2013 in review

So far this year, I have had quite a few conversations about when it is best to stop saying "Happy New Year!" In a way, it feels quite clumsy to carry on saying it to everyone you see for the first time this year. However, on the final class of my beginners crochet course last week at City Lit one of my lovely students told me a lovely story, with the moral being that you should always say it to anyone you haven't seen, even if it is in August! 
So now I feel confident instead of awkward saying it and, with that in mind, I am going to start the year off right, if late, with a "Happy New Year" to you all and a little review of last year, especially because the last part was so eventful in both exciting and worrying ways - hence my lack of posting about it. The City Lit class on Friday was a catch up session as I had to cancel the actual class at the end of last year due to ill health. I am hopefully finally on top of it and having a medical action plan for at least the next year or so is making me take stock, look after myself and my family and to celebrate some of the wonderful things I have done and have planned. Hopefully without stressing too much over them! So this is a sort of montage of what I got up to last year - some parts will be elaborated upon as I hoped to do originally over the next few posts.

BOTTOM PICS, from left to right, top to bottom: shot from The Knitting Collection, taken by Britt Spring; view from Gawthorpe Hall on a trip to the textiles collection; shot from Inside Crochet taken by Britt Spring; drawing at the anorak summer fair; shot from Inside Crochet taken by Britt Spring; at DK books; the beautiful Midland hotel, morecambe; at shoot location; The Knitting Collection; photoshoot coffee break; Pauline Turner's library; Home London; drawing at babyccino shopup; Eric; at shoot location; student's work at Pauline Turner's anniversary celebrations; my Jess headband from The Knitting Collection, taken by Britt Spring; Toft at the Stitch and Knit show; my throw on the cover of Crochet, which I consulted on, contributed to and commissioned for; shot from The Knitting Collection, taken by Britt Spring; swatch for the Gawthorpe collection project; teaching how to crochet at City Lit; judging the textiles prize at the Stitch and Knit show; photoshoot action shot. TOP PICS: fragment from the amazing Gawthorpe textiles collection; party bags, Alice in wonderland party; beautiful double rainbow while judging student's work at Pauline Turner's house; my beginner students' grannies.

roundup...

I am aware I have been a bit too busy to post anything much at all this year and it is nearing the end of April - where has the year gone?! The cold weather has made it seem like eternal winter and so I feel I missed the whole of March indoors, crocheting!

To make up for the lack of posting here, I thought I would share a few pictures of some of the exciting things I have been doing so far this year - regular viewing will commence shortly.
I have directed and styled quite a few fab shoots, with the wonderful Britt Spring, the pic above is from the last, with a stunning piece by Kat Goldin.

 Crochet, crochet and more crochet! For the magazine, and for a couple of new projects. This is my favourite blanket project of the lot.

 I managed to catch the Wool exhibition, Wool House at Somerset House in March. It was in collaboration with the Campaign for Wool. This was particularly exciting for me as I finally got to see a crocheted sculpture or 'Crochetdermy' by Shauna Richardson, which didn't disappoint - it was amazing!

I also taught a couple of classes at City Lit  and the experimental class in particular was great fun. I met a bunch of very creative women, one who upcycles old brollies into fab bags and another who is an amazing spinner. All in all a great year so far...

city lit textiles courses

One of the first things I shall be doing when back from maternity leave is teaching at City Lit. They have a huge variety of exciting Textiles courses available - here's the list of some of their upcoming classes:

This Spring/ Summer at the City Lit features an extended programme in textiles, accessories, sewing and clothes making with new courses to follow in the summer school. Courses are offered in a range of specialist areas giving you opportunities to develop design ideas, skills, and techniques and to explore and experiment with different materials and processes

Accessories

VX113 Fashioning fabrics; collars, cuffs, corsages, cameos

Fri 24/02/2012 to 30/03/2012, 6 sessions,18:00 to 21:00

Discover overlaps between textiles and jewellery to create original fashion accessories. Explore costume, and fashion trends, experiment with new or recycled materials and techniques to develop decorative, even flamboyant wearable art pieces. Tutor: Flea Cooke

VX126 Fashioning fabrics: ruffles, flounces, pleats and tucks

Sun 26/02/2012 to 18/03/2012, 4 sessions, 10:30 to 16:30

Develop fabric manipulation techniques to add volume, structure and drama using ruffles and flounces, pleating, tucks and gathering. Sculpt surfaces for fashion/costume detailing or create your own textile surfaces. Sewing skills required. Tutor: Flea Cooke

