Knitterly Love

via Motohiro Tanji

I can't knit. It's kind of crazy since I can do so many other crafty things... especially so since my skills in and understanding of textiles are generally pretty good. I know I could learn to knit, and lord knows my mom has tried over and over to teach me... One year EVERYONE got a scarf for Christmas. Tons of them... super long ones too. You would think that after oodles of scarves I would be better than I am... but it's not in my cards, and I accept that. I suppose the fact that I can't just make a knitted something has a lot to do with my obsession with knit goods. I love knit skirts, handbags and pretty much any knit item or garment that is not usually what you think of when you think of knit.

nouveaumirai

Craig Lawrence

I say obsession, but it isn't the kind of obsession where I want all of it. Far from it... but more of a thing where when I see something unique and beautiful in the knitted world I am far more drawn to it than to something sewn. While I may look at a Dior gown and marvel at the technique and the ingenuity of it, I know that given the resources and time, I could produce something as grandiose... I know I have the talent to make most of the things I see, whether I actually do or not. Sewing is technical, and once you understand the concepts it is pretty easy to deconstruct an item. This is not me saying I am as good a designer as Dior, as dreaming up the designs is something entirely different. The only designer who has literally stumped me so far, is Alexander McQueen (RIP)... which is why he is my favourite. Which brings us back to why amazing knitting awes me.

Missoni

Rodarte

Annie Larson

Annie Larson

Is it just me? Or is knitting entering an entirely new dimension on the fashion scene? Obviously, somebody someplace has been out there all along knitting amazing and unique pieces... it's not the talent that is new, but there is a recent acceptance, or maybe the same as I feel, awe over the knitted garment. Missoni, Rodarte, major players on the fashion scene as well as relative newcomers like Annie Larson are reinventing knitwear, and most often with as much colour and pattern as they can manage.

Renaissance

Pumpkinbelle

I am seeing the most beautiful things come out of the fashion scene in knit, and moreover, seeing all of my most uber chic friends take it up. It's becoming the "cool" hobby. Which IS cool! I am loving this generation's way of embracing all of these skills that we have removed ourselves from. Knitting, baking, slow food, gardening, crafting, etc. How refreshing!

So mom, if you are reading this and you have the utmost desire to knit something in the coming months... I would like to request... this pretty little number from ravelry.  I'm sure it's not that complicated... :) Probably less so than my first choice...

...no? Heck, it can't be that much harder than a scarf... maybe I'll give it another go.

Bokja

I am infatuated. Very much adoring my new find...

As a self-diagnosed fabricaholic, I absolutely am enamored with the trend of covering one piece of furniture with multiple fabrics, and if they are brightly coloured, textured, handwoven, natural and global textiles, all the better. The sad truth is that the making of fabric in our own culture has been mechanized and plasticized to the point of nearly being tupperware. But there is a cultural connection to textiles around the world that goes back nearly as far back as man. The gathering, dying and weaving of these fibers went hand in hand with the telling and documentation of tribal stories. The tapestri of life can literally be traced back through history.

"We are mixers and matchers who like to upcycle fabrics, frames, and techniques in a sustainable and fascinating way. We are story-tellers. Every piece of fabric, color, thread, frill that goes into our pieces is a little word from a different part of the world that is chosen in an intuitive process." the team explained to GreekArchitect online magazine.

BOKJA is a Turkish word that describes the elaborate and detailed fabric created to cover a bride's dowry. Embroidered by the bride's relatives, this fabulously worked textile is meant to be a reminder of her past to be treasured in her new life as a married woman. Marrying vintage furniture with fabrics that are worked traditionally is the brainchild of Lebanese design team Huda Baroudi and Maria Hibri. Artisans are often enlisted with a mind to help women, with female prisoners and widowers being given a chance to support their families in an otherwise desperate situation.

What the world needs is a more beautiful way of looking at what we have to work with. We don't need more stuff, we need a way to revitalize what is already on hand, both in terms of things, and resources. A good dose of colour doesn't hurt either! It doesn't get much better really :)

Felted Gorgeousness From Dana Barnes

Last night I was catching up on some blog perusal and one of my mainstays, Fiona at Cafe Cartolina, had posted these rather brilliant stools from Claire-Anne O'Brien.

