The Improvisations Shawl is inspired by Wassily Kandinsky’s Improvisation 28 Second Version, 1923. It uses a bold highly variegated yarn with a solid color boarder in a textured stitch. Like Improvisation 28, this shawl creates exciting patterns autonomously, as you crochet, the patterns will appear and change.

Kandinsky created ‘compositions’ which is also in development as a crochet pattern by Yield to the Yarn. The patterns will be released together with a special discount when purchased. Improvisation 28 (Second Version), 1912 and Composition 8, 1923 were the paintings that inspired me most because of the variety in shape and color. I tried to convey that in the patterns and without giving away too much secret sauce, the texture pattern in Compositions is more linear than that in Improvisations. The patterns have a very sharp triangle similar shape which is great for wearing like a shawl or wrapping around like a scarf. Because it uses highly variegated yarn, pooling will happen and is encouraged. It is very Kandinsky-like to just let the yarn do whatever it pleases. The solid color border tones down the intensity created in the variegated yarn and allows for some interesting color combinations.

Wasily Kandinsky was born in Moscow on December 4th, 1866. His first name is also spelled Vasily or Vassily depending on who your asking. Kandinsky was always interested in art despite studying law, economics, and statistics in university. Most of Kandinsky’s early works were inspired by Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, and his Russian background. Monet’s Grainstacks would influence how Kandinsky viewed colors. Much of his early work is a pointillist version of a Russian plein-air street scene. After he began to receive recognition, Kandinsky taught abstract art in Russia and eventually the famous Bauhaus in Germany.

Much of what abstract art is based from was invented by Kandinsky. Color played in an extremely important role in his paintings which is why these shawls use bold variegated colors. Kandinsky paints subjects loosely because he painted semi-autonomously without full control as to what the finished painting was to look like. Therefore, he relied on colors and their “spirituality” to convey the meaning to the viewer. I have read a couple books that argue that Kandinsky had synesthesia allowing him to see sounds. This is notable because Kandinsky wrote about who he wanted the color in his paintings to trigger a sound thus triggering emotions much like a piece of music.

Any questions can be sent to me, Rachel Stewart, at yieldtotheyarn@gmail.com and for more information on the shawls go to yieldtotheyarn.com