Angel Hatton Quirky little knits

CUSHIONS!

2011-05-23T21:10:00.008+01:00

First things first...bit late I know but needed to get this on here. In my office we had a Royal wedding hat competition and guess who won? hehee....well would be slightly embarrassing if one of the designers didn't really...so here it is; a knitted and crochet Fascinator with sculptured W and K (mmm guess why I didn't go with C for Catherine), pictured with my prize....a Royal wedding mug of course!

New seating area in my livingroom. Much needed take your shoes off in comfort space. Sirdar big softy using a mixture of textures including cables, leaves and basketweaves.

Sirdar Big Softie purple.

Sirdar Big Softie pink.

Sirdar Big Softie turquoise.

I love this yarn because its chunky and knits big and quick in colours which match my needs.

More crochet shoes much easier to walk in than the others!

IT'S ALL GONE A BIT "PETE TONG"

2011-05-16T20:10:00.009+01:00

A fabulous find! Just so me , just bought and worn at "The Knit Show" Stoneleigh 2011

Ok so a few weeks ago "The Daisy tearooms "opened at the end of my street, it's very shabby chic; celebrate the war style, opened up on the thee wedding day of the year and my children were amazed at real sugar cubes! comes complete with crochet doillies!

Spoke to the lovely Ruby who runs the place, and we are now planning a knit club on weekday evenings......place to be-when and where to be confirmed...

This leads me to my now project...a "HOME" crochet bunting to welcome her to the village of Mapplewell......not quite sure how it will turn out yet but hey loving the freestyling.

MMMMMM but the first home "O" not good so a work in progress......

Beginnings of a "H" for home but needs to be redone me thinks; too gathered!

MMMMMM so sunday we went to knit cafe, Wakefield.
Started by my Sirdar work pal Nessa at Neros......

..so there we were 3 weeks in the planning to turn up at the right week and it was only us! (Nessa , me and my daughter) but hey all is needed for knit cafe is knit and a cafe, right?

So what was my project?.....flowers for my crochet shoes because although love them not sure about the bows.

Nessa and her Sirdar baby garment.

And so to more cushions (Lol it's been a busy ol week)
Some of my furniture in my move back up north got a wee bit damaged so I am trying to make quick mends, as in cushions, to cover up the damage and utilize seating areas...
...hence cheap Ikea cushions and wee bit of creative knit

Yarns used on my WIP...to be continued!

IT'S FEELING A LOT LIKE SPRING...

2011-05-09T20:47:00.011+01:00

(OK so yeah I know it's been a while! So after a good long rest following the knit & stitch shows I have been busy on the commissions which I gained from those shows...then everything changed! I finally managed to get the job I worked so hard for as a in-house hand knit designer for Sirdar Spinning, so me & mine upped sticks and moved up to Yorkshire).

New beginnings..New year...New house equals new knitted soft furnishings

A knitted lamp in Bonus dk using fan & feather stitch

A textured crochet cushion using Sirdar Soft Cotton & Click

Those fabulous Bonus dk colours strike again

livening up my very green sofa with a spot of

lilac, mauve and purple.

A sculptural knitted cushion

GRANDMA'S GIFT

2010-10-24T23:53:00.003+01:00

About 44 years ago my Grandmother bought a then normal set of drawers when my sister was born. These drawers used dovetail joints and real wood. They stood the test of time until I was born, when as we shared a room we shared the drawers.

Over time they were painted in various colours and when I left home I inherited them. When my son was born they were made to match his nursery and as he grew were decorated with his own hand prints. And still they stood steadfast and sturdy as other 'build it yourself' drawers came and went to the big drawer in the sky.

Despite the travels of a now military family set of drawers they remained intact.

Now once again they have a new identity and have passed along to my daughter, this time with patch work decorpage and handknit handles....who knows what their next incarnation will be, but no doubt at this rate they will pass on to the next generation

TIME FOR SOME MEN...

2010-10-16T15:36:00.005+01:00

Illustration work for menswear from ages 0-100plus in Sirdar Click, Tweedie and Balmoral. Inspiration...The Ash Cloud...colours and shapes.

. The Intarsia Hoody.

Liked by both teens and my dad!

The Fair Isle Tank top.

The Intarsia and Fair Isle Polo shirt for all ages. This pattern can transgress from being reapplied in the appropriate yarns for babywear into yarns for the older man.

Images and patterns for both babywear and teens to follow in future blog.

BREAKING INTO PRINT....my pattern

2010-10-12T19:08:00.002+01:00

This summers 'Knitting magazine' for 'Dolly' dress vintage pattern in Rowan Eco- cotton. Index page.

Main image pages.

Yikes! Thats me! Design explaination....

Example of the written pattern which covered over 5 pages.

Extra image views.

A SHOE FOR KIRSTEN...

2009-11-01T13:45:00.004Z

For 3 weeks at the end of November, following the Knitting and Stitching show at Harrogate (I'll be in the Textile Gallery) I will be exhibiting some of my work at 'The Barn Acre' gallery in Henley-on Thames. Kirsten Jones runs this gallery and has fabulous works, including printing. She likes my work so much that to wear at the opening evening party she has commissioned a ruffle long sleeved cardigan, roughly based on the 'After Dolly' vintage competition dress previously blogged (Pattern will be available in 'Knitting magazine' approx. May 2010)

She also loved my 'Poppy Rose' dress which consisted of neon pink and acid green combined with crochet flowers, and my idea of shoe revamping......So to wear with her cardigan on opening night, she commissioned these shoes. The original shoe was black patent, slight platform with a slingback. The other revamped shoes so far (See Christmas exhibition at The National Needlework Archive, starting on Tuesday) have always been wedged and so this gave me a new challenge. Covering shoes is not as easy as it would first appear, sealing (Finishing), wearbility practicality and fixing the knit to the shoe are all very important considerations.

The base of the shoe was treated with a 'Astrakhan' Stitch and plain doubles, with circle discs to emphasize the heel.

Kirsten wanted the shoes to be OTT, a bit mad! So I embellished with several crochet flower patterns (Available in kit form, hopefully at both Harrogate and Barn Acre) Even the 'Last' (Instep) shape was covered to allow for that flash of underneath of the shoe, the viewer gets when the wearer is walking.

Loose crochet discs were finally attached to the strap which will give movement.

THE POWER OF LIFE LONG LOVE...

2009-10-29T23:31:00.005Z

Unusual for me, this post is not about my knitwear but about the power of love...Love comes in all shapes and forms, love of our partner, our children, parents, our friends and love for the life we share with our chosen pet.....who else in our lives do we get to choose? Most love relationships either 'just' happen or are blood related. This last week has tested my love....

These are my drawings from a few years ago of my very much beloved 'Asian Burmilla' cats, who were my babies before my babies were my babies. Asian Burmillas are unusual quite rare cats, which originally the breed came about as an accident between a Burmese and a Chinchilla cat, but the kittens were so beautiful with enormous Jade green eyes and had such soft loving and intelligent characters that it was decided they should be a breed themselves...it turned out that this designer cat was excellent for people with allergies as their skin/fur oils are less irritant. My little girls dad was the very first grand champion of this breed and has his own obituary website due to his fame.

Around 16 years ago I left Germany for the first time and went to live in Northern Ireland before the seize fire...Gotta say I was not brave and quite scared so on the trip over via Yorkshire and the need for some love reassurance, we hunted high and low for rescue kittens but was told kittens were out of season! So we found some kittens in Yellow pages and went to see them. This is when we first met! Tiny mink coloured kittens with white/cream bellies and the biggest green eyes you ever saw surrounded by eyeliner! One girl was the ring leader, chasing round causing havoc and leading her brother and sister into chaos, another wee girl decided to cuddle me and curled up for a purr and love on my knee. The chaos became my Tara and the sweetness my Tikka, full names Tikka Seraphim and Taragon Cherubim.....named after curries and the 2 cherubs found on the bottom of a very famous Caravaggio painting...what can I say they were my little cherubs! So we all moved to Northern Ireland and in the next 16 years they became my main stay; my closest best friends through thick and thin, always loving, gentle funny and never judging. Lets face it there are not many cats who sit and watch, whilst sharing girly treats the full 2 1/2 hours of the original film,'That darn cat' is there?! Who like to wear pink plastic shopping bag dresses and jump from German schranks on to a christmas buffet into the cheesecake, in quest of the Tuna and Salmon! Or when your heart is breaking put both arms around you in a full on hug.

So 16 years pass in a blink of an eye and many stories of the comedy duo..until this last week not one single day of illness, full set of teeth, full health and springing around like kittens.....Then on the last day of my recent exhibition at Alexandra Palace my little Tikka became ill....It was a long day that last exhibition day, knowing I had had to leave her despite good friends going round to check on her.

The initial sickness lead to an other wise previous food obsessed cat (other wise known as lumpy) to stop eating completely and despite the vets and mine intervention she developed 'Fatty Liver disease' otherwise leading to feline Anorexia. Apparently this is very hard to treat especially in old cats and this last Tuesday after several procedures I left the vets with a sachet of, home to be made saline fluid, as palliative care and an appointment all pet owners fear for the next day. My heart was breaking, 16 years of knowing my feelings and loving me beyond reason and her body was eating away at itself .....so I made a split second choice when I placed her carry basket down on the hallway floor, either fall to pieces and begin my grieving or do what she would do and fight no matter what, no matter her age and that's what I did (I did what I knew she would do for me and that is fight the seemingly inevitable).....

So....

Every half an hour I force fed her saline fluid and every 1 hour force fed her liquidised prescription cat food via a pipette, she is so gentle and placid that this was not a problem because she loves and trusts me beyond reason, so it was easy to do. By mid morning my worse fears were coming true and she was slipping away, I thought putting my previous nursing experience into practise for my beloved cat was too late......

but then a miracle happened and I think this is the miracle of belief and true love...she started to wake up and by teatime she had eaten just a little of real food from my hand not bad for a diagnosed Anorexic........Every hour throughout the night I carried on the feed and re hydration therapy and by the time the most dreaded Vets appointment came she was 'speaking' to me again...the vets and nurses were so happy and said she had turned a corner....very unusual for a cat thought not needed to be put back on a saline drip as it was too late....

So now 3 days later she is sat cleaning and purring happily away as if the last week was a bad dream...I have now got her back onto wet food and am down to 2 water pipettes a day and Tara is no longer avoiding the cat who smelt of death and scared her so, and is helping to heal her too..so I guess the moral of this is...it's amazing what love and 24 little hours can do if you set your mind to it...she may be 16 and may be on borrowed time but I so did not want such a beautiful soul to go in such a horrid way and now she is happy again and enjoying family life, running around causing chaos as her sister did all those years ago!