 I love huge chunky knit things, and it reminded me of these rugs I found awhile ago, probably via a post on Facebook, I can't remember now. Either way, thought I would dig up that bookmark and post 'em.

The rugs in Dana's SoHo loft.

These photos are a few of the rugs that were conceived by Dana Barnes in her SoHo loft as a way to lessen the noise that having such a wide open space can create. With her two young girls living in the loft with her and her husband, she needed some underfoot padding, and with a background in textile design, the obvious choice was ginormous granny squares crocheted out of merino roving. Her collection is called Souled Objects and features felted contemporary versions of traditional crafting styles such as crochet and macrame. I am completely enamored with both the round crocheted bubble type ones and the flat felted one that has small dome shapes (below, in her bed/bathroom).

Dana is on to her fourth front loading washer, as she uses the machines' hot cycle to felt the large squares after they have been crocheted by hand and they seem to be less than thrilled to be her workhorses... a bag of wet wool roving is pretty hefty. It would seem that Dana is infatuated with felting. Indeed, her home is filled with her work, and she uses a wide variety of techniques to create a number of different styles and functions. Her technical skill is evident, an obvious trait from years working with designers such as Elie Tahari in the New York fashion mecca.

What is perhaps less evident, but more relevant, is her connection to indigenous craft. She has spent a great deal of time in developing countries to be close to the hands that felt, weave and manipulate textiles in a quest to fully relate utilitarian function with the beauty of the handmade. She also credits her upbringing, in the Southeastern US watching a community of crafters and artisans that relied on local sources.

She has help, in the form of a group of young artists and crafters, one of whom is Megan Novak. Megan enjoys the time she spends at the loft, out on the terrace crocheting huge squares with a dowel and her hands in the sun.

Ms. Novak wears an organdy apron to keep the fibers where they belong. Not only do I love the image of giant crochet stitches, but her hair is darling!

Dana has shown at the International Furniture Fair, and her pieces (ranging from $95 to $200 per square foot) are sold at BDDW in New York.

Designer Dana Barnes

Photos from Souled Objects site, and from this wonderful NYTimes article.

Self Preservation...

OK, so this is kind of strange :)

 I was looking for a post on here about some of the things I have created in the past to send a link to somebody who wanted to see photos. I must have posted photos of what I make someplace here, right? NO??? Really? Wow...

 In the world of instant media gratification, and with so many places to put "you" on the internet, I seem to have lost track completely of where I have posted which photos, tutorials and self promotion! How odd. I think I am going to start having to use one of those things that people use for their kids where you get a gold star in the box when you have successfully completed your list of chores. I need a To Do list specifically for which email accounts have been checked, which sites photos have been uploaded to, and which posts and statuses have been updated. Sheesh! I am starting to understand why people who blog have "Such and such Tuesdays" and "Whatnot Wednesdays"! Helps you remember what you are supposed to be doing :)

I think it will take a bit for me to organize my things into specific posts, but since I have to write and upload an email anyway, I may as well start here and just send a link, yes? Well then, without further ado, I introduce some of my embroidered pillows. Just some things I threw together :) (Translation: these are my favourite ones...)

I always use sustainable and organic fabrics and fills when possible... and my etsy shop is here :)

Piece by Piece...

I hear rumour that quilters are organized. That they IRON before AND after they sew pieces of fabric together!!! Well, let's not call me a quilter then. I am a fabric piecer togetherer. I have a favourite quilt that has fallen apart so completely that the other day my seven year old offered to take me shopping for a new one. Hmmm. So I figure what with me having more fabric than I have room for, making a quilt should be easy. The part where I DON'T HAVE ROOM for this fabric is really the key here though, as it would most likely have sewn itself into glorious fancy things ages ago had I had the right amount of space to do it justice... for right now though, the "studio" is over run with lovely little bits of thrifted vintage linens and such that I am puzzling together one piece at a time. There is most likely a term for this in the day of yoga and meditative everything.... I shall call this "intuitive quilting". Organic Intuitive Quilting, as in, I don't iron or measure, I just sew, sew, sew to get it done in two days. I will save the measuring and ironing for the pieces I do for others...

Habit Forming Wedding Addiction...

