Knitted Joanie Lamp

Great Design Files post on Lightly, including pics of our recent collaboration on the knitted Joanie lamp.

Knitting Symposium

Made a presentation at Auckland University Knitting Symposium ; keynote speaker was the eponymous author Sandy Black. Sandy is from the London College of Arts; amazing woman, she has a wealth of knowledge of knitting and was a true inspiration to meet. So at the symposium many issues were discussed, about industry, innovation and education; and how these can be improved for the future. With representatives from all of these, there were some really interesting insights. There were discussions that went round and round the issues of technology advancing beyond the innovation applied to it, which leaves a big gap in creativity meeting industry; and why?!
In my opinion one of the key points that was raised was "why do we not train our knitwear designers to program the machines, and shouldn't it be part of the curriculum?" True; I mean to get a graphic design degree, one has to know the design programs, right!? I hope, truly hope; that whatever changes are implemented over time, that the perception of knitting is changed too, and for it to be considered as a valid design discipline that takes just as much enquiry as any design process.

Portman's Window

If you're on a Melbourne city tram one of these rainy days (sigh! I miss you Melbourne) and you think you just spotted in the corner of your eye a lot of cozy looking fluff hanging in the Portman's window; you weren't imagining it. I've made them plenty of wooli pom-poms, braids and tassels to drape their windows for the launch of their knitwear collections this week.