Emily Lang II

 A second post about Emily Lang's work in the ECA Illustration degree show. 

"Everything in the show was inspired by the textiles worn by the fishing communities in East Lothian and Fife. 

Dreg songs were sung by the fishermen as they dredged for oysters to keep time as they worked. The knitting patterns are based on patterns used for the gansey jumpers worn by the fishermen and the pale yellow patterns were inspired by the outfits worn by the fishwives, so the prints are meant to represent a collaboration between the men and women. 

I drew the knitting patterns in a circle because the jumpers were knitted in the round and the female patterns are rectangle shaped to represent the skirts. I used dreg song lyrics to title the prints because I wanted to get across the repetition and rhythm of the work which was emulated in the repetitive patterns in the textiles." Emily Lang 

Pigeon

The pigeons near us are falling in love again and though we are probably still in the grips of winter this is one of the signs that spring is on its way. This knitted pigeon by various projects is just wonderful. (Thanks)

Hannah Haworth

Lovely to see some new work by Hannah Haworth, now living and working in New York, and knitting my favourite a beluga whale, I couldn't resist posting it. Do you remember her degree show?

Dr Annie Shaw and the Gansey

Above: Images Of Dr Annie Shaw's Miniature Gansey's currently being exhibited at The Scottish Fisheries Museum and Scarborough Art Gallery.

Life is very very full at the moment, but I stole a rare hour today, to dash to Anstruther to the wonderful Scottish Fisheries Museum, after a hot tip from my friend Christine to see the wonderful 'Extravagansey'.

Gansey's are traditional east coast fisherman's jerseys, amazing creations, lovingly made for sons, husbands and fathers at sea. The gansey like a tattoo would carry a pattern characteristic of the fishing port and family handed down through generations. The Gansey was very warm and practical, reversible, easily repaired and because of the unique design enable the fishermen to be easily recognized.

It is a close knitted, intricately designed jumper made from tightly spun 5 ply worsted wool (known as seamen's iron) and was knitted in one piece on five needles.

Dr Annie Shaw has made a wonderful installation of miniature gansey's made individual by incorporating; flotsam and jetsam, treasure carefully aged in lobster pots, rubberizing and even deep frying. Dr Annie Shaw has also applied cultural objects and photographs (the top image shows Dr Annie Shaw's grandmother).

Cleo Thorpe-ngata I

Knitted birds is the seemless link between the last post and this one about Cleo Thorpe-ngata. The top image is a detail from a knitted dress which is stunning (and which I cannot get a photo of) so please follow the link to Cleo's wonderful blog. Cleo is an artist and crafts person based in New Zealand.

Christine Robson

A pet at work! Thankyou Christine it was just what I needed on a Thursday morning.

Ivano Vitali

Above: Pubblicita Nera, Below: Yellow Advertisements

Below: Pubblicita Blu

It is over a year since I first showed some of the amazing work of Italian artist Ivano Vitali but today's discovery of James Bassler reminded me of his incredible works. Here are the the subtle and wonderful hues of Ivano's spun paper balls, each spun from a different paper publication.

Sara Carr

The lovely work of Sara Carr is bright, happy, calm, and wonderful quality. Sara has a folksy shop and etsy have a look at the wonderful things she makes.

Hannah Haworth

Yesterday Freya and I went to the Edinburgh Degree Show. Hannah Haworth's work shone out in the sculpture department, and I know lots of you will love it, this piece is called The Hunt. Hannah has had an exceptional life including growing up in the Mangyan Tribe of the Philippines. Now living in Scotland she combines the traditional crafts of her people with Scottish ones and creates incredible works. Have a look at her website it has some amazing work on it. Hannah's work reminded me of Benedetta Mori Ubaldini.

Ester Svensson

Ester Svensson makes the ceramics with haunting and wonderful monochrome images. Ester trained as an illustrator, but now uses these skills in the medium of ceramics, she has lived and worked in many countries including Scotland.

Magnusmog

I have been ill today, so it has been a non day, hard when I am used to being so busy. Yesterday I met some wonderful people. One fellow blogger, is Jeni of Magnusmog, what talent, she spins dyes and knits. The colours of her natural dyed yarns are superb, knitting magical and photographs are stunning.

Extreme Knitting from Yoshikazu Yamagata

Had to include this wonderful photo from Yoshikazu's portfolio.

Murakami Mafuyu

I have seen the collaborative works of Murakami Mafuyu and Yoshikazu Yamagata before but the image above is so wonderful, and I didn't realise that these knitted garments were considered as fashion and possibly toy houses for children.

Harpa Hats

Harpa's Hats.

Harpa Jonsdottir

I have spent most of the winter break knitting, which is not like me, I am not a knitter, but I have loved it and made lots of strange scarfs and jumpers for Freya's dolls and elephant.

Anyway the wonder of the Internet led me Icelandic Knit Master, Harpa's work today. Harpa knits wonderful things and photographs them in amazing locations, she lives in the most idyllic spot and has made a wonderful series of photographs of Drangar Dagsins. Iceland.

Skin

Christmas jumper meets peat bog man, not easy viewing, but intriguing a horror movie of knitting, fantastic work by Freddie Robins.

Gloves

Top: Peter, Middle: Hand Of God, Bottom: Peggy A quirky sense of humour , creativity and a knitting machine make Freddie Robins the scariest knitter who's work I have seen, well worth further exploration.

Ivano Vitali

Above: Artist in flight, Below: Ivano

Above: Detail of Grey bomb-on Dress, Bellow: detail of knitted paper.

Ivano Vitali weaves paper, spins paper, crochets and knits paper into wedding dresses, flowers, tapestries and fashion. Newspaper and the printed word spin into new meaning and poetry under his superb craftsmanship. http://www.artnet.it/

Knitted Lights, Matt at llot llov

These look like Sunday Morning lights for cuddling up with a good book and coffee and...I think they are lovely.

They are at 'llot llov' here: http://www.llotllov.de/product/matt.htm