I loved watching the Disney version of Sleeping Beauty when I was a kid. The classic Disney films would start with an ornate storybook opening and you’d dive right into the story, watching it unfold with the magic of animation. This film in particular was visually stunning and a true masterpiece. The forest backgrounds reminded me of ancient tapestries, and who could forget Aurora’s gorgeous dress that changed from pink to blue, or the toxic spinning wheel that put her into a deep sleep? I was never a huge fan of her being a damsel in distress that needed a kiss to wake up, but the aesthetics of this film was one of the reasons I studied animation at RISD.
I’m packing up this week and getting ready to head off to Disney World to teach for my second year in a row at the Magical Fiber Fantasy Retreat. Knitting and Disney World? Sign. Me. Up. I’ll be teaching Fair Isle 101, Fair Isle 2.0, Beaded Cuffs, and Latvian & Estonian Braids. This retreat truly is magical being on Disney property, enthusiastic students, a great knitting marketplace, and excellent fellow teachers. This year I’ll be teaching alongside Kirsten Kapur, Alana Dakos, and Jillian Moreno. It was such a blast last year and I’m thrilled to be going back!
While I’ll be releasing my retreat-debuting patterns after the retreat has wrapped up, I wanted to introduce a new Sleeping Beauty-inspired Fair Isle design, the Briar Rose Cowl, to get into the spirit. I worked closely with Queen City Yarn to develop a brand new worsted colorway called Briar Rose, a mix of pink and blue with white, just like Aurora’s dress! The cowl features rose, spinning wheel, dragon, and crown motifs, all nods to this classic fairy tale and favorite parts of Briar Rose/Princess Aurora’s story.
Knitting up on US 7 (4.5mm) circs with Queen City’s superwash Wesley Heights Worsted, this addictive cowl is a must for all Disney fans! A companion to my A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes Cowl, which was a project that debuted at last year’s retreat, this corrugated rib and stranded color work combo is the perfect travel knit (especially if you’re on your way to Disney World!). If you’re at the retreat, there will be kits available for the cowl there!
