Necklace photoshoot

I wanted to get some new images of my Knot Knit collection  

I really like the images which i got as you can really see the structure of the necklaces and i chose to style the outfit in just black to make the focus just on the necklaces. 

Jumper Photoshoot

For my Jumper i had made i wanted to get proper photos to show it 

I am not happy with how it has come out as a whole jumper but i am happy with the images. 

I really struggled with putting the jumper together / sewing it. 

The fit of the jumper isn't 100% as when washed it has slightly over felted so it has made it slightly smaller than i wanted. 

But overall i am happy with the final images 

Context / Photoshoot

From putting my pieces on the mannequin i knew i wanted to get them in better context to look like actual garments 

I decided to use Gemma and also Esther so i could wrap my fabrics around her arm to make it look like a garment 

 I am really happy with how these images have turned out as i feel my pieces come to life and you can really see how they would look as garments rather than just a flat piece of knit 

This is another piece i made at university on the dubied machine, it was large pockets which i have stuffed to create a padded effect

Final Fabrics

Back from Shima and really happy with my final fabrics i wanted to try and get some proper context images. 

I placed all my fabrics on the mannequin to try and get an idea of how they would look. 

I was happy with these images but i felt i wanted to push myself a bit further as they didn't look 100% and i wanted to get the best out of my pieces 

Shima visit for final fabrics

I decided i wanted to make my final fabrics using the Shima knitting machines so i had to go back up to Derby to do this. 

I knew from the course i did, what type of fabrics i wanted to make and how to do them so it was just a case of getting the designs made and knitted. 

I brought all my own yarn which was some lambswool and also the cotton i had dyed myself. 

First i made a structure that used a mix of front and back bed to create this ripple effect which i think works really well.

Then once i had the structure i wanted we then had to make sure the tension was correct and this is done by changing the loop length each time until its exactly how you want it

Once i had everything as i wanted it we tested a jumper front and washed it to make sure it would come out the correct size. 

This is my final jumper fabric with the monofilament included. 

This is the fabric before it was washed. 

Then i wanted to create some ripple fabrics using my cottons 

I really like the cotton fabric as i am so used to using lambswool it was a nice change to knit with something different and see how the yarns changes the whole feel of the fabric. 

I then made another lambswool sample with the same technique as the first one but with the structure going in both directions

Country Living Spring Fair

I entered a competition for a new business to win a stand at Country Livings pop-up market, i entered the competition and sent in a few images of my work. 

I can't believe it but i won a place on the Saturday (29th) i was so excited for the chance to have a stand there!  There was over 200 applicants and only 27 people got the place so i felt really lucky!

It was being held at Alexandra Palace in London, so i travelled from Norfolk that morning all the way to London in my little mini!

I asked Lizzie if she would come and help me. So off we both went to London!

Here is my stand all set up and ready to open, Ive got my new range of stools which i am so pleased with and glad i could take them to the show. 

It was amazing to talk to the people who run country living and they couldn't believe i was only 23 and still at university which to me isn't a big deal but they seemed to think it was. 

Overall the day went amazingly and it was so busy and i had a lot of contact with interiors designers and customers who all had such nice things to say.

I have now been accepted to for christmas show which is so exciting as my knitwear will be in the right season which i think will sell well at the christmas fair. 

It was a great experience and i feel that ive learnt a lot about myself but also how i want my business to come across to people, i know i want it to be a luxury brand and also that my target market is defiantly London based.