I am making this post because I was not aware this could happen suddenely to cats and have never seen a leaflet about it, so I wanted to make all cat lovers aware...it works like this; cat gets upset ,could be underlying or just a change in environment, cat stops eating, if does not eat within 48 hours and is slightly over weight the fat breaks down and sticks to the liver, the liver then stops all digestive reactions and the cat will not eat (Vicious circle) so the body starts to close down and poison itself and once beyond a point is progressive and untreatable especially in the elderly.

NATIONAL NEEDLEWORK ARCHIVE 'CHRISTMAS EXHIBITION'

2009-10-24T12:35:00.006+01:00

This is my selection of items which are now at The National Needlework Archive, which has just moved from Southampton to Newbury. U.K. I was asked by The NNA at the knitting and stitching show if I would like to exhibit at the upcoming 'Christmas' exhibition. Entitled ‘Felicitations and Decorations’ it runs from 3rd November to the 12th December. The directions to the exhibition can be found at the following website address...(http://www.nationalneedleworkarchive.org.uk/html/whats_on.html)

These images were quickly taken at home, more will be taken at the exhibition, as the shoes will be placed on a plinth. Hopefully I will have the time! to make more of my flower kits which will be available to buy from the Needlework Archive shop. The following explains a little about the idea behind my work and as well as future workshops the shoes are able to be commissioned.

“A play on a Christmas Flower...”
As a Christmas theme, the humble well known Poinsettia was a fabulous inspiration point for hand knitted brooches, with crochet detailing. However this is not a stagmentation.....the basic flowers have a plethora of combinations, making each individual make a one-off. The flower patterns can be used in a multitude of ways...from the decoration of the said shoes, to humble brooches and bag or clothing decorations.....Other unusual idea and inspirations are given via workshops including alternative fibre uses of Ecological ideal themes.

Back view of the shoe featuring a knitted Holly.

Comparison between the old and the new!

“Story of the unloved...”
“Women all over the world love us; we create joy and fulfil a basic female need. But I was once one of the few; the unloved shoe, bought, never worn and left under a bed with my soles kept clean. Then like the ugly Duckling to the Swan I was rescued and given an on-trend Christmas vibe, ‘make over’ and so here I am to show myself off with feathers preened in pride.”
Over loved and worn out or unloved, shoes/boots/sandals, you name it; can be given a fun revamp using basic knit and crochet techniques. This can be basic & simple or OTT, the choice is yours....workshops involve techniques and advice on how to produce ‘Quirky party shoes’ from scruffy old shoes. Inspiration is given on the use of Eco-fibres and ‘Make do & mend’ ethos.

'AFTER ALISON' DRESS.....

2009-10-23T14:36:00.004+01:00

Ode to Alison! During the Knitting and Stitching show I demonstrated the art of free-form crochet using yarn left overs. It resulted in this cute very wearable on -trend dress, which I have named after my lovely friend Alison Friday (knitsandpearls blogspot) This is because she is an expert at free-form and the colours I thought were very her. Funnily enough at the same time she has created a number of items in these said colours...go check her out.

Close up of some free-form style patterns within the skirt...question is can I ever be truly free-form? Since when working on this I used my dictionary of patterns I have collated over the years in my head! So can it only be free-form if it is random stitches and not pre-documented patterns even if this is from memory?

Making use of the patterns as a window to frame the other side of the skirt of the dress, where the photography focuses on the inside of the dress.

Side view showing how the thicker crochet pattern emphasizes the bust and waist.

The dress used mainly Acrylic and Mohair yarn left overs, which were put together to graduate in colour, the cross over between colours was formed by mixing more than one yarn strand at a time.

The dress is quite full at the hem, so it billows out and is longer at the back than front. It is ideal to wear over a top and leggings/jeans/coloured tights.

The front fastening made use of some of my pre-made brooches since I finished this dress on my stand at Alexandra Palace. (More brooch kits will be available at the Harrogate Knit and Stitch show) I was quite cold in the first few days but while sat making this dress I was much warmer.

The back has cross over strap detailing.

A COMFY CUSHION...

2009-10-15T11:22:00.005+01:00

Solution to comfort at the Knitting and Stitching show. This little pink cushion ended up being a godsend whilst I was working/demonstrating at my stand. A long time ago (aged 21!) I decided it was a really good idea to jump off a 30-40ft cliff in Negril, Jamaica, despite a sign saying 'Cliff jumping can cause serious and permanent damage. Result was damaged nerves in my back.....

so if I have been on a knitting marathon to complete a project this old injury starts to ache and hurt. I have a planned furniture project for my apartment next year of creating a huge scale chaise longue covered in big scaled cable. So this was an excellent opportunity to create something to ease my back and test drive some cable patterns.

The cable used a twisted bobble version with a heart motif set into the middle...

For some reason the first motif stitch count was not quite right but I managed to camouflage this with some crochet flowers (at least the colour scheme matched my stand) shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh don't tell anybody!

What I didn't expect was the amount of visitors commenting on my little cushion which was not really intended to be a example of my work!

I created the cover by forming a T shape which was then sewn into place.

MARKETING OUTFIT WORN AT RECENT SHOW

2009-10-14T19:08:00.005+01:00

So when I was offered a free T-shirt to match my business cards, my mind was thinking 'mmmmm possible walking advertisement at the knitting and stitching show!' What I didn't expect was it to arrive 2 days before the show in size large instead of the size small I needed!

Results are a quick think on my feet alteration. The sides had to be over locked chopping off half a t-shirt! but as with any alteration job it's just not that simple......

...with too big width comes too big shoulders, sleeves and neckline. Solution: shaped chopped sleeves, pleated shoulders and pleated folded over neckline.

To add a little quirkiness! I used one of my sample crochet flower brooches to one of the shoulders.

I teamed it with a Eco-linen skirt which is a different version of one of my dress skirts. It also features crochet textured flowers in yarn remnants.

The T-shirt has a bigger than I expected 'Quirky Little Knits' motif which was a good thing...I was a self walking advertisement. One of the nicest things a visitor said was 'You are the loveliest thing I have seen all day'

AT LAST! ABOUT THE KNIT & STITCHING SHOW...

2009-10-13T16:47:00.004+01:00

Firstly let me thank all those I met at the Twisted Thread show...it was lovely to meet you and very nice to hear such positive comments....It felt good to be told you had seen me either on here or on my website before hand...at least I know my web footprint is working.
At last! Sorry for taking so long to blog...the intention was to blog daily after each show at Alexandra Palace but it was such a long haul home each night it was a matter of food, wash , sleep and back to the exhibition. Setting up was fun! on my own......it's a good job I am a lot stronger than I look.
The stand looked as I envisaged albeit very bijou! Each night I covered my work just for in case of flood, earthquake or other impending disaster!....The show turned into a fabulous way to make contacts and I have many opportunities lined up. My favourite part of the stand was my look-book with visitors comments section....a lovely reminder.

As I was in the resource centre I worked on 2 dresses during the show, one of which is this Thai silk wedding dress, at the end I managed to complete the corset top and lots of the picot skirt edging. The highlight for me was having Nicky Epstein introduce herself to me and tell me my work was so cute! I also made fabulous contacts to hold many a workshop and work with some yarn companies amongst the many networking opportunities were also talks about having some patterns included in books (My dream!) so all in all well worth all the effort.

There will I think be some changes to the stand for the Harrogate show and some more garment and idea additions. I so need to make more brooch kits since they sold out.

The other garment I completed was this little Eco dress made from project left overs, it was fastened with some of my brooches and was very warm. Lol sorry about the hair! (It was tied up during morning set up before the show opened)

My most immediate project from my networking is a exhibition for the national needlework archive which is a Christmas related exhibition to be held in Newbury. Since the revamped crochet shoes were so popular this is to be my starting point for another pair but with a Christmas twist. The aim of the exhibition will be to display works by artists who will then go on to teach workshops. The exhibition will last approx. from the end of October until Christmas. I will blog as I progress with my pieces. Funny how small the world is but the crochet lawn I made from 2006 for 'the worlds first life-sized knitted garden' project will also, when it eventually finishes touring will end up at the national needlework archive.

A FAVOURITE TRUSTY PAIR OF SHOES...

2009-10-06T16:39:00.003+01:00

Finally this summer my favourite pair of wedge gold sandals came to the stage of needing to meet the big shoemaker in the sky. We had been together through many adventures including Tomb and Pyramid exploring in Egypt and hiking in Spain....they don't look that comfortable I know! but they are....may sound crazy but these are my comfortable good walking shoes! I have strange feet...trainers and walking boots can cause havoc with my feet but these have been fabulous, but since the leather straps stretched to within an inch of their life...they became too big for me...hence my reluctance to say goodbye

...and hey presto NEW SHOES! my main aim to solve the problem of the too big straps...cover them and they become tighter.

I covered the main straps in a chain crochet, wrap around recycled mohair. the centre point problem was solved with flower detailing...

The wedge bit ( Funny but loved the gold bits but was never too keen on the cork sides) was treated to crochet texture....

Top front view showing how the fastening has been left untreated to allow for easy fastening still....

...close up view of the 'Astrakhan' stitch crochet sides.

These shoes have inspired me to feature these at my exhibition this week at Alexandra Palace, London, offering a 'love old shoe' revamp service...just wish I had time to get dad to build an art plinth to display them on...oh well maybe at the Harrogate show in November...!!!

IT'S GETTING TO BE THAT TIME OF YEAR....

2009-10-02T16:56:00.005+01:00

Proto-type Santa Amigurumi! 'The Makery' Bath, U.K. runs workshops as bite-size learn how to make ethos. This is one of my beginning of an idea for the upcoming season. Kate from the Makery asked me to start to develop some Christmas items for both the workshops and the shop products (Being for display and in kit form) I have managed to get this little crochet snowman made in time to get some kind of feedback at the Knitting and stitching show next week.

He comes complete with matching hat and scarf and beaded eyes and 'coal' mouth. Other ideas are for Christmas puddings and Angels as baubles, key rings and mobile phone jewellery.

This is another finished Eco-bracelet (see previous blogs) It is in oatmeal linen yarn and I liked the photography of using it as a view finder. This bracelet was created making a cut along a recycled cardboard tube to allow the knit to stretch over the hand (Hence the little bump that can be seen)

New ideas...mobile phone covers..this one is from my endless stock of multi-yarn which used to be a cardigan!....The tiny spheres have inspired other phone cover ideas (To follow) ..I am thinking emoticons!

