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KNITTED TEXTILE AWARDS 2013: FINALISTS

Student Finalists at the Knitting & Stitching Show Alexandra Palace Open Finalists at the Knitting & Stitching Show Alexandra Palace

GRADUATE CATEGORY: 2013 WINNERS

Winner Of The Gold Award

Judith Watson

Winners Of The Silver Award

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Kate Morris Olivia Hunter

Student Category Awards

Love Wool HighlyCommended:Leah Short

Love Wool HighlyCommended:Hannah Evans Sandy Black Award: Katie Jones Debbie Bliss Award: Vita Ivicic

OPEN CATEGORY 2013: WINNERS

Click here for Open Category Finalists

Gold: Sally Spinks Silver: Nicky Barfoot

KNITTED TEXTILE AWARDS 2013

GRADUATE CATEGORY

All images ©GeraldineCurtis

Scott Bramley Jenny Chau Grace Cook

London College of Fashion De Montfort University

‘Saved by the Grunge’, my graduatecollection came together through theexploration of knitted structure in agraphic form; combined withinfluence from 1990s MTV grungeculture and bright African prints. Iused a spectrum of yarns toemphasise difference in texture andshine including mohair, viscose,lambswool and mercerised cottonacross a range of machine gaugesand hand needle sizes.

My work is inspired by theoppression experienced by NativeAmericans and focuses on the issueof displacement. Partial knitting isused to create unstructured shapeand form. Colours have derived fromaspects of globalisation; casinos inparticular. The use of Lurex yarnsillustrates this. My textile samplestake control to form structure of thebody through the different knittechnique possibilities.

My knitwear collection was originallyinspired by Courtney Love’s 90 style.This includes feminine shapes anddetail worn with open and exposedseams, hugging the female silhouetteand exposing certain parts of thebody. I have a passion for knitwearespecially fine and detailed technicalknits that I have used to create myfirst collection.

Louisa Crompton Eve Gardiner Oliver HunterHuddersfield University Heriot Watt Kingston University

By combining hand and machineknitting I produce knits that areinspired by the digital aesthetic andinteraction with computers. Eachindividual stitch is carefullyconsidered and placed using atechnique called Swiss Darning,allowing full control of the design,texture and composition as I workmeticulously on top of the fabrics,producing outcomes that almost popout at you.

Looking at muscular structures tocreate new knit stitches, I usedunusual colours and contemporarysilhouettes to create a collection ofknitwear based on the human formwithin. Using metallic hues,elasticated yarns and a variety ofknitting machines, my vision was tocreate armour-like knits that exudeelegance and portray the internaland external workings of the body.

Grannies, poodles and S&M cat masksare the main concepts in mycollection. My knitwear consists ofcardigans and jumpers in colourful andtextured yarns from mohair/silk toLurex and cotton. I love using intricateand interesting knitting techniques tocreate quirky designs with lots oftexture and have a fun element tothem.

Vita Ivicic Katie Jones Lucy JonesChelsea College of Arts and Design Central St Martins Winchester School of Art

The collection is inspired by mypassion for flowers and natural rawmaterials. I built a studio spaceinfluenced by my own imaginaryworld, transcendent into specificmood which was a crucial part of theresearch and later transformed intoaesthetics of knitted garments.Materials include a wide range of

This collection renders a moderntribe created from 10 obsessivelycrafted, fantastical and colourfulcrochet looks. Taking a fresh look ata traditional craft and a imaginativetake on tribal dress. The collectionuses a range of materials, texturesand colours to create a dynamicsecond skin, covering the wearer in anew tribesman persona. The colour

Vivid Adventure:Inspired by historic explorers and theirbrave travel of the world, this boldmen’s knitwear collection combinesintense colour, texture and patterninfluenced by traditional knitting andwoven textile patterns of SouthAmerica. Over-sized garmentsenhance the striking patterns andrepresent the countries cultural dress.

