In the bleak midwinter ... Long Ago.

Crit for 'In the Bleak Midwinter ...' was today. Presenting all of my work was enjoyable as ever and it felt especially strange to observe everyone elses knit and weave compared to my own and how differently everyone interpreted the brief. This project struck me especially as very personal to everyone and the ways in which the brief has been interpreted are so different. Some people have chosen to look at colour, texture or pattern, I personally chose texture.
Here are some photographs of my mounted samples on display and of my finished sleeve and neck ruff:

Sleeve:








Ruff:




Kindly Modeled by Nat.

Snow on Snow, Snow on Snow ...

Here are my Nine completed knit samples based on 'In the Bleak Midwinter ...' I experimented with different materials as yarns such as dental floss, ribbon and organza, as well as more conventional yarns. The photos are predominantly close ups and arty shots because the samples have not yet been mounted, but I do still think that you can get the overall feel of my work. All of these samples will contribute towards my final garment section, at this stage im leaning towards making a sleeve. Further photographs will follow when my samples are mounted and ready for display.

Sample One:






Sample Two:





Sample Three:






Sample Four:






Sample Five:







Sample Six:










Sample Seven:








Sample Eight:



Sample Nine:

Snow had fallen, Snow on Snow …

With ‘In the Bleak Midwinter …’ progressing nicely I began translating my designs and work into knit samples.

As I had chosen to study ‘Trees and Hedgerows’ within the project and how they are affected by snow I concentrated largely on texture within my sample development. Thinking about the textures of trees and bark and how these appear when covered in snow. I considered the rough bumpy texture of bark and began to consider a colour scheme that related to the snow, ice and frost which covered the trees. I also thought about trickling water and ice in cracks and how they all affect and change trees. This all became a basis for my design work. A line from the Christina Rossetti poem from which the project arose echoed regularly in my mind ‘Snow on Snow.’ Leading to the idea of layers and giving the visual impact of snow upon snow upon texture.

Here are a few very early scraps developing my ideas, choosing my yarns, colour schemes and preferred techniques etc:

Below: Random FairIsle pattern created using my grey/blue wool and a cream and blue acrylic mix, then felted. Knot created by hooking back on the machine after casting off.



Below: Created using a tuck stitch pattern, hooking up and ladders.


Below: Tuck stitch with Ribbon knitted in.

Sixty Degrees North …

With ‘In the Bleak Midwinter …’ in full swing and progressing nicely I attended a lecture given by Phil Brooks. The lecture was the first I have ever attended with people from mixed subject areas, I believe it was open for anyone to attend. Kay urged us to attend, I left my knitting quite reluctantly, feeling that I was on a roll so to speak, but after 5 minutes of the lecture I was listening intently and felt very interested and involved.
The subject on which he gave his lecture was his 14 year venture ‘Sixty Degrees North’, A photographic study of life between 60 and 70 Degrees around the world. I felt engrossed in the topic, his landscapes especially interested me. His social commentary images were also very rich with culture and message, but artistically I preferred his landscapes and cityscapes.
I think I felt quite a close connection with the lecture as travel photography is something I’ve always wanted to do, although travelling through Russia, Greenland, Iceland and Lapland etc in those incredible temperatures is a step beyond.
The imagery of his lecture was brilliant, I’m not sure it really made me consider my project in a different way, but it did appeal to me from a photographers perspective. And seeing those icebergs on such a grand scale and such vast icy bodies was quite inspirational in an artistic sense.

In all I thought the lecture was a fantastic insight into a practicing photographer living his dream, even if he admitted to not making any big bucks at it. But after all that’s not what it’s about is it? There is a difference between having a job you love and having a job that pays, a big difference.