FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY: We are thrilled to announce that we're offering a new pattern, the Fancy Leaves Scarf by Michael Harrigan, for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter. 

We’ve interviewed Michael in the past, but today he answered a few more questions about his design process and inspiration.

An Interview with Michael Harrigan

Q. Where do you find your design inspiration?

A. I am mostly inspired by nature and the type of stitch patterns I choose for a design depend on whether what I see is best rendered in a selection of colors or more abstractly by openwork or lace knitting.

Q. What was your inspiration for the Fancy Leaves pattern? 

A. Continuing from the question on design inspiration - at times the inspiration starts with a yarn and whether the yarn will be able to yield the desired effect. I knew that the high-twist yarn I used for Fancy Leaves would produce a fabric that highlighted the stitch pattern, providing raised edges around the leaves - and I'm pleased with the effect. 

Q. What have you been up to since we last worked together?

A. I've had a few projects in the works, including a cloche-style hat in another Japanese stitch pattern, worked in a new yarn that's a blend of linen and silk; and a big project that will take a few months, I think - it's a Fair Isle-style throw/blanket in four quadrants, representing the four seasons. Each quadrant is knit in two colors only, reflecting a pattern color that reminds me of each season. I'm also working on a post-graduate degree program in Scottish History - with a focus on male-dominated knitting dating back to the 16th century. 

Q.  What do you like most about being a knitwear designer?

A. I really like being able to experiment with a variety of yarns to see what can be produced given different fiber content - and of course playing with color to see the impact that colors have when worked next to each other: it's always amazing to me how different a shade can look depending on the color that's placed next to it.

Q. What else do you wish I had asked you? 

A. I wish you'd asked me about some of my newest designs! 

I have three in mind, actually. The first is a Fair Isle neck warmer (available on Ravelry) that I knit in a heavy lace-weight yarn on small needles. It's the first time I've tried this and I really like the effect. 

The second one is a wrap that's also suitable as a wide man's scarf. It features three mosaic stitch patterns followed by wide stripes of color separated by garter stitch eyelets: Mosaics and Medallions (available on Ravelry).

The last one is a lace-patterned scarf worked in a heavier yarn, and I call it Shoulder Seasons (available on Ravelry), as it's a really useful accessory in the fall and early spring! 

Fancy Leaves Scarf

This lacy scarf is knit in a high twist yarn so all the delicate stitches stand out and create a lovely pattern. The rectangular piece is worked from one end to the other with directions that are both charted and written. This would make a lovely gift or a project to spoil yourself with over the winter.

Yarn: Eden Cottage Yarns BRIMHAM HIGH TWIST (100g, 360/392yds, 85% superwash extrafine merino, 15% nylon) 2 skeins of Silver Birch

Needles: US 2.5 (3mm) 24”/60cm circular knitting needle or size needed to achieve gauge.

Gauge: 21 stitches and 40 rounds = 4"/10 cm in Fancy Leaves stitch pattern.

Download your free copy when you sign up for our email list today!

We hope you enjoy the pattern and can’t wait to see your versions! Please share them with us on social media using the hashtag #eucalan.

Like this post? Pin it!