FROM UNFINISHED CARDIGAN TO TOTE IN LESS THAN 40 MINS...

2009-09-30T17:23:00.004+01:00

It's amazing what you can do with left overs! Approx. 4 years ago I started a 'me' project which just never saw the light of day. I loved the idea of a long cardigan coat in very bright colours at the time, but now trends and tastes have changed. So I was left with a stash and some large pieces of crochet.

This is the cardigan after 40 Min's work, now manifesting as a Tote bag. It has a very long sturdy strap and a strap fastening at the front, with a crochet button.

The bag can be hung cross-over wise across the chest for maximum security, comfort and ease.

The bag is very wide and expands due to the additional side panels...

(The cardigan piece before it became a bag)

...The side panels were made from the same multi-coloured yarn with added bright pink mohair, which surprisingly added a lot of strength and strangely turned down the brightness of the multi yarn.

KITS FOR KNITTED/CROCHET BROOCHES & BRACELETS

2009-09-29T13:25:00.004+01:00

Wow! well it has taken some time but my first kits are all finished.....there are 2 types; one for knitted/crochet bracelets and the other for knitted/crochet flower brooches. They contain various versions and different patterns written by myself. This image is of the knitted petal/ leaf pattern and below is the crochet petal/leaf version.

...these kits were designed for my stand at Alexandra Palace, London 8th-11th October at the Knitting and Stitching show (Tickets available at twisted thread)

Originally I was going to delay this type of product but since I will be working at 'The Makery', Bath, U.K. taking workshops and providing kits, this was a very good chance to test drive them.

...Both kits include deadstock or remnant yarns and printed instructions for a large variety of patterns. The bracelet includes the recycled cardboard tube for the bracelet skeleton and the brooch, 2 brooch pins (Placed securely in a handmade little envelope). The yarn left-overs were wound into balls and my own bands placed around them (The bands make no claim to the yarn however!)

...So only time will tell what reaction these little kits will have.....initially retailing at a discount price, to allow for responses to the patterns and ideas which are contained.

...pre-made versions from the kits will also be on view and to buy at the exhibition and at 'The Makery'.

A VASE FULL OF FLOWERS crochet of course!

2009-09-24T13:40:00.003+01:00

My ingredients in their mixing bowl! Now that I have a number of garments for my upcoming show (Knitting & Stitching show, Alexandra, Palace, London/8th-11th October)...I am busy making smaller, available to buy, there and then items, as the garments are intended to catch the viewers attention and maybe gain some commission work. So following on from my workshops and kits to be available at 'The Makery' (Bath, U.K.), I have a number of corsage type brooches on the go.

My problem was, 'How to display them?' so when I found this 'Shabby Chic' style vase (which will look fabulous on my kitchen window sill) it inspired me to treat them as 'real' flowers.

(Close up of 'Shabby Chic' style vase)

...To do this I wrapped spare yarn ends around the ends of bamboo knitting needles, this provided an anchor to pin the brooch fastenings to. The needles are then placed in the vase, being held in place by hidden balls of yarn (No oasis for me!)

...To advertise their Eco nature and price I used my logo and one of my garment price labels. (However for photographic purposes only, I have tied the 'Eco bracelets' price tag on here, as I have yet to do the costings for the brooches-no doubt a job for Friday!)

'WHERE FOR HEART THOU?' bag

2009-09-23T13:12:00.004+01:00

Today's job done! This medium sized bag is made from some white acrylic (had bought 100g a long time ago for a panda!) and some left over black cotton which seems to have been on the go for at least 2 years! Originally bought to make some gloves. The main is simple treble crochet work with the top edge folding back on itself and self sealing to form a strong neat edge. To the reverse side is a mobile phone pocket made a little more interesting by the applique bobble stitch heart motif.

....the strap consists of crochet tubes linked together, this forms a very strong crochet chain which is also soft on the wearers shoulder.

It has a strap style fastening, which originates inside the back phone pocket, works its way over the opening and finishes at the centre front as a loop over a white pom-pom.

..The strap is of a good length to go around the shoulder leaving the bag at hands reach. I originally intended to have 2 short straps but it just seemed to work better in this option.

The front also has a bobble crochet stitch heart motif, which is a secret pocket.

Front heart in use as a pocket.

The sides are treated to tie crochet chains which terminate at two cute pom-poms. The chains are tied in a bow after threading through the sides to gather and create a side pleat. This and items like it can be found at Alexandra Palace London on 8th-11th October :)

'AFTER BETTY(boo)...' DRESS

2009-09-22T10:14:00.006+01:00

(A work in progress)

...After some thinking I decided to call my latest piece, 'After Betty (boo)...' (Obviously due to the fabric but also the cute flippy crochet hem which moves when the wearer walks), although the original design was not intended to be part of this collection, which is now drawing to an end, I decided that at some point I would like to approach several galleries I am known at, to display my work. This would be under the title, 'After Who?' Therefore since this title allows me the scope to show a variety of my works (Garments, accessories, furniture & art) I need to name pieces with according titles. (hopefully next year after this round of exhibitions are over, I can update my blog on my new exhibitions)

...this is a close up back view of the dress, showing the print and the crochet edging of the scooped back. ( I really like this photograph as it has reflections including my cat!)

...The lower edge black Rowan cotton glaze crochet edge.

The dress has less knitwear on as my usual style when I combine knit and wovens, but sometimes this does work for the better not to overload.

The front sports a mustard bib with Tulip crochet stitch and black edged ruffles. The mustard is picked out of the print colours.

As with many of my dresses which incorporate woven fabric, it has unusual darting, with 3 curved darts working from front to back to emphasize the hip area.

The Tulip crochet stitch close up.

...side view showing how pretty the back scooped edging can look.

SKETCHBOOK PREP TO DISPLAY DESIGN SKETCHES AT THE KNIT & STITCH

2009-09-18T18:38:00.005+01:00

This is my solution to 'How do I show my sketch work when they are in a old battered, falling apart, travel everywhere with me notebook?'......Since my exhibition stand has evolved into a retro, vintage look, I found this lovely Cath Kidson fabric (Love Cath Kidson prints;even saw a mobile phone designed with her patterns)

...next ingredient, is this plain photograph album...

...result is a 'Shabby Chic' sketchbook. Here I have added my labels which are to be on my garments; the labels are a mix of my logo, a parchment craft label which represents the knitwear and a hand-made mini card (Will have the fibre content and price written on)....all of which are held in place by my 'Quirky little knits' badge, with teeney weeney written blogspot address.

...inside the pages were as you would expect, but this is what I was looking for. The pages provide an area to make written annotations.

....example of the sketches which need to be placed inside the new sketchbook.

....vintage style papers are torn and placed underneath the sketches to help make them stand away from the flat cream pages.

'SHABBY CHIC JEWELRY' crochet of course!

2009-09-17T16:16:00.005+01:00

Crochet Brooch through the eye of a fish! This image is a play on focus, of a crochet brooch, hung on my 'Shabby Chic' garment rail. It was playing with focus, where the background became the focal point not the foreground item. It is then digitally worked.

Left over yarns in flower and disc shapes are sculptured in random one-off brooches....

...in time to be on sale at The Twisted Thread show. Not sure about this one, I like the idea of adding in recycled ribbon but I think it creates a horse show rosette!

...this image is again playing with focus, with the aim being on the left hand back petal, instead of the obvious foreground...

....I intend to display these brooches and other like them in my 'Shabby Chic' flower vase, with the brooch pins, pinned onto the ends of knitting needles to form a flower arrangement.

This one features a medley of yarns, which is at last the last of my pink cotton (a yarn which seems to have been endless for the last few years and is indeed recycled from a huge coat cardigan which because it was for me, was never finished!)

'SHABBY CHIC' exhibition stand planning...

2009-09-16T16:08:00.004+01:00

...At less than 4 weeks to go to exhibiting my knitwear at The Twisted Thread, knit and stitch show (October 8th-11th, Alex. Palace, London) http://www.twistedthread.com/pages/exhibitions/viewExhibition.aspx?id=23 ...I am beginning the thought out process of how my stand should look. It will have 'Shabby Chic' influence. With cream wrought Iron garment rail and pretty boxes to hold my Eco bracelets...

....This little cream iron work holder started life as a salt and pepper pot holder, but is an ideal size to use to display business cards. I needed new salt/pepper pots so it was a very useful find indeed.

...the wrought iron features a rose (which helps to tie together label identity, since my own website has roses on it too) and a heart shape at the top. On my labels (Blog to follow) I have cute hand made cards/envelopes (To state fibre content/price & sample of yarn) which also have a little red love heart on them. My postcards/notelets have been designed to have the caption, 'Made with love by me'. So all in all it should relate nicely.

...full size version of my 'Shabby Chic' garment rail, courtesy of 'Sylvester of Oxford' ( Very impressed by their products and customer service)

Finally this is yet another example of how to recycle. The yarn is throwster silk (Left over silk which is then spun) and began life as a back piece for a red linen dress, but it became obvious it was not suited to the job. The red linen underneath it was to be a sleeve cuff but yet again this was not suitable. So I combined them to make a very quick choker and managed at last to re-use some glass beads from an old favourite earring, which had lost its partner.

'POPPY-ROSE DRESS' my favourite design...

2009-09-15T17:19:00.003+01:00

(Scan from my Interflora leaflet)

Finally finished! My first real garment from '...in an English country garden' collection. This unique special occasion dress began its origins from a simple beautiful bouquet of bright pink flowers teamed with the natural acid green of its leaves. The fabric was a end of line roll with limited amount of metre-age available, so I had to work with what I had. This inspired me to design a collection themed on English country gardens, and in turn this particular design can be also available in Ivory soya silk as a elegant unusual wedding dress.

....From design illustration to actual garment. The crochet is made from random flower patterns which I have written from Rowan Lenpur Linen, Debbie Bliss cashmere and cotton, and deadstock 100% cotton. Therefore yet another Eco-idealology dress from end of line and natural fibres.

....The main design feature is the back 'bustle' detail, with a montage of textural crochet flowers forming a hip emphasizing shape, enhanced by the curved darting. I am really please by this outcome but GOSH! did it take some work....

The edges of the hem and armholes are trimmed with picot crochet in cotton, which is a pretty good match to the woven satin.

..the front and back waist has been treated to pin-tucking which helps to pull in the waist area. The top is shaped with a scooped neck, reminiscent of Edwardian necklines, it in turn is covered with '...an English country garden'.

