How I design patterns. · WeLoveWoolClub

Mar 17 • Masters

How I design patterns.

As part of my MA I am creating a sustainable creative practice / career as an artist & knitwear designer. I had been avoiding sharing my why here and other places because it felt uncomfortable. But I have realised through my MA that actually what I want won't happen unless I do share.

I have knitted since I went to university as it was part of my degree and just loved it. But then after that over the years I have used knitting & crochet as part of helping my mental health as I know a lot of you are doing too.

This is where it has become the forefront in the last 18 months and why I decided to do an MA.

So as my final project for my MA I am creating 12 pieces of art and 12 patterns that are inspired by moments I experienced in the last 12 months before and after my mum passed away.

I cared for my mum for 10plus years and I would often knit/crochet/draw when I was at hospital appointments with her and especially in the last 8 weeks of her life as there was a lot of sitting around and honestly awkwardness.

As part of my MA I am exploring the connection between knitting, grief and nature. How it opened up conversations with people and how it helped me cope. So each painting is from one of those moments.

For example the Saltburn Shawl (il add photos) was from a trip me and some of my family had to the beach when they were visiting my mum in the last few weeks. It wasn't a trip to have fun etc more just a break from the pain. Some fresh sea air and a chance to chat and laugh for an hour. I painted the painting below after that trip and then designed the shawl from it.

All 12 patterns will be blankets, scarves or shawls because they all wrap around oyu and create that warm hug that we all need when going through something like that.

I opened this community because I love encouraging others to knit & crochet. I have seen the benefits of it first hand and want to share that. Also lets face it I have a slight obsession with wool too so being able to talk about wool with others all day is a dream lol.

I want people to smile when they see the prints and know that when they knit or crochet these patterns it means something. Grief is a super hard thing but also it can bring great connections with it too.

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