Materials include a wide range ofnaturally dyed yarns from organiccotton, linen, angora, Kibiso silkfrom Japan.

new tribesman persona. The colourpallet is a reflection of SalvationMountain in Slab City, as if thecreation has grown out of the hillsideart itself.

represent the countries cultural dress.Hand-knitted hats from chunky woolwith exaggerated tassels and imageryof mystical creatures are acontemporary take on traditionalelements.

Tanya Leskinen Naomi Lobley Kate MorrisKingston University De Montfort University Brighton Univeristy

“Drifters, con artists, gangsters,prostitutes, night people...theinebriated, the vulnerable, thefoolish, the addicted and thedesperate...strange images ofemptiness.” These were the types of people fromPeter Doyle's book City of Shadows,who inspired my final collection. It istheir sense of downtrodden‘glamour’, which I decided to portraythrough muted tones of gold andgrey and luxurious knitted surfaces.

My knitwear collection is inspired bytraditional stitches combined withunexpected materials suchas laminate and drinking straws tocreate innovative hand-knittedpieces. I mixed these with silk,mohair and other luxurious fibres,keeping their natural colours toretain a traditional lookand accentuating the designs withhighlights of blue and neon green fora modern twist on life.

This body of work celebrates mybackground in fine art through theknitwear technique intarsia. Thesource of inspiration comes fromelements of art history, particularlystill life paintings that depict gluttonyand frivolousness. Taking influencefrom the use of tapestry in Dolce &Gabbana’s Fall 2012 collection, Imapped out the intarsia patterns bypixelating images on Adobe Illustrator

Tatenda Nhamo Hannah Payne Alexandra PengellyRoyal College of Art Bucks New University Winchester School of Art

My work is inspired by uniqueobjects and artefacts from museumssuch as the Sainsbury Centre inNorwich and The Hormiman Museumin South London. I form ideas forcolour and composition fromphotographs taken of block shophoardings in Britain. My finalcollection combines knit, print andembroidery techniques to create myaesthetic that is ethnic inspired bymy Southern African background.

The fairground was my source ofinspiration. My aim was to give thefeel of excitement and livelinesswhen the lights go on at night andthe fairground starts up. Exploringdistortion, shots of colour andpattern I used fairground imageryand lettering as well as abstractpattern. My main techniques includemacramé, intarsia, chunky e-wrapand beading.

Inspired by Elizabethan Armour this collectionfeatures hand transferred stitches and integralembellishment. Inserted during knitting beads andrings create unconventional texture. Hand-knittedAran structures are rendered into graphic jacquardpatterns exploring interfaces between digital andhandmade. Made from a mix of handmade yarn,British Organic Merino, Scottish Cashmere andCotton blends this collection utilises the best ofBritish produce.

Eleanor Scott Elizabeth Scott Leah ShortBirmingham City University De Montfort University Derby University

BLAST'BLAST is an innovative knitwearcollection inspired by the art andliteracy movement ‘Vorticism.’ Thepoetry of Ezra Pound wasdeconstructed word-by-word andrefashioned in the form of geometric,abstract designs using a literacy setof rules that determined line shape.

I would describe my style of work asintuitive. My pieces explore texture,structure, pattern and form;remaining true to technique as wellas contemporary design. Inspired byheritage knitting and the ropes &rigging abroad historic sailing ships,

Contemporary comfort and stylecreated by innovative knittrimmingsInspired by tableware design, mycollection pushes the boundaries ofcontemporary knitting. It takes themind away from the traditional knit‘assumptions’, placing it within a nicheinterior market demonstrating a range

of rules that determined line shape.These designs became a vessel toexplore an eclectic mix of knittechniques resulting in finalgarments, knitwear swatches andvisualisations which bring work tolife.'

rigging abroad historic sailing ships,my current collection comprisesindividual hand-crafted elegant andwearable pieces

interior market demonstrating a rangeof knitted seating products. I haveused a variety of yarns/techniques toconvey comfort as well as practicalityby felting hand-dyed wool and knittingwith plastics and suedes.