...The side view shows how the 'bustle' area is quite textural and stands out from the main dress...

..the side view shows fine lace crochet inserts at the waist area to add interest. Overall this is one of my personal favourites as the dress has such impact both in colour and texture. It will be on a display stand to view at the forth coming Twisted Thread, knit and stitch show at Alex. Palace, London in early October. Please come say hello. x

...This design can be ordered to be bespoke made, in any colour of fabric or yarn and size desired.

THAT PESKY LEFT OVER YARN...

2009-09-14T09:37:00.004+01:00

(Chunky hoops being attached)

I have been working on such a mountain of different projects and ideas of late that I have been left with that inevitable pile of left over yarn....and I hate wasting anything; Solution Earth friendly Jewelry, which has no need for plastic or metal fastenings and is completely hand crafted.

(The double crochet wrap around pre-made tube technique)

So I came up with this simple but effective chunky, very on-trend necklace design. It uses this seasons 'Jewel colours' and a linked chain, which is entirely crochet. The length is made long enough to place over the head, so no other fastenings or materials are necessary.
....The process involves forming a double crochet strip, which is then doubled over on itself to create a tube, the tube is sealed via slip crochet stitches at the width end to form a hoop. The hoop is then crochet around by using doubles and pulling up a long loop around the tube. As the necklace progresses, the tubes are sealed whilst linking to each other, with the final hoop linking to both end hoops.

(Full length front view)

This particular necklace has used a number of mixed fibres, including Linen, Cotton, Alpaca and Acylics.

(Side view of full length)

I have written the simple pattern for this necklace and will be hopefully providing kits at my stand at The Twisted Thread shows ( http://www.twistedthread.com/pages/exhibitions/viewExhibition.aspx?id=23 ) and in the future at 'The Makery' Bath, U.K.

...This view shows how it can be worn with diversity; being double wrapped around the neck, to form a choker style, while producing a different pattern and texture with the hoops. Further developments to follow will include a monochrome version and alternative use-age of the technique. For example: trims on knitwear, knitted bag handles and belts.

(Full front wrap around version)

MY ROWAN PRIZE FINALLY ARRIVES...

2009-09-13T10:13:00.008+01:00

A few months ago I blogged about my success at winning knitting magazines Rowan vintage competition, with my 'After Dolly' eco friendly design. This was based on vintage crochet lace and inspired from the film '9 to 5' where Dolly Parton wears several lovely knitted dresses.

....yesterday my prize finally arrived in a big box, leaving me wondering what it was because I had forgotten all about the actual prize!

...I won 2 packets of yarn which are felted tweed chunky and milk yarn. The felted is something which I would not neccessarily buy to sample and develop work with, but this is a good thing as I will probably discover something new with it. The milk yarn as I have said lots of times is my favourite yarn, it just happens to be in a pink though! and I love pink which means my work as of late seems to be becoming pink....its something I was objectively trying to move away from.....so this may mean I will finally make my daughter something instead of only working towards my stock for once.

....the dress itself is yet to be photographed and will appear sometime in the future in knitting magazine along with my pattern. This to me IS the prize as it's one more step up to my goal of being a selling pattern writer. The dress it has been agreed will be returned to me temporarily, in order for it to be displayed on my stand at the Twisted Thread show...

....You can find me and the dress at Alex. Palace, London between 8th and 11th October 2009, in the resource centre, stand Rcc11.

...This is one of the books which was included in my prize along with a rare addition of the 10th anniversary publication for Rowan.

YET MORE ECO CROCHET JEWELLRY!

2009-09-11T12:11:00.005+01:00

This is a one-off necklace which started life as a crochet trim for a knitted panelled top, which has been discarded. The trim was made from Rowan Lenpur linen and Debbie Bliss 100% pure silk , both double knits.

(View of necklace worn high on the neckline)

Loops and discs were formed in crochet in a totally free-form random fashion, whilst trying to keep the balance of colour and weight.

(close up of loops and discs)

The necklace uses no other materials other than natural yarns which are left over end of yarn skein/balls.

(This is one of my display mannequins for my stand at The knit and stitch show in October....I have left the plastic covers on to help protect them until then, but loving the refective photographic results at the minute)

The necklace been worn at normal length with natural fall of the crochet textures. The 'chain' part is made from chains and doubles and is long enough to slip over the head, to eliminate the need for fastenings.

Full length version with side style view.

Chocker style wearing with main texture being worn at the side (To shorten the length a slip knot is simply tied in the crochet chain once pulled over the head)

This is a close up view of one of the Lenpur Linen discs whilst in construction.

NEW CROCHET VINTAGE DRESS FOR BETTYB LABEL

2009-09-10T16:49:00.003+01:00

Todays finished work is another commission piece for the Bettyb label (On sale at Mensah boutique, Portobella Road, London). It is made from vintage black cotton double knit. The pattern is also a vintage pattern but was designed in childrens sizes, so the task was to grade and alter into a ladies industry standard size 12 (U.K.) as a sample garment.

...The skirt part is worked up to the waist and then shaped, the crochet pattern then changes in a cluster pattern.

.... the waist is held in with a chain and double stitch belt which has a 3 loop styling at either end.

....I am playing with light on crochet patterns at the moment and I like this type of photography which plays with focus. the lens was trying to peep through the open stitches to view the other side. (Would work much better with a quality camera)

... the original vintage pattern did not have pockets. So this was part of a pattern write, as Bettyb label tends to have a in-seam pocket signature.

'AFTER DITA' INTERNATIONALLY MADE DRESS!

2009-09-09T17:05:00.006+01:00

This is my internationally made! crochet dress, part of the 'After...?' series collection. This particular one is 'After Dita' due to it being backless and designed to be worn with cute hot pants (Slightly burlesque in styling). It was started at 7am on a flight to Sweden, and continued to be made in Sweden at Alison Friday's (knitsandpearls blogspot) newly formed knit cafe, and while drinking what could quite possibly be the most expensive single glass of wine I have ever drank! This was made even more interesting due to the fact that we were sat on a floating deck at the time and I was trying to work out a new stitch.

.... the rest of the dress was made in the U.K., part at home and some of my car knitting/crochet sessions! (I seem to spend quite a lot of time on the fabled 'school run' and hate wasting precious time, so while waiting I use this time to work on my garments...quite often passersby read my 'Quirky Little Knits' car magnet (decal) sign attached to my car and begin to talk to me through the window, asking about what I am doing. My aim is to hand out out least 2-3 business cards during this)

...the edging of the dress is made from individual circles which are interlinked and then crochet together with trebles. The yarn is the Wendy Yo Yo double knit with Lycra which is a dead-stock yarn.

...The front has a backbone! I seem to be deeply influenced by the inside of the body and the backbone is fast becoming a personal signature. around this back/front bone I have created ruffles which are in-line with current fashion trends.

(front full length view)

...this side view shows the interesting shape of the armhole, which is edged with a band in trebles and finished/sealed with a cover double row.

This dress will be on show at Alex. palace, London between 8th-11th October 2009 at the knit and stitch show.

'MAKE DO & MEND' ON TREND ETHOS

2009-09-08T16:10:00.005+01:00

(Basic base is a recycled yarn tube but other tubes which are the right size for the arm can be used. A cover is hand sewn by slip stitching to cover the tube)

Development for 'The Makery'. A new business in Bath. U.K. specialising in bitesize workshops based on reusing items and getting back to basic skills and crafts. This is an on going piece which I am working on to hold knit and crochet workshops. This should be around November time.

...crochet and knit is used to make flowers and leaves from left over yarns....

..working out the placement of said flowers....

....inside the tube, with the cover in place ready to be hand stitched...

...finished bracelet, white garter stitch base with crochet embellishments...other applique can be applied, it just needs imagination (Old buttons are very useful)

...here one of the flowers has been sewn to hang loose so that it moves with the wearer....

....bracelet stood on an empty yarn tube, lol it looks like a vase of flowers.

DEADSTOCK YARN MINI BAG

2009-09-07T17:10:00.004+01:00

After my meeting with Kate from 'The Makery' I have been developing items made from recycling and ones which can be translated into short workshops. Hence this little bag. It is made from left over deadstock yarn. I bought some Wendy yoyo yarn for a crochet dress and because it has lycra a bikini, in relation to design/pattern writing in time for next fashion season. I used to knit with this yarn years ago and have never been able to find a on-par alternative after Wendy discontinued it.

...The lot of yarn has gone so far! I have enough left to make more bags and jewellry! The fastenings were made from 'grandma's' button tin buttons and the sparkle from left over lurex yarns which seem to have a never ending end!

...The mini-bag is entirely crochet, using mainly doubles in a stepped technique and some shell work. The flap fastening wraps over the opening and seals with a crochet loop around the buttons. The same method applies to the strap fastening. allowing for shortening of the strap.

...The bag features embellishment, which is a feature to be used on my workshops at 'The Makery' (website links to follow)

Close-up of the left over yarn flowers and old buttons.

Close-up of the double crochet stepped stitch.

SHOW DISPLAY BOARD DESIGN

2009-09-03T14:06:00.005+01:00

(My wooden generic wallpapering table)

As I have previously mentioned, my dad is a very clever man! sometimes I do not know what I would do without him. Throughout my childhood I thought it was the norm to have your mum design and paint something and your dad make it. This ranged from homemade ornate own designed wrought iron fencing and gates, to Charles Rennie Mackintosh inspired furniture. Infact even the bunkbeds my sister and myself shared were made by dad.

So when I had a falling apart wallpapering table which was suppose to double up as a pattern cutting table (Space saving!), it was either sell it at a carboot (in the hope somebody could make use of it...lol forever recycling) or work out how it could be metamorphed into something new and useful.......

(Garment design poster on display)

.....at the same time I was wondering how I could create a free standing display board to use at my exhibition stand in October (Please google the knit and stitch shows). Then it became obvious, why buy new wood when the very design of the table with its already intack hinge system could be reworked into the said A frame style display unit.....

(Component design explanation poster for Quirky Little Knits)

................so I designed this display stand which can be used to store inside the marketing paperwork while in transit. He even reused the carry handle. Left over roofing felt he already had was glued on either side of the A3 size new frame, this allows for any poster to be pinned on and removed easily....

(Side view of the bespoke 'A' stand display case)

.....The outside was painted in wipeable white and I painted the felt in black with a contrast red braid; this ties in with my logo colours to give continuity.

(Open view of 'A' stand display case)

Over all I think another very successful family design.