VX960 Felt Jewellery

Fri 02/03/2012 to Fri 30/03/2012, 5 sessions, 18:00 to 21:00

Create colourful pieces of jewellery combining the process of making your own felt with simple jewellery techniques. Learn to make felt beads, chains, brooches, rings and earrings. All levels welcome. Basic materials will be provided. Tutor: Harriet Hill

VX118 Fashioning fabrics; personality pockets and pouches

Fri 20/04/2012 to18/05/2012, 5 sessions, 18:00 to 21:00

Attached or separate, pockets can add personality. Take a fresh look at a functional form to add character, expression and embellishment. Structure cloth, create hidden or striking openings, tell a story, or be highly decorative. Tutor: Flea Cooke

Textiles

VX114 Surface pattern: design and decoration

Tue, Wed 20/03/2012 to28/03/2012, 10:3016:30

Understand pattern and repeats and develop your own designs using motifs, repeats and borders. Explore a variety of ways of applying your designs to paper and cloth. Tutor: Rachel Gornall

VX958 Creative stitched textiles

Create experimental textile samples exploring machine embroidery, manipulative and decorative stitch techniques and related textile approaches. Beginners and experienced students welcome. Tutor: Rachel Gornall

Wed 18/04/2012 to Wed 20/06/2012, 10 sessions, 18:00 to 21:00

VX119 Textiles: approaches to drawing, sketchbooks and design development

Fri 20/04/2012 to 25/05/2012, 6 sessions, 10:30 to 16:30

Investigate mark-making, layering and juxtaposing ideas through experimental drawings. Explore the importance of imaginative research and how to record it in a sketchbook. Develop versatile design ideas for textiles: interiors, fashion, stationary or textile art. Tutor: Charlotte Hardy

VX952 The textile course 1: evenings; colour and pattern

Tue 24/04/2012 to 13/07/2012, 10 sessions, 18:00 to 21:00

Project based course for personal development or to begin to build a portfolio for further studies. The emphasis is on developing your ideas and practice using a variety of materials and processes. Basic materials included. Each term has a different focus. Term 3: Colour and pattern. Tutor: Louise Baldwin

VX972 Felt: developing techniques and ideas

Sat 19/05/2012 to 09/06/2012, 4 sessions, 10:30 to16:30

Develop your skills and confidence in making felt as you combine a number of techniques, enabling you to explore your own ideas and personal projects. Tutor: Harriet Hill

VX985 Hand knitting for improvers

Sun 20/05/2012 to 03/06/2012, 3 sessions, 10:30 to16:30

Working with different sized needles and experimenting with different yarns, produce swatches as the basis for designing your own garments or fine art structures. Basic materials included. Tutor: Claire Montgomerie click to view

VX120 Textiles: Recycle, Reuse, Retell

Sun 06/05/2012 to 13/05/2012, 2 sessions, 10:30 to16:30

Recycle your old favourite fabrics into a small experimental quilt; exploring the idea that textile carries many memories and secrets. Re-tell your story or journey of these fabrics, using patching, piecing, darning and machine stitching. Tutor: Amarjeet Nandhra

VX121 Manipulated textiles using heat setting techniques

Sun13/05/2012 to27/05/2012, 3 sessions10:30 to16:30

Create innovative subtle or dramatic fabrics using heat to permanently structure the surface. Explore the creative potential of crumpling, crushing, pole wrapping, stitching and colouring, tying in objects and using origami moulds to shape fabric. Tutor: Caroline Bartlett

VX122 Crochet for improvers

Fri 01/06/2012 to 29/06/2012, 5 sessions, 18:00 to 21:00

An improvers crochet course for those who know how to crochet but want to progress from the basic stitches. You will learn advanced techniques such as shaping, working in the round, cluster stitches and reading patterns. Tutor: Claire Montgomerie click to view

VX123 An introduction to fabric printing

12/06/2012 to 3/07/12, 4 sessions, 10:30 to 16:30

An introduction to simple and effective methods of printing using silkscreen, block and mono-printing. Experiment with effects of opaque and transparent colour and finishes such as foiling and explore colour, shape and texture. Tutor: Caroline Bartlett

VX214 Structural crochet: working with 3D forms

Sun 17/06/2012 to Sun 24/06/2012, 2 sessions, 10:30 to 16:30

For intermediate crocheters, wanting to progress from flat swatches/fabrics. Develop three dimensional pieces for jewellery, fashion items or sculptural objects using advanced techniques such as shaping, working in the round and free forming. Tutor: Claire Montgomerie

