questions of everyone, I am putting them here, because I’ve kind of forgotten!

Designing

Q1 Where do you usually start when creating a design?Ruth Brasch Trust Fall Sock

Usually I begin with a question. I wonder, “what would happen if…” and then I make it happen with yarn!

Q2: Do you have a preference of working with restrictions versus doing “whatever”?

I hate working with restrictions. I find that when I give myself restrictions I tend to become perfectionistic and limit myself rather than giving my curiosity full rein.

Q3: How do you start a design? Yarn? Stitch Pattern? Shape? Concept?

This depends on the question I’m trying to answer. Usually I begin with a chart or a basic pattern outline. Sometimes I have a full pattern written off only a concept before I even begin swatching or pick up the yarn I’ll use.

I love when something comes almost fully designed for me; I usually find there are so many details to sort out that even those easily borne take on a life of their own.

The Work of Ruth Brasch Design

Q4: How do you decide which ideas to pursue and which to let sit?

Often it’s just a matter of what “works.” Some designs flow easily, others feel as if I’m forcing them into existence with sheer determination and willpower. Unless I’ve made a professional commitment to publish one of the “determination” patterns, I tend to let go of those and stick with the ones that are flowing nicely. I believe that our work reflects our attitudes and feelings, so I don’t like to publish a pattern that feels forced or pushed.

Q5: Do you do collections or concept development?

I don’t tend to create formal collections. Sometimes I’ll play with a stitch pattern or shape and create multiple patterns with it to see how I can vary or enhance it, but in general I mostly create stand alone patterns, or occasionally sets.

Q6: What appeals to you about independent designing?

I appreciate the flexibility of independent design. If a concept isn’t working, I can put it in time out and work on another one, or I can cancel the stubborn concept entirely. I also appreciate that I don’t have strict deadlines to meet unless I put them on myself.

Ruth Brasch Scrappy DesignQ7: What role does color play in your work?

Color influences my work in the sense that if I find a color uninspiring or ugly I have a hard time seeing the beauty of a stitch pattern in it. For example, I can’t stand working with pastels or neutrals; I find them dull and uninspiring, so I don’t use them. For the most part I prefer to design with colors many makers find difficult to use: highly variegated or speckled, or brightly colored. I believe those yarns can shine when given the chance and used in a way that shows them off.

Good work on finding a voice for those difficult-to-work-with yarns!  I love that crocheted afghan shown here–the gray is such a brilliant background.

Being Ruth Brasch Design

Q8: What besides knitting and your family do you love?Ruth Brasch Tunisian Crochet

I love photography, though I’m not very good at it. I love to read and dye yarn as well.

Q9: How do you remain creative?

When I’m feeling uninspired I try to find the source of the lack of inspiration and meet it head on. If I’m feeling as if I have too many projects I’m slogging through and that I’ll never be done, I find a project I can finish quickly in 1-2 days. If I’m having trouble matching a yarn to a stitch pattern, I’ll work on a scrappy project that doesn’t require pattern to yarn matching; I’ll see progress, and often the blending of the scrappy colors will inspire me to get past the yarn/stitch difficulty.

Q10:  What next — besides leaving the house!

Well, there’s always more socks – you can be sure you’ll see more socks from me! I also have some secret plans for May and September, so there’s fun on the horizon that I can’t reveal yet. Other than that, I go where the design inspiration takes me.

I’ve been interested talking to people who have taken a heavy hit on their creativity during this pandemic. I seem rarely at a loss for things that need my attention.  I get bogged in the details, but never run out of ideas!

Your Rise Up Design

Ruth Brasch Vacillate SingleVacillate (v.):Ruth Brasch Vacillate Instep 2

To waver in mind, will, or feeling:

Hesitate in choice of opinions or courses.

Traveling cables and changing textures

Rise up this sock,

Representing my vacillation

as I designed them.

Knit or purl?

Left or right?

Diamond or triangle?

Yes.

 

Stay Connected with Ruth Brasch Design

Ruth Brasch Vacillate Pointed

Ravelry

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Payhip

Related Posts

  • Knit Eco Chic - Rise Up Profile
    Knit Eco Chic - Rise Up Profile
  • Christine Guest Designs - Rise Up
    Christine Guest Designs - Rise Up
  • Identity: A Design Exploration in a Pattern e-book
    Identity: A Design Exploration in a Pattern e-book

Filed Under: Blog, Rise Up Tagged With: brasch, color, concept, create, design, designer, designing, inspiration, pattern, patterns, restrictions, rise, ruth, stitch, work, yarn

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Jill’s Story

Teacher, Designer, with expertise to lead you where you want to go as a knitter/designer. Read More…

Blog Archive

Don’t Miss these Techniques!

drawing of how a button link is put together. design, writing, technique

Button Links

most of the shelves on the yarn wall

Color Play in Yarn

Photo of Jill's Rowena Iron and her Reliable Steamer Iron

Steam Block

lovely hand-wound center pull ball in Fingering 101, yarn, yarn ball, center-pull, technique

Hand Wound Center-Pull Ball

Popular in the Shop

  • Smallest Number of Stitches to Cast On A Moebius Suggested price: $3.00
  • Tulle Collar on dress form with taupe side out, a view of tope and bottom Latvian braid, and 3 vintage button links. Tulle Collar $12.00
  • Half-size dress form wearing dk version in pink and purple from Oink Pigments Clapham Trio: Junction, Road, & Common $20.00
  • ASOG 2023 Deposit-in-Full: Gou Pei Dress ASOG 2023 Registration Deposit-in-Full $100.00
  • ASOG 2023 Deposit-in-Payment: Gou Pei Dress with wings ASOG 2023 Registration Deposit-in-Payments $100.00 / 7 days

Stay Updated

Footer

About Jill

Teacher, Designer, with expertise to lead you where you want to go as a knitter/designer.

Pattern Availability

If you live outside of the US and Canada you can now purchase Jill Wolcott Knits PDF patterns directly through Payhip.

Stay Connected

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Ravelry

© 2023 Jill Wolcott Knits