I was told in a meeting this week that maybe we should patent the idea!

MARKETING! is the cost productive? that is the question

2009-09-02T18:28:00.003+01:00

Hello! I am back from visiting Alison in Sweden (See knits and pearls blogspot) Had many a knitting/crochet session, natter on her porch and even attending her first own organised knit cafe. Well done you! hugs x. Have been working on several projects there and since which should be in completion in the next week, so blogs aplenty to follow.

....Today I have been working on my marketing for the launch of my designs at the Twisted thread knit and stitch events. Firstly 8th-11th October at Alex. Palace, London Resource centre Stand Rcc11, Just look for the Quirky little knits sign. I will be offering some voucher discounts.

..These images show some of my postcard and notecard ideas and I am in the process of designing these with decisions to be made on final outcomes.. Funds are limited and I need to work out cost versus sale value, versus marketing benefits.

...Also today I had a meeting for taking some tutoring/lesson plan workshops at a new upcoming business in Bath, U.K. This is called 'The Makery' which is a shop/workshop/online based venture, based on the new on trend (Lol what my family and I have naturally done all our lives!) of 'make do and mend'. Workshops will be based on recycling and eco-based, in a range of concepts from gardening, chicken rearing! clothing and fun hen parties, to name but a few. 'The Makery' launches in a few weeks time. More details and links to follow as things progress.

...The low down being that I will at this stage be taking workshops in possibly recycled knitted jewelry, changeling garments, accessories and mixed media art and life drawing lessons. Lol The hen party naked man life drawing sounds erm interesting! Can't wait! I have been training for this position all my life! x

MOSH-N-TOSH SWATCH

2009-08-23T14:45:00.003+01:00

(Sleeve in Rowan Milk cotton without pvc covering)

...This is my finished sampling of an idea to make a waterproof crochet mackintosh, inspired by festival goers and the link to fashion trends. Hence the name the 'Mosh-n-Tosh' (Mosh pit!). I intend to have a full sample garment on display at the up coming Twisted thread shows. I might even get to wear one myself at Glastonbury next year.

...The crochet is sandwiched together between 2 sheets of fabric pvc and joined with interlinking crochet, to form the silhouttee. Ideas are to make reverseable ones, ones with matching dresses and ones with lined backed crochet to help emphasize the crochet and ensure that the undergarments do not detract from the pattern.

(Closeup of the crochet sandwich)

...This is just a prototype where the silhouette was just a means to an end, more appropriate on trend shapes will be made for the full size.

I JOINED TWITTER!

2009-08-20T14:36:00.002+01:00

I joined Twitter! Yet another way to big up the net footprint and spread the word of my knits.

You can find me on .....http://twitter.com/quirkylilknits

Please see bottom of this page for latest updates and more links

There are links on there to my Twitpic pages too.....

:)

TOO MUCH IN THE PIPELINE!

2009-08-18T10:11:00.005+01:00

...after several days in Yorkshire with my mum (lovely watching the kids play in the sea) I don't seem to have completed any projects but instead have a number on the go at once with no end in sight. Mum and Dad bless them yet again spent time winding my skeins in to usable balls of yarn. This piece in black cotton is another work in progress for the label Bettyb. It is a crochet A-line dress, in a open work pattern which gave me ideas to combine with other stitches to create my own stitch, details below.

....this is my work so far on my cable sample! LOL all 3 rows of it. Typical since this sample is one of many needed to decide on a work for myself. As usual I never seem to get a chance at creating items for me. The cable will be a twist with bobbles with a bobble formed heart rep. in the middle. These cable samples are the beginnings of an idea for a giant chaise longue style piece of furniture which will be covered in very dense cable knitting removable covers. I have begun with this pale pink but think I will end up using an electric pink for impact. I need to experiement more with thick yarns and double strands to form a very textured piece.

....beginnings of my sample for my 'Mosh-n-tosh 'idea. Based on the mosh pit at festivals and the nearly always rain based days of blighty! Certain Celebs have been seen using these venues as a launch pad for style trends, so why not take knit along to help spread the word. My design involves sandwiching together clear pvc fabric with the crochet (Reversable) to make an unusal yet practical raincoat. A little knitted/crochet dress with wellies can be worn underneath. In my design it is being worn with the 'After Kate...' dress (As in Kate Moss) Hopefully I should finish this sample today.

Following on from the Bettyb crochet dress, here I have used my own new amalgamated stitch...think I might call it the Betty Bridge stitch if she doesn't mind.

.....Finally look what I found! vintage Wendy YOYo yarn. I remember working with this yarn about 20 years ago and loved it, I had a pink hoody (LOL long b4 hoddies were on trend!) with a long zip which I wore until it dropped. I found this on Ebay and intend to make a short open backed dress/top with ruffled knicker/shorts for my 'After Dita...' design. This along with 'After Farrah...' will complete the 'After...' collection.

IMPRESSIONISM CROCHET SWATCH

2009-08-13T09:40:00.003+01:00

...This is my latest experimentation with the theme of impressionistic paintings from both past and contemporary. I used crochet flowers as often in traditional impressionism paintings the country side or garden is a subject matter. Flowers studied were poppies, daisies, bluebells and roses. Typical english garden.

I used a loop crochet stitch for the grass and a blending technique for the sunrise.

I used Sirdar Juicey bamboo yarn. I love this supersoft eco friendly yarn but think another addition of this theme will probably be better with a more substantial yarn to enable the texture to be more robust. I intend to use this type of sample on bags and cushion covers.

'DAPHNE' SWIMSUIT FOR BETTYB LABEL

2009-08-11T17:54:00.004+01:00

This blue sparkle Greenwood mills vintage yarn came on skeins, so I used my vintage eco-wool winder to make balls of useable yarn.

The vintage pattern is from Bettyb label, of which I was commissioned to make this piece. See http://bettybgals.blogspot.com/ . Bettyb makes easy to wear womenswear made from deadstock fabrics and yarn. Available from Mensah boutique, Portabello Road, London, U.K.

...I rewrote some of the pattern to add the required crochet ruffles on the cross-over straps and the leg hem to create a cute playsuit. The ruffles are inline with other Bettyb garments, which are named 'Daphne'.

...front view of the swimsuit.

...back view with crossing over of straps, a buckle or buttons will be added to the back straps. Please keep an eye out on Bettyb website for finished modelled images . ( http://bettybgals.blogspot.com/ )

...a flat view of how the back works with the straping system.

Other Bettyb commissions to follow....

NEW KNITTED SWATCH/SAMPLE

2009-08-10T16:20:00.004+01:00

...Latest swatch sample in Rowan milk yarn with bamboo trim. This new sample is for my 'After...' series collection. After Kate (Kate Moss) will be a A-line tea dress using the cable to curve round the chest and the pleats to float over the stomach area.

Roses and leaves trim the lower edge with leaves, roses and crochet decorating the bib chest area.

(bamboo yarn leaf in progress on bamboo needles!)

(close up of bib area)

...After Kate sample being worn on the stand to represent how the different patterns work on the body.

Sample is one of many to be seen at the forth coming knit and stitch events run by Twisted Thread.

AN UNUSUAL FIND IN THE WOODS...

2009-08-09T12:30:00.004+01:00

Yesterday evening I set off with my two children to meet my friend Teresa for a drink and game of pool; we both live at either side of Reading University campus. The nicest way to get to Teresa's side is to walk through the woods edging the campus. It was a lovely evening and we hadn't taken this particular route in a very long time.

...suddenly an unusual sight came into view, an art installation waiting to be discovered. The work was by Daniela Pesaresi from the University's Fine Art course. Unfortunately the weather had got the better of her sorry got to say it inadequate signage and therefore I was left to my own mind to think of the meaning or question this art was suppose to create. Maybe that was the theory behind it to do just that.

The installation consisted of cast hands and feet hanging seemingly randomly from trees, strange tub/bird nest type items and a few books.

The main piece was a giant hand in a fist hold, with a clock hung above it. I googled the artist but only found a few images and no information, the images showed the giant hand in different positions.

....the images were taken when there was still snow on the ground and has been left to degrade with time so it seems.....question is what tale does this art tell? answers on a post card please! or failing that leave a comment. My opinion was that it gave a very 'Alice in wonderland' feel, very contemporary considering the recent film release. It gave the surreal feel, with the unexpected discovery of it and the hanging books and clock......curiouser and curiouser

YAY! I WON I WON I WON!

2009-08-07T12:39:00.003+01:00

Following on from my previous post for 'knittting' magazines vintage competition in Rowan yarns, I was contacted a few days ago to let me know that I had won! ( http://angelhatton-quirkylittleknits.blogspot.com/2009/06/rowan-competition-dress-update.html )

Katy Evans the assistant editor said "the dress was amazing and we at Knitting and everyone at Rowan was in agreement" (Quote).

...as the winner I have a upcoming feature in knitting magazine and £100 of Rowan yarns.

.....as a person who has no luck in competitions this is a biggy! but mostly I am excited that I will get my work in print and in a U.K leading magazine. ( http://www.thegmcgroup.com/item--Knitting-Magazine--1009KM.html#quicklink )

...hopefully I will be in a position to display this dress at my stand at the twisted thread shows 8th October to 11th October. ;)

THE SECRET TREE ELF

2009-07-30T16:53:00.003+01:00

This is one of those quick posts I have been meaning to do for some time. My daughter and I quite often take a walk through some wooded grounds on the way to the park. It wasn't until this year when the leaves were still yet to come in full force that we spotted him...

....if you look closely you can see him hiding in the foetal position with a sticking out big toe, bent knee and round bottom, his head appears on the other side of the branch which he is clinging onto. I took this photograph with the dramatic pre-spring sky and have only just gotten around to transfering the file to my laptop.

Our tree elf appears as if by magic and then when you walk underneath him he completely disappears.

LIGHT BOX TABLE WITH CROCHET DETAIL

2009-07-29T14:47:00.003+01:00

I was having a space issue and totally thinking I should invest in a light box instead of using the window to trace off my figurative silhouettes for my illustrations and came up with a combined solution. I designed this table to fit over existing furniture in my office/studio space, which laps over the window sill to allow the table top to be as big as possible.

...the shape was influenced by the sinuous curves of the Art Nouveau period (lol but actually I think it looks like bababeau! but without the fluff, see Swedish 70's cartoon)...I set the light box into the smaller area, emulating the offset rose from the works of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

...The light box is made up of 2 sheets of acrylic sandwiched together with a crochet jam! Thank goodness for my very clever dad who has made a multitude of furniture designed by myself and my mum over the years, and he never once looked at us as if we needed mental help! He even managed to make the light box lower layer removable so that when being used as a light box shadows from the crochet do not interfere with the tracing process.