Sewing and Clothesmaking

VX105 The clothes making course 3: day

Tue 17/04/2012 to 29/05/2012; 7 sessions, 10:30 to 16:30Further your sewing skills and techniques through working on your own personal project. Demonstrate improved skills in the making of clothes and complete a well fitted and professionally finished garment using a bought pattern. Tutor: Dawn Burton

VX106 The clothes making course 3; evening

Thu 19/04/2012 to 21/06/2012, 10 sessions, 18:00 to 21:00

Further develop your clothes making skills through working on your own assignments whilst learning new techniques. Learn further collars, pleats, lining etc. through demonstrations. You will receive help and advice from your tutor. Tutor: Jasmine Carey

VX997 Clothes making intensive 3

Sun 10/06/2012 to 24/06/2012, 3 sessions, 10:30 to 16:30

Further your skills through working on your own assignments whilst learning new techniques. Learn collars, plackets, pleats, frills, gathers etc. through demonstrations. Help and advice at hand. Tutor: Dawn Burton

VX116 Introduction to using a commercial sewing pattern

Sun 01/04/2012, 10:30 to 16:30

Learn how to buy a pattern for your size and how to cut it out. Recognise symbols and keys in the instructions and follow fabric lays for your style. Understand what some of the puzzling sewing terminology means. Tutor: Dawn Burton

VX998 General sewing to survive! – an Introduction to Sewing

Fri 01/06/2012 to 29/06/2012, 5 sessions 18:00 to 21:00

You will learn mainly machine and a few hand sewing skills, through sample work, such as seam finishes, hems and buttonholes, inserting zips, and move on to complete a small project like a cushion. Tutor: Dawn Burton

SUMMER SCHOOL

The new Summer School Course Guide will be published on 9^th March with enrolment from 11^th March, featuring more Textiles, Fashion, Sewing and Clothesmaking courses that will take place between the end of June and the end of July. Reserve your copy of the new Course Guide.

You can find out more about our courses, by visiting our website, or call 020 7492 2700 / 03, or email visual.arts@citylit.ac.uk.

First of two parter at City Lit last weekend, it's a 3D crochet class, so much fun was had making beads, weird and wonderful shapes and ruffles. Next class we will be concentrating on surface texture and experimenting, so more pictures to show with the outcomes of that next week!

3d crochet workshop

Details of my upcoming class at citylit, perfect for crocheters who know the basics and want to try out some new techniques in a fun way, we will be going through shaping techniques, to create pieces which could be jewellery, toys or art pieces. Get booked on!

experimental handknitting

My first class of the year at City Lit was an experimental class, where we all basically sat around and played with yarn, stitch and colour for six Friday evenings! I had some very creative students who even had the chance to have a great week making their samples into felt with Heather Belcher while I was away in Florence. Here are some of the fabulous colours and strange yarns and fibres they put together.

Some beautiful samples made from yarn, ribbons and other oddments, plus the string saved from a well known veg box - that is what I call recycling with style!

knitting and crochet classes in london and the south east

This is the latest list of knitting and crochet classes I shall be teaching in 2010:

Project Crochet; Chevron Pillow, an intermediate class run as my alter-ego, Make Do Mend, where we shall be supplying all materials needed to complete a pretty zig-zag patterned blanket as we hold your hand through the first steps of the advanced stitches. Each project we make throughout the series will increase in difficulty and be varied enough to hold your attention. Other planned projects include vintage style bags, flowers and simple first garments. 23rd May, Kingly Court, London.

Crochet; The Basics, a taster day at West Dean College, Sussex, 13th July

Hand Knitting; The Basics, a taster day at West Dean College, Sussex, 14th July

Crochet for Beginners at City Lit college, Covent Garden, weekday evenings, 28th-30th July

There are also quite a few interesting classes in the pipeline for fairs and festivals this summer and autumn, which I am excited about, so I will let you know when these are confirmed.

happy knitting new year!

Happy new year to all, I have had a wonderful relaxing holiday and now it is time to start looking forward into the new year and planning lots of knitting related activity.

I am launching the new decade with a series of classes at City Lit in January, which I believe is full to bursting; a great sign of how popular the craft has become. I am however holding more knitting and crochet classes throughout the year at the same venue, so check it out anyway.

The place I am most looking forward to visiting this year is Les Soeurs Anglaises in France. They have just updated their website, which is looking fabulous, with fantastic courses running throughout the year. The beautifully sunny pictures are proving extremely alluring for me, sat wrapped in layers of clothes and a wooly blanket while temperatures drop below freezing outside. Roll on May, I say!!

