Winter time...

This winter has proved inspiring and cold here in Brooklyn. While working on jewelry in the studio outside the studio I knit a few hats each year...here's some new ones

Second Cable Knit Hat, only took 2 years.

My gorgeous new cable knit hat, fresh off the knitting needles.

Now back to those pesky mittens.
Hopefully done in the next week, or at least before the snow melts.
Happy Snowmagedon.

Getting Knitty with It.

Hey. So there is a blizzard outside and what better way to spend my week and a half stay-cation alone than knitting (rock climbing, quilting, apt hunting etc.)

About two weeks ago I decided to learn to knit mittens. I was all ready with my instructions and double pointed needles until my 3.5 inches of ribbing was done and then I was stuck.

Being stuck blows, so I had a thought.

I did a search on YOUTUBE and found some awesome instructional videos for knitting mittens. Click here.

Then in about a week I had an orphan mitten. See below.

The first completed mitten.

The start of the second mitten.

Also in the works are three hats.

A baby hat, a cable knit hat, and the third is not yet decided.

I want some...Isabel and Cleo....

The utterly intense and time consuming cropped layered rectangle jacket.

Isabel and Cleo is an amazing line and I though I'd shout it out to all my (cyber) friends!!!

So take a peek...

Also, a fellw SAIC alum.

Yarn Closet.

Isabel and Cleo's portfolio.

Where do you like to work?

I don’t have a favorite place right now, I used to love my space in the school’s textile studio but now that I’ve finished my degree I’ve been kicked out of the building. I work from home and I haven’t really quite got everything set up yet. Sometimes I still go into the Glasgow School of Art to knit in a hallway called the Hen Run. It’s got a beautiful view over the city and because it’s made entirely of windows it’s probably one of the warmest spots to be in Glasgow on those rare days when the sun is out all day.

The plaited basketweave angora racer back tank.

What time of day is most productive for you to work and why do you think that is?

Hmm. Honestly? The time varies but it always directly corresponds to me avoiding some task that needs to be done in my everyday life. This is when I’m most productive, when I’m pro”craft”inating.

What materials do you use and most like to work with and where do you get them, locally? online?? if online where? etc.

I used to buy remnants and recycled yarn in bulk lots off of Ebay, which was perfect when I was just doing knitted accessories and it also helped keep my costs down. But now that I am actually making clothing, I can’t get away with remnants. There just isn’t usually ever enough to make an entire garment, let alone a size range. I have wholesale accounts with two big British companies, Rowan and Todd and Duncan and I buy yarn through them because it’s obviously cheaper than buying retail. I really like working with chunky handknit yarns. My favorites are Rowan’s Big Wool and Cocoon (a merino and mohair blend), and for machine knitting I prefer Todd and Duncan’s Lamaine (really soft lambswool). I also prowl Etsy to get special haberdashery items like massive wooden buttons and go to flea markets and vintage shops to find little trinkets to put on my knitted pendant necklaces.

The Entrelac Mens Shirtdress.

Where does your source material come from ( do you do reseach at the library to get ideas etc.)

It can really be anything really. I do go to the library but only after I already have an idea in my head about what I’m looking for. I also am inspired by textures that I see outside or things I see people wearing on the street. A lot of times I see non-knit items, and am curious to how they would work as knits. That actually happened earlier today when a girl I saw wearing a very textured shearling and suede combo cropped jacket. For my current collection my inspiration came from textured paper sculptures that I’d made and then tried to recreate in knit. See photo Pant progression.

What kind of images inspire you, do you keep a sketchbook(if so can you scan/ photograph some of your favorite pages)?

I basically rip out anything I find remotely interesting and keep it either in a sketchbook or a binder. It depends on how relevant the images are to my current work, whether they go in a sketchbook or binder. I save the most appropriate images for my sketchbooks.

Isabel and Cleo history(past work).

How long have you been working in your chosen medium? Are you trained?

On and off and then on on on since I was probably around 8. I studied knitting while doing my fashion degree at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and I just finished my masters in Textile Design with an emphasis in Knitwear at the Glasgow School of Art in Scotland. I’ve also worked and done a couple internships in the industry at Blake Standard in Chicago and Nom*D and Karen Walker , both in New Zealand.

What techniques and processes are your favorite?

I love hand knitting, I love texture, and I really love hand knitting chunky yarn to create massive texture. I try to interact and manipulate the knit fabric as much as possible while I am making it, so the texture is a part of the process, although sometimes texture does come later. I go so far as to say the whole idea of a process is my favorite part of what I do. I always seem to blindly walk into an idea that ends up taking way more time and materials than I ever imagined (The Layered Rectangle Jacket or the fringe trousers in my Etsy shop are two examples).

Isabel and Cleo workspace.

What is special and inspiring about living where you do?

Oh my god, I live in Scotland! Scotland has a huge knitting heritage, it’s everywhere! It’s not always the kind of knitwear I like to wear or design, but knits are inescapable here nonetheless. Just try to walk three blocks in the city center without passing a cashmere shop. Towards the end of my degree I thought I would leave Scotland but everything I need is here. Some of the biggest and best yarn mills and factories are all here. There are also may national and private organizations, shops, and community initiatives that support local independent designers.