...When the light box is switched on with the crochet intact, it makes a lovely mood light reflecting the pattern of the crochet around the room. (pictures to follow)

.... The whole table was made from off cuts and left overs from other projects including the paint, however the legs were new.

...so a big thank you to dad......more furniture ideas are in the process of being created.

'PHARAOH' COLLECTION SKETCHES & SAMPLES

2009-07-28T11:22:00.007+01:00

(Egyptian draping inspired swatch)

Here is a selection of some of my quick sketch ideas from my note book; this book goes just about everywhere with me so I can get that idea down before it disappears from my memory. Based on the draping effect of the neck area of the ancient Egyptian style dress trends. Made from Silk and Viscose using a mixture of hand knit & crochet with some machine knit. The idea is to start to interweave the natural scooped drapes.

(Silk & Viscose close-up)

(Crochet top with hidden muff style pocket)

... this concept only collection to date, is trying to think outside the box and work on new ways to work around the body.

(Crochet interweaved draping detail dress)

....development of the idea of evolving jewellry with the actual clothes.

(Crochet hieroglyph inspired cardigan)

....a more classic example using the same elements with a wrap style fastening.

(Crochet Egyptian necklate)

....another of my experiments to create unusual crochet jewellry which is elegant and delicate.

Some of these items may be seen at the forth coming knit and stitch shows( http://www.twistedthread.com/ ), Come see Quirky little knits at Alex. Palace, London 8th-11th October in the Resource centre, stand RCC11.

:)

'AFTER MONET' POPPY ECO DRESS

2009-07-27T13:39:00.012+01:00

(Sampling development)

From a rug to a dress via sampling! Initially this almost 98% eco dress developed from an idea for a crochet rug; the poppy which it was designed around was made from recycled red acrylic yarn, which was to be the main focal point of a Art Nouveau inspired rug. However on reflection a yarn rug in a household with cats and their cat hairs did not make the grade.

So then the poppy/rose was transfered to my sampling process in which it was used on various points of the body to see where it would gain most impact. I finally focused on the chest, thinking along the lines of bibbing on tea dresses.

(Throwster yarn details)

....the dress was intended to become one of my sample dresses available to be ordered/commissioned from at my forth coming launch at the knit and stitch shows (goggle to buy tickets), but I ended up wearing it to a friends wedding recently to test drive its wearability. It was comfortable and was not too bad on the creasing considering that the main woven part is 100% Linen. The lower edge crochet was not uncomfortable when seated and also was unaffected.

(Side view to show claw style darting)

...The main poppy bib works well on both full and althletic figures as it emphasizes the bust area without showing flesh. The arm area makes use of picot edging stitch. The chest area also has unusual claw like darting.

(Lower edge crochet) ...The lower edge was formed from again recycled yarns and throwster yarn along with Rowan Shimmer to frame some of the crochet for definition. This same contrast yarn is used on the bib and as button loops for the back fastening.

...Why is the dress 98% eco friendly? The main body is made from locally sourced, market bought Linen and therefore is supporting loacl business and limits carbon footprints. The yarns used are recycled i.e: left overs from previous projects (waste not want not!) and 'throwster yarn' This yarn is 100% silk and is basically the left over silk from the fabric spinning process, it is gathered together and spun into a fine thread. However the shimmer yarn uses some man-made fibres.

...Why 'After Monet'? This dress although a one-off falls under my 'After...' series where certain elements are key. for example, tea dress and lower edge detailing. This particular one is inspired by the Monet poppy painting. Some other examples of the After... series dresses are inspired by Dolly Parton, Kate Moss and the late Farrah Fawcett.

...The back is cut-out with a strap strategically placed to allow the wearer to hide visible underwear straps. It has a short back zip and crochet cover buttons with loops.

The dress is available to order in any choice of fabric, colour and yarns. (Although this does make the eco part not to be able to be guaranteed)

'MINI-ME' BACKBONE CARDIGAN

2009-07-24T11:10:00.004+01:00

(Cable stitch for back-bone back detail in cashsoft cotton)

Whilst also working towards my products to be launched at the Twisted thread shows, 8th-11th October at Alexandar Palace, I managed to fit in a smaller version of my previously blogged 'Back bone cardigan'. This mini-me was for my daughter for a friends wedding.

...this mini version used padded love-hearts for the fastenings instead of the previous vintage heavy brooch....a wee bit more child friendly!

...the cardigan used mohair, silk and cashmere in a soft mixture of muted pinks to form an interesting mix. The sleeves ironically used old bones rib.

...the back cable detail follows on from the shawl collar and ends underneath the lower rib. This not only adds unique detailing but serves to help anchor the collar.

WHEN EXPERIMENTS GO WRONG!

2009-06-28T11:22:00.004+01:00

Some years ago I made a large lighted sculpture from PVA glue and some string! The overall look worked so well, but unfortunately during the 4 day art exhibition, with the unusually extremely hot weather the shape started to sag. Ever since I have regretted not covering the mould with crochet and brushing the PVA onto that in order to create a hard skeleton....

...so recently I have been experimenting on this on a smaller scale.... This worked well and I was pleased with the outcome until...

I made the silly decision to experiment with yacht varnish. The thought behind this was that I had used this very high gloss, hard drying varnish on some bags previously and it worked well. I was looking to form a harder coating around the globe and wondering if I could bypass the PVA and create the form from crochet coated in the varnish. However, disaster! coating the now dried PVA with varnish caused the two to react against each other, and thus ended with an almost curdled effect which remained soft......

Next step will be to experiment with the crochet and varnish minus the PVA glue.

(The original light sculpture from PVA glue and string)

ROWAN COMPETITION DRESS UPDATE

2009-06-26T12:08:00.003+01:00

...Finally finished 'After Dolly' vintage eco dress. In relation to a previous post, this dress has been produced for a competition run by Rowan yarns and 'Knitting' magazine...

...I am one of three finalists; I now need to copy up the written pattern and grade it into several sizes...this wiil no doubt take hours and hours.....

...crochet and knit combined edging in both 4ply and D.k. : the final edge uses heart shaped crochet on a 3.5 hook.

...back ruffle neck details with Rowan 'Shimmer' edging and Purelife organic cotton which is dyed naturally....

....button fastening detailing.......this pattern is under consideration to be available direct from me at 'The Twisted Thread' shows at Alexandar Palace, 8th-11th- October 2009. You can find me 'Quirky Little Knits' in the Resource centre, stand RCC11....look forward to seeing you x

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY FOR DISORDER MAGAZINE

2009-06-21T09:31:00.007+01:00

Last year I was lucky enough to be chosen to take part in a photo shoot for Disorder magazine....

....These photographs are just a small selection from this shoot; I rediscovered them when I was in the process of reinstalling my images after my virus...

....The twinset was hand knitted from Cashmere, Silk, Mohair and Alpaca.....and was themed from the images of how beautiful the inside of the body can be for the collection , Hung, Drawn & Quoted...

...I have a wedding invite in a few weeks time, and have decided to finally grant my 8 year olds wish and make her a mini-me version to wear to it....

....I have bought some different yarns for it, this time being a very beautiful yet expensive silk with mohair from knitwitches and pure new wool from Wensleydale sheep shop, I will combine these with my left over yarn when my ROWAN competition pattern writing has been finished which uses Rowan organic pure cotton. This will give me a pretty but more unusual blend of soft and raspberry pinks; my plan is to create a face made up of little raspberry coloured strawberries! for a more suitable fastening for a little girl rather than the vintage brooche utilized in the original catwalk version.....Hopefully I will have time!

SELF-IMAGE REVISITED & RECYCLED!

2009-06-18T16:15:00.011+01:00

(Finally I am back! Had a Bug.....a laptop bug and took a while to sort out and even longer to get all my programmes back up and running)

Quite a while back I had an art and design project entitled 'self-image' in which I delved into the idea of what makes me me and played an emphasis on what it means to be a woman. I included my night time ramblings (You know! the ones which play through your mind as you are trying to sleep.....the things that worry you, the things that didn't get done)

I covered the basic self too, as in genetics and genes, this evolved into a me corset from 'Mod rock' modelled around my-self and embellished with photographs of people who mean something to me in the guise of the genetic code. The top part of the corset was hand crochet in a pattern which resembled the cells. See lower picture....

...fast forward to June 2009! Now I am working on some Bridalwear, incorporating crochet lace. I am using the lace traditionally and untraditionally, and this has manefested into a few shrugs to give the arms some modesty.

.....so the phrase, "here's one I made earlier" crops up, as I found the 'self-image corset' and recycled. I detached the crochet work and retouched the edges, taking off the ice queen look! beading. I then opened up the neck line and added a tie fastening.

The shrug would look well with a Bridal dress which has a touch of red or in a wedding party with red bouquets.

CHUNKY CROCHET SLOPPY JOE

2009-05-12T13:40:00.007+01:00

...This is a work in progress....Crochet using chunky and D.K yarn in cotton and unusually for me some Acrylic. I am working on staple pieces to embellish with my Harajuko style dolls heads for the Leeds Fashion show 2009. The sampling has seen use of crochet ribs and stocking stitch knit using variable needle sizes.

... I found how to create mock cable in crochet by use of bobbles and relief crochet chain stitch for the lower top.

The upper egding makes use of a overturn shawl collar; which again has crochet rib and mock cable. I am happy with the textures created, something a little different for me from my delicate knits, but need to work on the silhouette now....to be continued!

....I will be launching my designs at the forth coming Twisted Thread, Knit & stitch shows 2009. http://www.twistedthread.com/pages/exhibitions/listExhibitions.aspx

...IN A COUNTRY GARDEN-new collection

2009-05-10T11:34:00.012+01:00

One of my many ongoing projects! Finished title 'In an English Country Garden...' A collection inspired by the lovely flowers of England and the way the images of cells of the body can often mimick flower style. Crochet plays a huge part in this collection with Lily, Rose, Poppy, Daisy, Bluebells (my favourite flower along with Poppies) and Foxgloves all having a say.

...I am working on this project to have finished A3 size samples and 1-2 finished garments for my launch at The Knit and Stitch Show at Alexandar Palace, London in October. But its hard going as I am also working on 3 other collections to have samples made for this. Including Bridal, Vintage (inspired by iconic figures) and Harajuko dolls (Younger funkier collection, which if I have enough time! will take part in the Leeds Fashion Show 2009). So far at least on this 'In a Country Garden...' collection I have all the 9 design boards finished and am working on the A3 swatches.

