To celebrate the New Year, we’re dropping a bonus episode this 1 January! Episode 161 is short and sweet featuring the creative Bärbel Salet, a German knitwear designer and the author behind “Knit Artistic Shawls.” Bärbel is also offering Fruity Knitting Patrons a discount on the yarn kits for her patterns. Enjoy the interview and Happy New Year!
Knit Artistic Shawls - Bärbel Salet
We first featured Bärbel in Episode 35 as a Knitter of the World, where she shared her dream of creating a book of her shawl design ideas full of colour gradients and bold patterns. She recently made that dream a reality with the release of her book Knit Artistic Shawls.
The book, available in German and English, features 15 striking colourwork shawls modeled by three generations of women to show that anybody, no matter their age, can wear them.
The interview starts off with Bärbel explaining her philosophy on colour and colour gradients. Sometimes, five colours are all you need for a colour gradient. Then add one or two contrast colour and you have a stunning effect! Later, Bärbel walks us through her shawl constructions and preferred finishing techniques.
Bärbel’s shawls are inspired by the beautiful things she sees around her in every day life from old brick walls to her friend’s pets. For example, the Gondwana Shawl (above) was inspired by a pet chameleon with it’s striking bright blue and green camouflage.
For those who prefer to knit garments, some of Bärbel’s shawl designs are also available as jackets.
Bärbel also sold the yarn kits to her patterns during the 2025 Swiss Yarn Festival. And her Gondwana shawl was even featured in the festival’s fashion show.
Finding Bärbel Salet
- Website: verstricktekunst.de
- Book:
Knit Artistic Shawls (English)
Kunstvolle Tücher (German) - Ravelry: Bärbel Salet VerstrickteKunst
- Instagram: @verstricktekunst
Patron Discount - Verstrickte Kunst (Bärbel Salet)
Bärbel is kindly offering our Fruity Knitting Patrons a 10% discount on the yarn kits to her shawl patterns! Patrons can find all discount details here.
What we are wearing
Andrea is wearing her Smocked variation of the April Cardigan by PetiteKnit in the interview and her Insight Cardigan by Kim Hargreaves on the couch. Madeleine is wearing her Elizabeth Blouse by PetiteKnit on the couch.
Credits
- Beethoven, Piano Sonata no. 8 in C minor ‘Pathetique’, Op. 13, Adagio Cantabile, performed by Paul Pitman, Creative Commons Public Domain 1.0
- Van Morrison, Moondance (2013 Remastered) from the album Moondance, ℗ 2013 Warner Records Inc., Auto-generated by YouTube