My Autumn/winter collection is still coming along nicely; will post pictures later in the week and I already have one eye on next season's offering, perhaps it has something to do with longing for warmer weather...!

Finally, I am hoping to really run with my new workshop venture Make Do Mend this year, so expect lots of new classes booked soon.

Phew, looks like it is going to be a busy year! Here's to a creative and happy new year to everyone.

big bunny

I am slap bang in the midst of teaching a beginners knitting class at City Lit at the mo. One of the nicest things about teaching there is being so close to Covent Garden market and walking around it to relax at lunchtime.

Last week, there was a massive Jeff Koons inflatable bunny hoisted in the rafters to promote the Tate Modern's Pop Life exhibition. I saw Koons' show at the Serpentine in the summer and loved that too, so I shall have to scoot off to the tate to see more of his and other great modern artists' work.

Will post some pics from the City Lit class soon.

knitting classes

Below are some of my upcoming beginners knitting classes and craft workshops in London, the South East and the rest of the world!


Hand knitting for improvers April/May 2010
City Lit College

Textiles Jewellery - Innovative Knit and Yarn techniques, 30th April - 2nd May 2010
West Dean College, Sussex

Knitting classes in the South of France! Next class will be in May 2010 and will be designing your own knitting. Contact Les Soeurs Anglaises for details

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you wish to arrange your own bespoke knitting, crochet or craft classes in London.

If you want to book classes for groups, please check out my alter ego, Make.Do.Mend

Hairpin Lace

All last week I was in hairpin lace land. This was due to being at City Lit college for three evenings, teaching my first ever class on the technique and it was really fun. Hairpin lace, or crochet, is basically an advanced crochet technique using a hairpin, prong or, more often these days, a frame like the one above. The frame helps to create large loops held together by the basic crochet stitches; strips made in this way can then be joined together to make open, lacy fabrics, which are very quick to make up.

The technique is very absorbing and hypnotic due to its repetitive nature and as a result the class was the quietest I think I have ever taught!

Once the technique has been learned, you can play with the strips in many ways creating textural motifs as well as regular flat fabrics. A traditional way to use the strips is as braids and edgings.

Hui Ting tried an old pattern for a delicate edging using a thin strip made on a small width of the frame. The strips all come off the frame looking almost the same; the variations occur in how you treat the individual or groups of strips. Here, she used some simple crochet to join groups of the loops, creating a beautifully lacy piece which would make a stunning edge if she recreated it over a longer length.

Jo worked some fabulously striking circular motifs out of the originally straight strips, using varying shades of green. This would make a fun yet sophisicated throw when finished.

I also showed the ladies how to bead the strips and Carolina brought in some very bright, beautiful red wire and orange beads, which worked fabulously well in her strip, which may well become a bracelet. (bottom)

If you do not crochet, let that not be a barrier to learning the craft of hairpin lace, as most of these ladies were not confident crocheters, and a couple had never crocheted before, but all came away confidentally able to wield the hairpin looms and try some of the basic techniques.

If you are interested in learning the skill, I would heartily recommend it, for its theraputic qualities, simplicity and speed. Contact me if you are interested and I may be able to point you in the right direction.

city lit knit

I finished what I thought was a very successful class at the City Lit College in Covent Garden last week. It was an improvers knitting class, but most of my learners were more advanced than improvers, so we ended up progressing onto designing patterns, which was fun, if stressful! (I thought designing one pattern at a time was hard...try helping with six at once!)

The talented knitters on the class let their creativity fly really quickly and produced some very pretty samples - I wish I had taken some more pictures. I think the three lots of five hour sessions just allowed them to sit and only concentrate on knitting, which I know it is really hard to do at home in between work and when the ironing and housework are calling you. I can't wait to see the results of the very imaginative first designs, I have set up a ravelry group for this very reason and hope to see some finished products soon.

This slightly creepy but fab piece was knitted not in the class, but by one of the students who is also a sculptor and attends Camberwell college of art, I am hoping to get down to see her show later this month. This piece is a latex cast of her body which she has cut up and knitted - weirdly wonderful!

City Lit is offers a great variety of courses, academic and recreational, get over there and have a look, you may find something you really want to try. I am leading a course in Hairpin Lace in July, with more beginners, experimental and improver knitting classes in the next academic year. After that I shall be planning more different classes, so if you have any ideas of something you may want to come along to, let me know. I have already had requests for recycling and customising classes, as well as a pure designing patterns class, so keep them coming!