Looking For Inspiration...

So it's my final year and I want to do something amazing. I've come across these x-ray images of shells on the internet which I think are amazing. I want to use these to inspire the silhouette and shape of my garments. I love the idea of something being protective yet revealing at the same time.

Knit is anything but ordinary..

So to take my ideas further I starting to distress my knitwear as you would a pair of jeans. I am knitting with a denim yarn which has the same properties as a pair of jeans ( only denim is typically woven and I am doing the opposite by knitting with it). The samples have had everything done to them you would do to denim, i.e bleaching, sanding etc. I took these images at Formby incorporating my samples with my inspiration and I am really happy with the result.

Be inspired

So this is it. The final project of second year. Bit scary, I can't lie. But it's fun, especially when I'm knitting. So my inspiration for this project came from looking at textured surfaces and landscapes. Above are a few examples. These came from a visit to Formby beach.

My Very Own Knitted Jumper...

Well I did it! I have finally created my own knitted jumper. I am so happy with it, I think it looks great. It took a while to make as it is my first garment, but i think I've got the hang of it now! It's made from two yarns, both cotton and involves an interesting technique on a domestic knitting machine.

A Photograph Says A Thousand Words...

It has got to be said Kirsty Mitchell is a very talented photographer. These images just leave you speechless. The detail and composition in them is just awe inspiring. The fashion is also beautiful.

Be inspired through film...

Yesterday I went to the cinema to watch The King's Speech. It has been getting rave reviews and I have to say it did not disappoint. The acting from Colin Firth and Helena Bonham Carter is superb. The film has the perfect mix of comedy, sadness and emotion. Also it was interesting to look at the Fashions of that time. I left the cinema feeling touched and inspired, I urge you to watch this film.

Knit In All It's Glory

It has got to be said that this is a fantastic piece of knitwear. I love the way its been styled and photographed, i think that just adds to it's appeal. The dress really shows the knit off as what it is, technically brilliant. I love the play on scale too, mixing a thicker, chunkier knit with a smaller sample.

Julia Knupfer

I do love this. I think the knit combined with the texture on the dress gives a really interesting play on texture. The ruffles in the knit work well to create lovely floaty volume. The background doesn't fight with the garment either, if anything it accentuates the beauty of it.

If I Could Wish For Anything...

Yes, it's official. I am in Love. How amazing is this? Derek Lawlor shows off some serious skills creating this. I love the texture and volume. It looks so interesting and contemporary.

Contemporary Knitwear

Simone Shailes is doing extremely well for herself. With a distinction in MA Knitwear from Central St Martins and a Chloe Scholarship, she can now add to her list a collaboration with Topshop. She has reproduced her final graduate collection for them. As a knitwear designer myself, I can really enjoy the technique and process involved in creating something as amazing as this. I'm hoping to achieve a standard like this in my own work.

Structured Evolution - My Look Book

These are images from my first project for my second year. I created knit samples to be used as designs for garments. I do really enjoy knit, i find it so therapeutic and calming. Hopefully for my next project I'll be able to make a finished knitted garment.

Daddy I Want... Luella's Guide To English Style

This is my first post so I thought I'd open with something enlightening. I've recently treated myself to a new book, Luella's guide to English Style. I fell in love as soon as I saw it, it's so quaint and looks like a really old vintage book. The bright pink stripe however keeps Luella's influences. I've just read the introduction and I have to say it's brilliant. It's not a style guide as such but a look through the ages of English fashion. The writing is so engaging and funny too. I'm pretty sure I'll have read this in a few days so I'll let you know how it went.