'AFTER MONET' POPPY ECO DRESS

(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

(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.

ROWAN COMPETITION DRESS UPDATE

...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

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!

CHUNKY CROCHET SLOPPY JOE

...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

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'

...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

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