Knitted fabrics for fashion

This is a little page from my sketchbook for our most recent project - designing a collection of fabrics for fashion. I began by looking at recent catwalk trends on WGSN and my fave site and new fave designer Bora Aksu http://knitkicks.wordpress.com/2009/12/29/bora-aksu-spring-summer-2010/. I was inspired by this spring's trend of 'underwear as outerwear' as seen here http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/trends/2010-spring-summer/100114-lingerie.aspx# and wanted to recreate this mood through my designs.

These are two of my final samples. I've used stitch transfers and smocking to create the diamond shape which is a continued theme throughout my collection.



For these two samples I knitted really really long tubes - stocking stitch about 5 stitches wide which naturally rolls in on itself to resemble a long tube - which I've then handknitted to achieve this chunky effect. It was a lot of fun knitting the grey cable sample with the biggest needles you've ever seen! (15mm Brittany birch needles)

For the second part of the module we've to take these fabrics and use them as a basis to design a garment for a chosen icon. I think I will chose Jenny Lewis who is a lovely folksy singer from California with amazing auburn hair and quirky, indie style. When she's not lounging around in her smalls she wears the cutsiest little high-waisted shorts, 70s style blouses and sharp hats. http://www.myspace.com/jennylewismusic - have a wee listen!

Yarn Making

Dragging myself into the new year I am faced with a new module - yarn making- and our (if you ask me , lame) topic is 'stringy things'. Finally getting some direction with it and decided on 'drystane dykes' an my inspiration.

This was my very first attempt at yarn spinning - both combining different yarns and spinning slivers of unspun yarn. I tried adding in various materials such as lichen, string, wire and horse hair to achieve a rough and natural effect. I loved it and can't wait to try out some more lovely messy ideas! I can see that spinning could be very theraputic once the basics are mastered.



This is my new research wall - its slowly but surely coming together. Am going to do some colour studies this week and perhaps some paper collages. Enjoyed doing my initial ink studies think they captured the random creeping lines of the wall pretty well. I've just been drawing from my photos so far but hope to get outside at some point this week - providing its dry and light enough.