Apparently I am now a wedding blog. It's not my fault, it is just because there are so many gorgeous things to fit under the wedding category now. Back in the day I had to go to my fair (well, unfair if you were to ask me) share of wedding shows. The big annoying kind with flourescent lighting and bad music where the only plus was that you got to sample a petit four or two. Oh, well there was that one time where during the fashion show the tux guys made a bet amongst themselves that at the end when they wore the kilts they would all go commando and surprise the audience with a "show" to remember. That was brilliant. Anyhow, as I was saying, these days we have a little something called c.r.e.a.t.i.v.i.t.y. to really spice things up with the bridal scene. Thank the gods!



I was just over trying to nominate a friend on the etsy voter page and got sent to the wrong set of photos. Which of course happened to be the wedding set. And such lovely things there were there... am I allowed to infringe on etsy territory like this? It's definitely a promo... you might consider any of these pretties even if you are not getting married, but having been made to take part on far too many of these things, I can vouch that using ANY of these as inspiration for a theme would completely up the bar for your event. Imagine your table lined with rows of these...


Just randomly placed amongst twisted branches and gorgeous greenery... with these at the place settings, gorgeous!


Then you could re-use them over and over in your home or give them as favours. Love dual purpose. And the boys should be looking all dapper in these...


and these...


If you are going to do the invitations up fancy, they don't get much much more fabulous than this lovely ladie's creations. I have ogled her work before, but this set made me salivate. I now need uber gorgeous invites to my birthday party. I know, they seem extravagant, but really, if you knew...


These are pretty brilliant...


...but to be totally honest, the entire reason I put this post together is because of this dress... or should I say "exquisite work of art"... SO pretty, SO unique, SO perfect. I am in adoration. (I refuse to say j'adore, you can't make me.) Somebody really amazing should be getting married in this gown. Or just maybe get a bit older in it. Just sayin'...


This dress isn't actually in the Voter series, for some insane reason she listed another very pretty but less interesting dress. The best part of this gown is that it is created from eco sensitive fabrics. The hand appliqued landscape panel is handcrafted using hemp/silk and wild silk with over forty blossoms among the intertwined tree limbs. Stunning. People, if you are going to buy something fabulous, look for it on etsy first. I am telling you, there is no way you are going to find a gown in a store with this attention to detail for less than three grand. Especially in gorgeous fabrics like these. I can fully attest to the beautiful hand and drape of natural fabrics, remember that the entire reason they started making polyester was to emulate fabrics like these on the cheap. If the panel is a little much for you and you prefer something on the simpler side, go and take a gander at her shop, she has a number of lovely pieces in very soft and simple styles.

From Purl to Couture

I came sort of in a haphazard and indirect way, from the fashion industry. At least I was surrounded by it for a good many years. I actually was not even a little bit interested in fashion's industry and jumped ship at the first good opportunity. It had never been my intent to be there but for some reason I just kept ending up there. Go figure. The thing that I really never got was the industry part... but the ART part... this I understand.

It is a rare occasion indeed when I find something involving textiles that makes me stop and pay attention. It is a case of been there done that that, and quite frankly, gets annoying. I don't like to think of myself as a snob, but I must be one. I simply don't get all caught up in the latest whatnots or media hype around whatevers... and I always find that the things I am impressed by are found off the beaten track.

Case in point.



I don't knit. Or crochet. Ok, once I attempted to knit something resembling a scarf for everyone for Christmas... I used big needles and thick chunky wool so that nobody could see that none of the rows had the same number of stitches in them. But I do understand that both arts consist of highly mathematical (this is where I get lost) and complex systems of almost but not quite knots. This is important. Why? Because the fascination here lies thus. You can take one very long and uninteresting string or line, and bunch it up in such a way that it becomes not only very useful, but insanely beautiful. This is art at it's most brilliant. To take simplicity and convey it in a way that makes it seem complicated, and yet it is dependent on that simplicity to be useful. Lines turned into structure.





Adrienne Rogers, who created these stunning pieces says “What drives my designs and choice of materials is the ultimate texture that can be created using such basic tools as needles and a single, continuous thread.” Her unbelievably sumptuous and tactile pieces epitomize this process and she is one of a few who see and understand the art in what she does. I am not sure why the terms knit and crochet conjure images that include rocking chairs and porches, but if we take a minute to consider that they also usually include women who are wise and generous, I suppose it all falls into place. More of these women need to see the worth in what they do and in return, we should follow suit.