When I saw Harriot's work at the New Designers Show I was taken by its beauty and complexity. I think this is the most innovative piece of work I saw this year, the mix of ceramics, fabrics, knitting and her choice of colors, SUBLIME!! Needless to say the amount of work that goes in each piece. She has worked very hard and it shows!! Well done Harriot!! 

In her words...Inspired by teacups, the porcelain white structure and the floral, intricate edges inform the development of my knitted fabrics. Recycling teacups has become a strong element throughout my work, creating new forms and use for the ceramic material. The porcelain from teacups becomes a material in my collection, forming buttons, jewellery and collars to create a diverse collection of garments and accessories. Exploring Victorian period clothing introduces elements of shape, structure, fabrics and construction to create simple, elegant knitwear. Combining a variation of techniques, fine gauge, CAD and crochet creates depth and pattern within the collection. Alongside this I have developed great technical skills and created a range of interesting fabrics combining a variety of materials with my knitted fabrics.

I am a knitted textile designer who introduces new forms of material within my collections. Combining a variation of techniques from fine gauge to crochet I mix silk with lycra to create an interesting contrast of fibres. I love the richness and luxuriousness of silk with the contrast of lycra, a more substantional fibre that creates shape and structure. I like to focus on the details and finishings of my garments and accessories, as I feel this is an essential element to my work.

More talent!! {KATE SHERMAN}

What I liked about Kate’s work at the show, (BA in Textiles), was how she used the knitted fabrics to upholster the furniture. Very unusual, very nice colors and patterns and with a very good result!!

A bit about her…The inspiration for my final project was drawn from the palaces of Europe and Russia, folk art and antiquities. Modern colours were infused with older ones to create an eclectic and contemporary look. Fabrics are for interiors and fashion, and products encompass an entire lifestyle concept.

…The difficulty with knitted fabric is that you cannot cut it because it will unravel very quickly, unlike woven fabric. This means that the pieces of fabric used to upholster something have to be made in exactly the right shape so that it fits the item perfectly.

UK Handmade

UK Handmade is a design led online magazine committed to showcasing and promoting the best creative talent the UK has to offer. Artists and designers from across all of the art disciplines have a place here including photography, feltmaking, jewellery, fashion and art.

The term 'handmade' is now an indicator of quality, care and professionalism that is second to none and something we at UK Handmade wish to encourage and celebrate.

I am so glad to have found UK Handmade, not only they produce a beautiful online magazine, but have a Forum and a blog, full of interesting information, and focused on small business and craft makers. It is so nice to see a growing craft community and interest in handmade design.  I am off to join their forum!!

The Make Lounge...

The Make Lounge offers contemporary craft workshops with a stylish, social twist – perfect for embracing the ‘make do and mend’ ethic in a fashionable way!

What a brilliant idea!! it reminds me when I was a child and used to gather on the street with a group of neighbors, we used to seat by someone's house and knit, crochet, etc...like my mother used to do back in La Palma, a group of women from the village gatherer to do the embroidered table cloths and other textiles that they will later take with them as wife into their marriage lifes.

This workshops are based in North London, in Angel area, they offer a wide range of activities such as: food crafts, jewellery, sewing and textiles, crochet and knitting, etc...visit their website for more information and get making your own goods!!

I love the funky design of their website!!

EMMA BRADBURY

I saw Emma’s work in the latest Grand Design magazine issue, and fall for the colorful hand knitted tea pot cozy. She also makes beautiful scarfs and globes. Visit her etsy shop for more details. 

‘I work with natural fibres such as lambs wool, silk, yak and alpaca to create a colourful range of machine and hand knitted accessories such as large wrap around shawls, embroidered hand warmers and tea cosies. The patterns and colours of my work have a nostalgic and domestic narrative which draw influences from Eastern European national costumes, Bohemia, craft and artists such as Matisse and Vanessa Bell.

LOOP – Knitting heaven

'Loop is a knitters heaven that has to do with all things 'knit', with knitting and crochet classes, gorgeous and quirky knit homeware, clothes, haberdashery and vintage buttons.'

Loop brings me very happy memories, it was the first shop  to showcase CHOCOLATE CREATIVE cushions. The first creations were made in wool knitted felt, and fit perfectly with the gorgeous shop that was about to open in Islington, North London. Since them it has became a paradise for knitters and people wanted to buy unique pieces from Designers. The website is so cute!! and very practical, you can now buy online from the gorgeous Alpacas yarns to the beautiful haberdashery, or pop in for an unique experience. 

CHOCOLATE CREATIVE cushions on the back shelf. 

The decayed glamour collection in pink.