Get to Know Romi Hill and Join the Harmonize Shawl KAL!

Romi Hill's Harmonize Shawl Knit-Along

Lorna’s Laces is back with their Color Commentary Series! – this time with a new String Quintet, shawl design, AND Knit-Along from designer Romi Hill! Join the fun and knit Romi Hill's Harmonize Shawl featuring her lovely addition to the Color Commentary series - French Horn. The shawl is knit using a String Quintet accompanied by a coordinating skein of Shepherd Sock (kits available here!), and the pattern can be purchased from Romi's Ravelry store. The online Knit-Along will be hosted by the Knitmore Girls in their Ravelry group starting August 1st! 

Let's get down to the [k]nitty gritty: 

• Who: Designer Romi Hill, Lorna's Laces, the Knitmore Girls, and of course, YOU!
• What: A Knit-Along celebrating the newest addition to Lorna's Laces' Color Commentary Series: String Quintets in the colorway French Horn (designed by Romi herself!)
• Where to buy the yarn: Kits available here!
• Where to buy the pattern: Romi's pattern available here!
• Where to interact online: The Knitmore Girls' Ravelry Group
• When: Begins August 1st

Get to Know the Designer: An Interview with Romi Hill!

As soon as we heard about this KAL we knew we wanted to help promote it! A collaboration between Romi Hill, one of our favorite designers, and our friends at Lorna’s Laces? It was music to our ears!

Intrigued by Romi’s personal connection to the French horn, we reached out to her to learn a little bit more. Here’s what she had to say:

We just love the color palette you chose for the String Quintet! What is it about the French horn that made you think of these colors?

The horn is one of the most versatile instruments; it's sort of a bridge between brass and woodwinds. In fact, there is a horn in both traditional brass and woodwind quintet instrumentation. It can sound heroic, mellow, strident, melancholy, sweet, happy - you name it - and composers use it in so many different ways! I wanted colors to evoke the different facets of the horn, but also that would blend beautifully together. The sixth color, Timbre (which I just found out today is the stage name of Kerfuffle!), makes the quintet colors pop and pull together in beautiful harmony. The combination sings to me!

We heard you received your undergrad in French horn - where did you study?

I went to Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA for two years to study with a very special horn teacher: Forrest Standley. I learned SO much from him, but he became ill and I transferred to Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. I fell in love with jazz and studio/film scoring work there, and I had some amazing opportunities. I got to tour Germany as part of the orchestra, and then the eastern seaboard with Wynton Marsalis as part of the wind ensemble. I became interested in recording engineering my senior year and went on to stay an extra year to do a paid internship in the recording studio. After that, I was missing home (San Francisco Bay Area), and went back (SF State) to get a masters in radio and television with an emphasis in sound. But my curiosity attacked again, and I got really interested in the journalism aspects of my degree. I ended up doing my thesis on how the media molds policy through influencing public opinion.

Do you still play the French horn? What other instruments do you play?

I hadn't played for a LONG time, and then I picked it up again recently so I could play duets with my younger son. Much to my amazement, I can still play, though my range isn't what it used to be!

I also play some piano and I'm teaching myself classical guitar. When I first started music (we're talking kindergarten age), my mother taught me to read music and play her clarinet. I can still get a pretty good tone.

Does anyone else in your family play music?

My younger son is an amazing trumpet player! He's also my model for the pictures on the Harmonize pattern cover and on Ravelry. He's only been playing for 3-1/2 years, but he is so awesome. He'll be entering high school next year and he's going to be playing first in the top Reno youth orchestra, plus first in the top band at his high school. This is a small area though, so I keep telling him not to let it go to his head. There are a TON of other great musicians out there in the wide world, and he still needs to work at it. :)

Also, my mother and grandmother were musicians. I only wish they could have heard my son play!

Lastly, what did you have for dinner last night?!

We went out to our favorite restaurant in Carson City: Sassafras. Everything I've ever had there is fantastic. This last time, I had the Asian Chicken Tacos. I might also have succumbed to the Poke. The “tacos” are served on thin slices of jicama instead of tortillas and they are so so good! If you haven't gone there, you absolutely should. They also have live music. It's a fantastic place!

Thanks so much, Romi!! We loved learning more about you and the inspiration behind this beautiful colorway!

You can spread the word on social media using the hashtags #3PartHarmony #RomiDesigns #Knitmorealong and #LornasLaces

We hope you’ll join in on the fun, and stay tuned!! - even more exciting news is coming your way!!

XOXO,

Jimmy and the Beans