Comments on: Coraline contest

By: Renate Braul

Renate Braul — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 04:12:49 +0000

I’m so very jealous that you had the opportunity to meet Neil Gaiman. He’s so fantastically creative, and has such an amazing talent to bring power to words. I humbly suggest you create a sweater after Anansi, the trickster spider god. He’s just way too cool. Something unexpected :)

By: Kele

Kele — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 03:54:59 +0000

You are so lucky! I am filled with envy. I didn’t get to actually meet Neil when I went to the reading of The Graveyard Book in Chicago.

I was really trying to think of a character from a non-Neil Gaiman book, but I am rather obsessed with him as a writer. So, how about The Lady on the Grey from his latest endeavor?

By: Pamela

Pamela — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 01:33:53 +0000

I’m probably getting this in late, but I’d love to enter the contest! I love your Coraline pattern–I’ll have to read her namesake now. As for future patterns… I’d love to see something modeled (or just named) after Lady Una, in Stardust.

By: malaraky

malaraky — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 23:41:59 +0000

that is so great that you got him to sign your pattern! I haven’t read Coraline but will have to seek it out – I loved Neverwhere. I love the naming of patterns after fairy tale figures too – perhaps Rapunzel would be a good name for you to use – something with narrow cables suggesting flowing lines and drapey tresses…

By: KathleenC

KathleenC — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 23:02:01 +0000

I know it was suggested by others as well but the first thing I thought of was the fallen star, Yvaine, in Stardust. Lace and romance and a true inner strength… I have always loved the melancholy image of her at the end of the book, after her mortal love is gone, climbing high to the top of the tower and gazing skyward where she will never dance again…

By: Bree

Bree — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:48:58 +0000

I’d love to see something based on a femme fatale from any of Raymond Chandler’s stories — maybe a neat, tailored asymmetrical sweater? Princess Cimorene and the witch Morwen from the Dealing With Dragons series are pretty great. And the Young Lady in Grey from Wheels of Chance by H. G. Wells is a current favorite, an independent, Victorian idealist.

By: TheKnittingBee

TheKnittingBee — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:28:08 +0000

Definitely something for Meggie from Cornelia Funke’s Inkheart series! Just imagine a lovely cosy cardie for a girl who loves books!

But if we’re going with a Neil Gaiman character then some awesome mad stripey or modular colourful creation for Delirium from the Sandman graphic novels :)

By: Barbara

Barbara — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:05:45 +0000

Neil Gaiman is an absolute genius. I devour every single book he writes.

As far as the characters goes, I was thinking the Little Red Riding Hood, but in the end I think it’s too cliche and obvious. So I had to come up with someone little more interesting so my suggestions is either Lyra from Pullman’s trilogy, Matilda from Roald Dahl’s Matilda (I always associate book nerds and knitters for some reason) or maybe Cecilia Tallis from Ian McEwan’s Atonement (I remembered Keira Knightley’s green dress from that movie and thought it might serve as an inspiration from something elegant in the knitting world).

If I had to choose one it would probably be Cecilia Tallis.

By: SuperM

SuperM — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:37:00 +0000

Definitely Lirael from the book of the same name and Abhorsen by Garth Nix. Or if you want to do something for a boy/man Arthur from the Nix “Keys to the Kingdom” series. Can you tell I’m a Garth Nix fan?

By: stefani

stefani — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:24:52 +0000

Neil Gaimen is if nothing else a yarn spinner. I feel that is why so many knitters, including me, devour his work. His stories unfold, unravel and we as readers can only follow the thread to it’s beautiful, amusing and sometimes heartbreaking end. Reading Gaimens work, to me, is always a journey and on that journey you meet new friends and make enemies. Always wanting more Gaimen, searching for it has lead me here. I would love nothing more than a physical representation on two of my passions coming together, a beautiful knitting pattern inspired and signed by my favorite writer.
Growing up as a reader and a knitter I was always fascinated by the Sheep Woman from Through the Looking Glass, by Lewis Carroll. She sits knitting and everytime Alice looks to her work she has gained another needle. Knitting, until they become inumerable. The tangle of yarn mesmerizes Alice, as it always did me.
Perhaps a utilitarian coat with pockets and compartments sutable for keeping your extra needles and notions. With a slide of hand you have an extra dpn or a stitch counter. Filling all those who look on with wonderment.