...The collection includes use of curved seams and natural fibres, with silk, bamboo and milk yarn crochet details.

...This image shows my workings so far on Poppies, Roses, Daisy and Bluebells, all in crochet in Sirdar Juicy bamboo on a 3.5 hook.

...Image depicts mood board for the collection.

....I will be launching my designs at the forth coming Twisted Thread, Knit & stitch shows 2009. http://www.twistedthread.com/pages/exhibitions/listExhibitions.aspx

'AMALGAMATION'

2009-05-09T09:39:00.005+01:00

...This dress was an amalgamation of new and previous ideas between my friend Iza and myself. It uses Polish Linen cut on the bias and huge mohair (Charity shop buy a few years ago, and been sitting in a box asking to be used ever since) crochet Irish roses, mixed with net and recycled feathers...

...it was difficult to make the roses big enough to have textural impact without being too heavy, not sure if this was achieved. As one project very often leads to another, I am now working on new items based on this idea.

The dress was called 'Monet' because it reminded me of his famous poppy painting. (A painting I grew up with on my mums wall, which I looked into everyday to find new things)...

Overall an altogether cosmopolitan dress! with Yorkshire, Polish and Irish connections in its making. Enquiries for purchase of this item or similar can be made through http://www.ustrendy.com/angel-hattons-quirky-little-knits/

....I will be launching my designs at the forth coming Twisted Thread, Knit & stitch shows 2009.http://www.twistedthread.com/pages/exhibitions/listExhibitions.aspx

LEEDS FASHION SHOW 2008

2009-05-08T17:26:00.009+01:00

Next steps!...After graduation I became involved with Leeds fashion Show and showed an 'amalgamated' collection with my friend and peer Iza Antczak under the name Antczak&Hatton....

...It was amazing to see how easy it was to combine two previous collections together with the help of some crochet!...

...we mixed her whites with my flesh and navy colours to create a fresh new collection...

.... at the show we created our first showcase stall which featured knit and crochet samples and new items which were a collaboration ( to be seen on next post)....I am in liason with the show organisers to show at Leeds Fashion show 09 with an individual collection under the name of Angel Hatton's Quirky Little Knits, this would involve a younger client profile and closer to off the peg designs...

....I will be launching my designs at the forth coming Twisted Thread, Knit & stitch shows 2009.http://www.twistedthread.com/pages/exhibitions/listExhibitions.aspx

REDISCOVERED PHOTOGRAPHY

2009-05-03T09:58:00.009+01:00

After trying to do some house keeping on my computer images I came across these four photographs which I took in Spain several years ago...

...I often use close-ups of everyday things which most people do not notice are there...

...I then use these as inspiration for my hand knit and crochet patterns. This is done by covering the image with tracing paper and sketching using graphic type lines over the most interesting parts; these lines are then transfered either directly into sampling or onto graph paper to logically and mathematically work out the stitch counts...

...These images of bark and grass were taken at the Gaudi park, Barcelona, and were used as stripes and bobbles with colour blending. Other photographs used useing this method were taken at Ephesus, Turkey. This was used in sampling for 'The String vest' which can be seen in an earlier post.

....I will be launching my designs at the forth coming Twisted Thread, Knit & stitch shows 2009.http://www.twistedthread.com/pages/exhibitions/listExhibitions.aspx

THE POM-POM PROJECT

2009-04-28T12:00:00.006+01:00

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1021804@N23/

My good friend Alison introduced me to a fabulous project being generated through Flickr. The rules are to make a woolley more than 6 inch pom-pom and take photographs of it tagging places. In the Autumn there will be an exhibition of the pom poms all together hanging from trees in Bournemouth, UK.

I decided to have some fun and use film titles as my inspiration. The upper image was entitled

'Fatal Attraction' and the lower image 'Gridlock'

Other titles I used were 'The Italian Job' and 'Sweeney Todd' these involved tomato ketchup and pom poms made from spaghetti!

Please come visit the pom poms in Bournemouth.

....I will be launching my designs at the forth coming Twisted Thread, Knit & stitch shows 2009.http://www.twistedthread.com/pages/exhibitions/listExhibitions.aspx

TUNISIAN CROCHET HALTER

2009-04-27T09:34:00.007+01:00

Unusual for me to use Acrylic but this crochet top was made from plain and a mottled yarn. The yarn was from left overs in a charity shop so guess its kind of still recycling. The top uses plain treble and doubles on a 5.00 hook in double knit. I used the mottle yarn to emphasise the top area, with the plain to edge it. Tunisian or as I have on some occasion heard it Turkish style crochet has been used for the mid drift section, using simple double Tunisian crochet stitch...

...The lower body has been a mixture of trebles and chains and plain trebles. It has a tie back fastening and pussy bow to the neck. This piece was intended to steer my crochet to a more commercial vein and orginally was going to be a maxi dress. However it worked best as a top which can be worn in layers. It is now in E & A boutique Glasgow.

....I will be launching my designs at the forth coming Twisted Thread, Knit & stitch shows 2009.http://www.twistedthread.com/pages/exhibitions/listExhibitions.aspx

RECYCLED CROCHET BRACELET

2009-04-26T18:27:00.011+01:00

Today I have mostly been working on.......recycling my left over cabbage! yarn. This also makes use of the inside of certain spun yarns around inner cardboard tubes...

...Take one inner cardboard tube and Crochet a 4 treble width band until it is long enough to wrap around the tube, inside and out. Once long enough wrap around the tube which has previously been painted in a corresponding tonal colour. Then slip stitch using a darning needle the ends of the band together to secure on the tube.

...Then pick up (using a mixture of your left over yarn ends) a stitch of the wrapped around band and make chains, anchoring at random points up and down, around the bracelet. On this one I have made a focal point by creating a circle of chains at one point which has been reworked into to form a free style flower. The chains can then be reworked if desired with rows of doubles and trebles to form a sculptured look.

....I will be launching my designs at the forth coming Twisted Thread, Knit & stitch shows 2009.
http://www.twistedthread.com/pages/exhibitions/listExhibitions.aspx

WHEN IS A KNIT NOT A KNIT?!!!!

2009-04-24T14:10:00.011+01:00

One of the things I love experimenting with is the mixture of knitwear with wovens, to construct a new idea which is not what one would necessarily preconceive as being knitwear...

....Also I wonder why there seems to be very little mixture of crochet working with handknit???? Yes we see knitwear with finishings (sealings) of crochet but not when both are implemented into the main..... On my collection 'The Line of Beauty' (Which is a phrase used to describe the sinulous 's' shape formed by the female ideal) I used basic Treble crochet with basic stocking stitch hand knit with knitted and crochet bobbles. Debbie Bliss 100% pure silk was used along with reminants of cashmere, Alpaca and mohair Silk

The 2 work really well together and by doing this it makes for half the work as the seams are joined during the making and not at the end, which are much neater and less bulky.

Slight mixing of the needle size can also add texture without over complicating the pattern writing.

This image depicts a swatch sample using knit , crochet and wovens, albeit the woven in this case being flesh, naked; to give the appearance of the knitwear floating.

....I will be launching my designs at the forth coming Twisted Thread, Knit & stitch shows 2009.

http://www.twistedthread.com/pages/exhibitions/listExhibitions.aspx

ECO - THE NEW STRING VEST!

2009-04-23T13:42:00.011+01:00

This was a project close to my heart. The research of how fashion and knitwear can be ecological. I looked into not only materials but production and employment

I loved the idea of string! and found some organic biodegradable string from a local shop...this gave me the idea of playing with the stereotyped string vest

It took many hours to de-ply the strands of string to create a crochet lace weight yarn

Other fibres I chose to work with were banana fibre, bamboo and Soya silk

Some of the fibres I sourced from Wingham wools, Yorkshire and had my local spinners group spin it into suitable weights, before hand dyeing with natural dyes

This banana, possum and bamboo fibre yarn was dyed using beetroot.

.......

I will be showing at this years Twisted Thread exhibitions......http://www.twistedthread.com/pages/exhibitions/listExhibitions.aspx

PRACTISE MAKES PERFECT?

2009-04-22T19:16:00.006+01:00

Artistic first interpretation or developed work practised upon? When I first started out I worked with the ideas in my head and used all the ideas....

...before going back to University I began a European discussion on a new site which sparked many a international comment: Being that does education in the arts make creativity staled and institutionalised?...

After being in the University environment I now find free form style knitwear much harder than before and tend to work from a swatch samples design side...

...results being that although I now can quite quickly produce a plethora of knit samples/ knit swatches, which conform to industry standards...the question remains within me have I sold my soul to the devil?!!!!!

( I will be exhibiting at the Twisted Thread, knit and stitch shows, England In 2009, dates to follow. Please come visit me)

KNITTING FOR CHILDREN

2009-04-21T09:36:00.007+01:00

Knitting and crochet for kids I believe should be fun, and does not need to be stereotypical. It can be both funky and classical. The illustration shows a machine and hand knit coat which is padded like any other winter coat with an interlining of 'recycled plastic bottle' padding and lined in breathable organic cotton. The outer knit I have designed for a Dubied machine which creates pockets for more of the white bottle fibre to give the fun resemblence of snowballs. However I am sure it could be recreated in handknit or crochet. It is complete with cotton velvet trims....which makes for a very posh classic little girls coat.

Mittens!...or at least one of them! mmmm I have had this silk multi-coloured yarn for some years now, and began to crochet a lovely coat from it for myself. However it is one of those yarns that somehow seem much nicer on the ball than when made up. (one of the reasons I never finished it and of course time....am so busy making for everything else that things for me get left....so for Alison! ( http://knits-and-pearls.blogspot.com/ ) haha who has been trying to get me to finish the cardigan, I decided to make fun things for my daughter out of it instead)

So.....I managed to make her new mittens, with a plan to make a hat and some leg warmers.....anything else would be far too much as she would insist on wearing them all at the same time!...but typical she wore them once and lost one...so guess when the bad weather comes round again I will be having a case of Deja Vu.

Trying to find a new P.e bag has been an issue. Whenever I buy one for my daughter they end up having draw strings which go wrong and are left trailing just ideal for falling over. So since I am working on a new collection which is younger than my normal client profiling, being based on Harajuko dolls, I practised and made her a crochet bag with Harajuko cats. (she loves hello kitty!) The main bag used side saddle stitch, which is ideal as it alternates direction and therefore helps eliminate over stretch.

