Yep, just when you thought I was finished writing a blog series!
But this one is monthly rather than weekly, and there will be breaks in between with posts on a variety of subjects.
I wanted to have a long-term series on knitwear design because it’s a subdiscipline of design that is also interdisciplinary within design itself. Knitted fabric has the inventive aspects of engineering and construction; the UX and UI (user experience and user interface) of writing knitting patterns; the programming and coding of stitch instructions is akin to computer technology; and last, but definitely not least, the element of artistic composition.
If we talk exclusively about the artistic side of knitwear design, we can understand it as a combination of fashion design – incorporating the focus on silhouette – and textile design – incorporating the focus on surface pattern and texture. Thus, knitwear designers do at least double duty. Knitwear design also relies heavily on mathematical principles of geometry and ratio, and I also wanted to write a bit more about how that relationship works. Applied maths and geometry, in other words – but explored artistically through the lens of knitting.
Many knitters have done an excellent job of covering the engineering and execution of stitches and techniques (tutorials, explainers, how-to guides); others are beginning to focus on the communication interface of knitting patterns; fewer have written about the artistry of knitwear design. In this series I’ll cover compositional elements such as pattern repeats, silhouettes, shapes and colour; it’s impossible for me to be exhaustive, but if I’ve managed to convey something about how designs are composed, I’ll be happy 😊
So, on the second Wednesday of every month until further notice, you can expect a post on how knitwear design can work as a discipline. My only spoiler until next month is that I’ll begin with pattern repeats – not least because ALL knitters have to deal with them in one way or another! More to come in May.
I’m looking forward to this!!
Thank you Tamara! ☺️
Just watched your Patty Lyons interview. I’m looking forward to your blog posts on knitwear design.
Thank you very much for watching!
The next post on knitwear design will be next week, so not long to go 😊