The Hen Run.

What is a normal day like for you, how many hours a day/week do you get to actually focus and produce new works?

I have no ‘normal’ days, I was actually just moaning to a friend about how I wish I had a routine, with a set day or time where I was solely focused on producing my collection. Unfortunately I still have to work part time to pay the bills and my materials. I’m trying to get more organized, but it’s only me; I have to be the business and the creative side. If an opportunity presents itself or if paperwork needs to be done, I have to put the creative side on hold for the day. That can be very frustrating, so I try to have one day full a week where I don’t answer any calls, emails, go over any accounts, and just create. An entire day of knitting is a luxury. Don’t even ask about free time. It doesn’t exist

Who are your fav designers??

Sandra Backlund, Swedish Designer

Whoever does Stella McCartney’s knits

Nick Cave

Alber Elbaz of Lanvin

Lutz and Patmos

Sandra Backland

Lutz and Patmos

Do you go to museums? what is your favorite art related place to go (a place you feel inspired after you leave)??? is it a gallery, store, section in a museum???

I must admit since graduating from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago I rarely go to museums. I do wish I had appreciated the museum more when it was available to me. My favorite place to go in Glasgow is Che Camille, a local store dedicated to independent designers and artists. It’s completely amazing and the owner just totally reeves you up with her contagious enthusiasm, I always leave feeling inspired and motivated. I also frequently go to the Glasgow School of Art, it’s a very famous, very beautiful building. Being in it makes me feel special and I can never articulate why. It just does. Instead of museums, I think I subconsciously surround myself around other makers, designers, and artists. Their motivation motivates me. It’s almost like being in a race, though not in a competitive way. Feeling the presence of the other runners around you all moving toward a similar goal pushes you forward and encourages you not to slack off or give up.

The Caterpillar Racerback Tank.

Latest and Definately Loved!!!

My latest hand knit hat made.  Cables to the top!  Made with yarn purchased at the NY Sheep and Wool Festival last summer.  Yarn hand dyed.

Knits in the City...Out and About.

Handmade Hat for my brother for his birthday...Hope he loves it!

The theme of the day is..(drumroll)...POSSIBILITIES!!!!

The "Incredible Skirt" from Twinkle's Big City Knits that I will be attempting to remake in shades of grey.  I will be uploading in progress pictures as soon as I get my materials hopefully this week.

     Home on a Friday night, some may want to be out at a club shakin' it like a polaroid picture, not I.  I am currently inspired.  Not by any one thing in particular more like the possibilities of many things.  I have been knitting a lot in the past few weeks, making hats for the winter, the hat currently in progress is a gift for my Dad's birthday. Navy. 2x2 rib. Reverse jersey.   But mostly I can not wait for the NY Sheep and Wool Festival October 18 in Rhinebeck, NY.  I can't wait to see the actual sheep that all the different yarns come from. Word on the Street( or rather my boss told me) the merino sheep have some 'tude.  I hope to see a demo on spinning yarn.  Again, like I said POSSIBILITIES...as in if i start spinning I can make my own yarn exactly how I want it and then knit it into whatever my heart desires, not only are you designing the object (scarf, hat, sweater, etc.) but you're in control of the material itself. To me as a maker this is very exciting.  I have also started gathering materials to start a beautiful skirt from the book twinkle's big city knits by Wenlan Chia the designer of Twinkle by Wenlen(see above photo).  I have had this book for about a year now and I have not been able to muster the courage to start knitting anything from it.  Well that stops next week when I recieve my Classic Elite- La Gran yarn and the Reyold's- Lopi yarns I ordered in mostly shades of grey.  I have wanted a handknit dress for a few years now, so this is at least a start and a courageous one if I do say so myself.  I find it intimidating to embark on knitting something from a book because I am always afraid about halfway through it I'll come to the part of the instructions where I don't know what the abbreviations mean.  In addition to starting that I will also be attending the Meet Up group Krafthaus' Socktoberfest next Saturday in the LES so a few weeks from now there will be a pair of hand knit socks on my feet and a Icelandic wool/ mohair skirt on my waist.  I have a feeling I will be very warm this winter. 

     Next, onto the jewelry front.  I have been making some bezel set stone rings, one of which for my dear friend Adrienne is finally complete, professionally polished, and looking beautiful(see above photo, Adrienne's Ring).  I can't wait to see her happy face when she puts it on her finger on Monday.  While taking the ring to the polisher's on 47th st I stopped by Ross metals and bought a bunch of different styles of sterling silver chain to work into necklaces and earrings in the next few weeks(see above photo).  

      I am like a kid in a candy store when I go to places like Ross, Metaliferous, Purl, and Mood.  It can get overwhelming, not only ones wallet but also the endless thinking of how to make things, combining materials into beautiful wearable objects you can't wait to absorb into your life.  When I make something it's because I want the object in my life, these objects narrate my story of being a young woman living and working in New York City. These handmade objects tell the story of how I am feeling and how I want to feel.