Katherine Steele Judith WatsonHerriot Watt Bucks New University

My graduate collection ‘Tatterdemalion’ is a casual, street-style look comprising merino and cashmere fibres. Based onthe ‘accidental outfit’, garments are thrown together makingeffortless and interesting silhouettes. The collection usescolours so intense they could almost be tasted. Fine elementsare drawn together with crochet and fringing for a statementgarment, creating a high-end collection for the urbanizedindividual.

Broadly inspired by the concepts of ‘the chameleon and theinterloper’, my work examines how traditional techniques andforms conventionally associated with knitwear and periodplasterwork, can be incorporated into carpet making and viceversa. Crossing the boundaries, the Aran panelled dress, hand-tufted with Swiss darned patches emulating carpet, offers atouch of ‘rug’ to playfully complement the Aran adorned carpetwhich is reminiscent of a period ceiling with a splash oftraditional design.

KNITTED TEXTILE AWARDS 2013

OPEN FINALISTS

Nicky Barfoot Linda Doran Hannah Evans

Knitting is often perceived as a lowskill, feminine craft and is viewed bysome as a poor relation to moretraditional Fine Art methods. Myknitted life paintings aim tochallenge this image by combiningthe artistic respectability of the LifeRoom with the craft image ofknitting. Conceptually I also aim toraise a smile with my knitted nudes.

In my art I use the rich variety oftexture available through knittingalong with colours to create acomplex representation of thesubject whether landscape orabstract. For me knitting with yarn isthe medium with which I paint, moresatisfying and expressive thancreating watercolour, acrylic or oilpaintings.

My graduate collection, ‘A Touch ofShaman’, takes reference from Vodunsculpture, pagan and folk art. Therough and primitive visual nature ofthis work led to the development ofvarious knit techniques, raw textures,layered prints and oversizedsilhouettes. Looped knits werematched with cowbells and copper-plated skulls.

Sandra Medzeviciute Amanda Puleston Rose Sharp-Jones

Being from Lithuania I decided towork with linen – a traditional andauthentic Lithuanian material thatdecades ago reflected the poor,

I am obsessed with knitting imagesdeveloped from photographs I havetaken. Yarns used are not bought

Rose Sharp-Jones is a designer makerworking with knitted and crochetedtextiles. Rose’s inspiration comes from

working class society. However, Ihave challenged this traditionalstereotype by creating light andluxurious garments perfect for anyoccasion by carefully crafting themout of linen. I am also a graduate ofVilnius Gediminas TechnicalUniversity in Lithaunia and I have abachelor degree of Civil Engineering,Construction Management

taken. Yarns used are not boughtspecially, but are collected asoddiments and unwanted stock. Ilike to experiments with colour andtexture and mix yarns like paint tocreate an illusion of light, shade andvibrancy. The free use of yarnscreates fluidity in constructing apicture.

her interest in traditional textiles -how fabrics were made and used aswell as their aesthetic appearance.Rose’s textile designs are applied to arange of products for the home as wellas a collection of wearableaccessories. Environmentally friendly,sustainable yarns, particularly Britishwool, are used throughout

Sally Spinks Emma Vining

Fascinated by the notion of strangers doing good for others in atime where the cult of narcissism is prevalent, Sally hasproduced 3 series of works entitled Random Acts of Kindness. Fine 2/18 wool, silk and cotton has been knitted on tiny 0.9mmneedles into garments for nudes, insects and for family photos.Sally completed her Masters in Fine Art at Goldsmiths in 2008and continues to exhibit work in Europe and the US.

My Kagome cardigan is inspired by Sashiko, traditionalJapanese quilting. Using intarsia technique, the cardigan isknitted in Paton's Colour Works Aran. Colour blending wasachieved using two different shades of this variegated yarnwith some colours in common. Softening the geometric motifgives an organic feel to the design.

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