Inspiration shows up when you least expect it...

I was surfing Etsy, as I am prone to do, and I came across these nifty beach stone buttons in madeforfun's shop. (http://http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5594789) All of a sudden, my brain started rolling with ideas for a cardigan inspired by the coast.

Boy genius and I used to live in Charleston, SC. and since we came back to Kentucky I truly miss being near to the ocean. Since I'm stuck in a place that has a good amount of sweater weather, why not make a sweater than celebrates the place where you are least likely to need to wear one? Convoluted logic? I think so. But I'm working with what I have here :)

Now, first things first. I'm thinking about the things that would best symbolize the things that I love about Charleston and the beach. For one, Charleston is where Boygenius and I lived when we were first married, so I'm thinking a twined cable (with 2 different textures in it) would be a nice representative pattern, possibly running the length of the sleeves or on the sides of the button bands. I think its also going to be important to find the right pattern to exemplify the texture of the windblown and water worked sand on the coast. Maybe something that shows the rolling of the waves?

I'm totally brainstorming here...so thanks for coming along for the ride :)

Wow...and color! Now here's where it gets interesting. Maybe I should go with an earthy, sandy sort of shade to reinforce the texture, but then possibly flowing into more watery tones? Nothing too overt. Or, maybe the color should stay consistent, but the pattern of the knitting should flow from the beachy texture to the rolling waves from the top to the bottom.

I've got lots to think about, that's for sure! Time to bust out the sketch book and the stitch books when I get home before I loose all momentum.

For those of you who design your own knits...heck your own anything....What does your creative process look like? How do you go from idea to finished object? Do you start with a detailed idea or do you just wing it? I want details folks...Inquiring minds want to know!