U.K. KNITTED TEXTILE AWARDS

2009-04-20T18:33:00.010+01:00

After graduation I entered the U.K Knitted textile awards and was chosen to be a finalist at the twisted thread exhibitions. The garments I choose for the touring exhibition are shown in the images. I won the free place at the exhibitions at Alexandar Palace, London, The N.E.C, Birmingham and The show ground, Harrogate, along with a years subscription to Knitting magazine (please click on the link opposite stating Finalist......)-( or click on the title link)

Evening dress showcasing my skills in hand knit, crochet and industrial and domestic machine knit. Along with wovens. This dress was sold to a lovely lady in the states to be worn on New Years Eve 2008.

Hand crochet back detail cocktail dress, still in my possession and in consideration to be shown again on my own stand at the Twisted Thread shows 2009, along with many new works.

My favourite piece, now sold, again to somebody in the U.S, to be worn at christmas.

ROWAN VINTAGE LITTLE KNIT

2009-04-19T18:36:00.006+01:00

Today I actually managed to complete a project!!! I have been designing, sampling and illustrating a Vintage design for a Rowan competition and now have it all parceled up ready for the post office in the morning.

I used Rowan Purelife Dk and 4 Ply but am also in the process of working out the first draft of the written pattern. So I decided that the toile garment would be for me and ended up using Sirdar yarn as it came in the kind of blue I liked. It is a combination of handknit and crochet; using relief trebles in a honey comb pattern for the waist.

The concept came from the film '9 to 5', in which Dolly Parton is wearing a machine knit peach number with nipped in waist and 'A' line skirt. I added vintage crochet elements and thought that the alternative 80's route (when the film was made) would be on trend with a slight angle.

Now all I have to do is finish MY dress! ....and dream that Rowan start to notice me.....Rowan is based in Holmfirth (where they filmed 'Last of the summer wine'), which is 15 mins drive from where I grew up. Oh how fabulous to get paid for knitting and working in one of my favourite places.....;0

PARCHMENT CRAFT FOR LACE ILLUSTRATION

2009-04-18T13:57:00.000+01:00

One of my ongoing projects are bridal designs using crochet lace, made from Eco-ideal materials. I am sourcing organic silks/cottons and my favourite is Soya Silk in both woven and yarn. I have also sourced Thai Silk which although it has to travel (It's so hard to tick all the boxes when it comes to environmentally friendly knitwear and fashion...very frustrating, especially on a budget), I have bought direct from the maker. i:e from the farmers who take care of the silk worms and then obtain and spin it using tradional methods. Also this means that the manufacturer is getting a fair price as it is the price they wish to ask.
mmmm...question is what about the poor silk worm.....Should Silk worms have rights?

I am always looking for new alternatives to illustrate my designs and rendering delicate crochet lace when it is mostly in white is always an issue. However I have now discovered that Parchment craft lends itself to this job perfectly.
I intend to photoshop a border with all the specifications and print out on A3 to fit my usual portfolio style, then the parchment can be laid onto this, with tiny actual fabric samples so that it shows through the paper on the circles (as seen in the image) to give close-up style snap shots of the textile.

GRADUATE CATWALK SHOW

2009-04-17T10:51:00.000+01:00

In 2008 I graduated, having shown at Graduate fashion week, London. Where I was nominated for The Pringle Visionary Knitwear award. (Please click on the above title to see more images) My collection was titled 'Hung, Drawn & Quoted' which was based on the inside of the body, using bones, cells and brains as inspiration for my knitwear patterns. HD&Q was also a play on words; Clothes are hung, designs drawn and hopefully the collection would be quoted......

.....Thankfully it was and a very lovely review was written on fashioncapital.co.uk (http://www.fashioncapital.co.uk/content/view/9357/)

My favourite collection piece was this handknit frontless cardigan which made use of the backbone in cables. It was part of a twinset in Cashmere, Alpaca and Silk. The garment has now sold.

HOME AT LAST!---Aspergers syndrome

2009-04-16T15:52:00.000+01:00

So I finally made it home albeit with now the battery light coming on so its back off to yet another car Dr in the morning....so far this year we are talking, a new alternator, new silencer, new fan belt, new clutch grrrr if i thought it would help I would crochet a new car! p.s it only 4 years old. So whilst, stranded I busied myself writing a new knit/crochet pattern which is to be entered into a competition (images to follow. Lol Just don't have strength right now after a 4 hour drive) and discovered parchment craft which my mum is now into in a big way. Its an excellent way of illustrating my bridal crochet lace designs.

Above is an image of some of my developing crochet lace bridal Jewellry.

Anyway back to my how did I get where I am now story.....

in 2004 I discovered that my son had Aspergers Syndrome, it is part of the autistic spectrum. Although he is very high functioning life can sometimes be tough for us all as a family unit. He is affected mainly by memory and this makes learning hard. However he is doing fabulous in drama. I found a news story earlier about an Australian teenager with AS who vanished and turned up 600 miles away having cycled, he had merely forgotten to tell his mum.......mmmm good job I have crochet and knit to steady my nerves .

Finally...

I am busy building up my sample stock to hopefully launch my work at Alexandar Palace, London in October at the Twisted Thread show.....I am contemplating donating 5% of any orders/sales to the Autistic society and 5% to Scope (my train of thought being that this part of my charity donations could go towards a sponsorship to walk the Inca Trail, which might allow me to source eco yarns being produced by these people first hand as well as for a good cause)

STRANDED!

2009-04-11T18:13:00.000+01:00

(Image of my light sculpture made from PVA glue! for my end of year on art access course)

Ok so I am stranded! my car has decided she needs a new clutch and no garage is open over Easter and I am 180 miles from home at my parents house! Don't you just love cars???!

As part of my big life change I started a foundation access course in art and design as a pre course to my B.A. , the above is from my end of year show exhibition

TODAY IS BUSY, BUSY, BUSY....Winghamwools

2009-04-08T08:26:00.000+01:00

(Today's project is to progress in my swatch samples for my Vintage Eco starlets collection, made from milk yarn . This one is entitled 'After Marilyn')

Today I travel to Yorkshire...to mums, no matter how long I am left it still feels like the journey home.....with me I am taking lots of projects and going with the intention of research. There is a lovely little place at Wentworth, where you can purchase environmentally friendly fibres such as soya and camel and even recycled plastic bottles, I am hopeing that this time they will spin and dye for me.

I also need her to help me ball up a skein of beautiful Thai silk I purchased which is very fine and should make fabulous bridal lace when crochet up.

Ok time to get on the road...

2004 CAME WITH LOTS OF CHANGE

2009-04-08T08:15:00.000+01:00

In 2004 Grandma passed away, she was 98. It made me think a lot. Only 2 months later I found out my son had Aspergers Syndrome and I also separated from my husband......All this makes a girl think! I began to paint and draw again after a very long time and also writing poems.

One of which was about my children;

Cosmic Kids

With her smile
The world awakens.
A contender for the blazing sun.
The beams of light
Repel the hatred,
Without her help I'd come undone.

I can feel the heat
Shinning through from her upturned face,
Even in the blinding dark.
With her pen she fills the paper,
A two-year-old packed out with colour.
I hope one day
Upon the world she'll make her mark.

With his eyes
The mischief gleams.
Twinkling orbs of bright full moons.
The beams of light
Repel the loneliness,
Without his help there'd be no tune.

I can feel the love
Suffocating from his upturned face,
Even through his frustrated tears.
With his energy he fills the world,
A six-year-old packed with imagination.
I hope one day
With trust and care he'll loose his fears.

My daughter; my Sun,
My son; my Moon,
A twosome of sparkling stars.

Angel Hatton 2004

GRANDMAS INFLUENCE

2009-04-07T08:58:00.001+01:00

(My inherited knitting equipment)

......It didn't take long for me to get on the design wagon, by age 10 I had designed my own intarsia 'Danger mouse' scarf as a gift for my cousin (there was always knitting going on in our house with my Grandma, my mum , sister and me), after college I begun taking on commission work from local yarn shops before I moved to Germany. This is where I really got into knit in a big way, I worked in a knitting and craft shop and loved every minute of it. I designed, taught and took on commissions, sometimes altering patterns to specific needs. I also sold some of my other arts and crafts......when I had to leave, due to a military posting I never found another job like it....so when it came to 2004 and I saw an advert in the local paper for a job as a knitwear designer at Sirdar yarns, I knew I needed that degree.

GRANDMAS LEGACY

2009-04-07T08:28:00.000+01:00

(Quick sketch I did of Grandma from a photograph)

I guess it all began with grandma...

My earliest memories are of sunday afternoons at Grandma and Grandads......in a small bungalow in a small village in West Yorkshire........

We would spend it eating meat or tuna sandwiches and have tinned fruit and cream..........

My sister and I would pass the time always being creative, either colouring or painting or making models, once I remember she was decorating and we got to draw on the bare walls before the new paper went up.......

This is where I remember my Grandad sitting patiently with yarn wrapped around his hands while Grandma spun it into a ball....I also remember her 'knitting stool'! I was the smallest and therefore it was my place , my very own seat and I loved it! It was soft and just my height (just like goldy locks) It was padded to sit on with no arms to allow the user no annoying arm catching incidents and padded so you could stick a pin or two in it. It also had a secret box underneath (magical when you are 6!) which was to store all the knitting gear in the world.

It was at Grandmas when I was 6 that she taught me how to knit and crochet and I was hooked, pardon the pun.

I later inherited her knitting equipment, which I imagine is now truely vintage........

Finally am back again!

2009-04-06T10:11:00.000+01:00

Ok so since my last post LOL quite some time ago! I have graduated with my first class degree in fashion and textiles, focusing on knitwear...which is quite funny , typical me!, since I worked in knitwear for a long time and then went to get the degree..topsy turvy but hey thats me and my life! to a point.

So what now? well am now working towards building stock to launch my own little label and have too many ideas and too much for one person to deal with....but its a work in progress.

Some good things so far but thats another post! but so far have managed to create a website all by myself and have been working on my logos and business side of things such as this wee business card.

Onwards and upwards......hopefully

2007-09-20T15:58:00.000+01:00

Backless handknit designed for catwalk show for my end of year HND level

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

JUST GIVE ME TIME!

TIME AND TIDE WAIT FOR NO TEXTILE MAKER!

British Bridal design awards 2007/design boards for 'The Pagan Bride' environmentally friendly dress in recyclable, bio-degradable textiles....knitted tissue paper and silk.