Ron Schweitzer 2003/2004 Collection

Since the beginning of our fascination with the stars, the planet Venus, the Morning Star, has been variously and affectionately regarded as the jewel of the morning sky, the reliable guide, the motherly soother, and the heavenly healer.  Ancient peoples believed Venus to be the planet of paradise, and frequently sited building entrances to align with the morning and evening light from Venus.  This V-neck cardigan vest is knit entirely in the round in classic Fair Isle style using only two colors per round.  Steeks are set anywhere there will be an opening in the finished garment.  The steeks are later cut open so stitches can be picked up around the resulting openings to knit the armhole borders and the neckbands. 

The northern lights, Aurora Borealis, and their southern hemisphere counterpart, Aurora Australis, inspired much sacred and secular mythology before these "paintings in the sky" were explained by science.  People who live in the polar regions still both welcome and fear the "dancing spirits" or "fighting hordes."  A well-known Scottish expression for auroras is "merry dancers."    This garment is a drop-shoulder, V-neck cardigan, and is knit entirely in the round in classic Fair Isle style using only two colors per round.  Steeks are set anywhere there will be an opening in the finished garment.  The steeks are later cut open so stitches can be picked up around the resulting openings to knit the sleeves, the neckband, and buttonbands.

From the gigantic stone pyramids of Chinese, Egyptian, and Mexican civilations to contemporary energy models, food groups, and a hierarchy of needs, the uses of the triangle concept continue to inspire our creativity.  As a design element, triangles can be configured in countless ways:  in this garment triangles facing different directions form jewel- like star shapes that are separated by slanting rectangles.   This drop-shoulder pullover is knit entirely in the round using only two colors per round.  Steeks are set anywhere there will be an opening in the finished garment.  The steeks are later cut open so stitches can be picked up around the resulting openings to knit the sleeves and the neckbands.

Tikal, the largest known Mayan city, was a major commercial and cultural crossroads of the Mayan empire in its prime.  Today the size of Tikal is still imposing, even though its ruins are overgrown by the jungle.  Tikal's wildlife inhabitants have become part of the mysterious, dreamlike atmosphere of this ancient place.  it is said that Tikal still echoes the remembered voices of the Maya.   This design, an echo of Mayan decorative art, is a drop-shoulder pullover, knit entirely in the round, using only two colors per round.  Ten-stitch steeks are set anywhere there will be an opening in the finished garment.  The steeks are later cut open so stitches can be picked up around the resulting openings to knit the sleeves and the neckband.

Since the days of hunting and gathering, indigenous peoples have carved representations of birds, animals and gods using wood, stone and other natural materials at hand.  Totems were interwoven with rituals and religious practices, invoked for protection, and used for decoration and embellishment of the dwelling and the body.  In some civilizations, the carving and painting of large intricate pieces took more than one generation to complete.  This tessellated design captures the representation of winged creatures facing in all four directions.   Happily, it will not take more than one generation to complete this drop-shoulder pullover, knit entirely in the round and using only two colors per round.  Ten-stitch steeks are set anywhere there will be an opening in the finished garment.  Steeks are later cut open so stitches can be picked up around the resulting openings to knit the sleeves and the neckband.

The unearthly beauty and peace of the woodland's frosted foliage in deep winter has inspired prose, painting, poetry, and photography.  And now it can be captured as a knitted garment using Shetland 2000 natural and plant-dyed wools.   This garment is a drop-shoulder, crew neck cardigan and is knit entirely in the round in classic Fair Isle style, using only two colors per round.  Steeks are set anywhere there will be an opening in the finished garment.  The steeks are later cut open so stitches can be picked up around the resulting openings to knit the sleeves, the neckband, and buttonbands.