Inside the Designz with the Shibaguyz - the Split Circle Wrap Crochet Pattern

Inside the Designz - Split Circle Wrap

3/23/2017

The Evolution Of A Concept

Several years ago when we were first talking about jumping into this new phase of our lives, Shannon started working on a few designs and began experimenting with some concepts that he had banging around in his brain. Some of those early designs became our first published magazine and book designs, but one in particular seemed to take hold of him and wouldn't let go.

A VERY happy Shannon posing with his blue-ribbon-winning Hinterland afghan.

It all began because of a competition, the Crochet Guild of America's annual crochet competition to be exact. Shannon was new in the industry and wanted to make a splash at the CGOA Conference. Being the math geek he is he decided to work up a natural fractal pattern into an afghan; fractals are mathmatic formulae that appear often in nature, such as how coral grows, or frost crystals appear on a pane of glass. The stitch pattern he was attempting to create, while not exactly a fractal, could be called "expanding symmetry".

Shannon spent months working on a pattern of growing and branching leaves that expanded in such a way that it stitched up into a round afghan that laid flat. We named the afghan pattern "Hinterland," boxed it up, and sent it in to be judged. At the conference that summer Shannon was announced the 1st place winner of the home decor category! WOOHOO!!

As is often the case, a designer's early concepts will evolve and, over time, take on a new life. This has definitely been the case with this stitch pattern. Shannon has come back to this stitch pattern on multiple occasions as if the organic fractal pattern has sent tendril roots into his mind, ready to spring to life when the time is right.

Split Circle Wrap from Crochet Geometry

By the time we started planning the designs for Crochet Geometry, Shannon had been working with this stitch pattern for a few years exploring all the different ways it could be adapted and expanded. In Crochet Geometry, he knew he wanted a statement piece made out of a split circle for the book, but could not find a sitch pattern that made him completely happy. That is, until Jason reminded him of "Hinterland." The organic feel of the branching leaves was perfect for the shape of the wrap they had been draping! The only real challenge would be sizing: it would require a lot of patterning to make sure of a proper fit in ALL sizes Small – 5X. Even before he wrote and sized the pattern, Shannon, himself, stitched every size by hand to double check his calculations and the branching to make sure it happened evenly and could be written so it didn't take 100+ pages (didn't want to see our editor pass out)! All the extra planning and work was more than worth it… the resulting garment was a showstopper!

While one can clearly see the evolutionary similarities between the original Hinterland afghan stitch pattern and the Split Circle Wrap stitch pattern, the two are distinctly different due to the way the "branches" had to multiply and expand to fit the two split halves of the circle. Still, the Split Circle Wrap grows organically and appears to wrap around the wearer with a leafy pattern. To ensure a more customizable fit, the columns were added to the back as a separate panel… what goes better with vines and branches than columns??

Because of the visual complexity of this stitch pattern and the absolute joy folks find in watching the leaves and branches grow and expand from their hooks, the response to the Split Circle Wrap has been huge. We will certainly be re-visiting this branching leafy concept again when the time is right. Where will this fractal concept go next? What's the next evolution? We'll see…

A little more about the Split Circle Wrap…

One of Shannon's first published pieces was a leaf pattern afghan entitled Hinterland. Inspired by that stitch pattern, Shannon took the vines and leaves look from Hinterland and developed it into a stunning wrap for our book, Crochet Geometry. Comprised of just three (3) pieces, two half circles and one rectangle, the Split Circle Wrap is a garment that looks great on many body types. Rated for Experienced stitchers because of the complex stitch pattern, intermediate crocheters who take the time to read the pattern and follow instructions will also enjoy making and wearing this showstopping garment.

As we said above, to ensure a more customizable fit, the maker should look at the schematic for the back panel of columns that splits the two halves of the circle. Crocheters have found they can make the narrower or wider version of that back panel to better fit their shoulders and that measurement should be considered rather than the finished bust when choosing your size to make.

We used Longwood Sport Yarn by Cascade Yarns to create this airy wrap. The lightweight yarn is comprised of 100% Superwash Merino Wool Yarn and comes in over 35 colors... the hard part will be deciding what color to make the NEXT one out of.

The Split Circle Cardi can be worn right side up OR for a cowled look upside down. It can also be worn open or closed... we suggest a closure like the Dayak Shawl Pin or Wild Grape Tendril Shawl Pin, both by Jul Designs.

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