New Work- Fair Isle Brooches

March has been a strange month as Mr Writer was away for most of it- he worked in Korea for 4.5 weeks and this was the longest we have been apart in the 13 years we have been together. It really was so strange to be so far apart! Whilst my family and friends were so great at keeping me busy and distracted (thank you to you all!) I lost a lot of motivation and positivity and sadly didn't achieve as much as I would have liked to. I was so surprised at myself, I thought I'd achieve so much with all of that time on my hands, but I really underestimated how much Mr Writer motivates and encourages me. Thankfully he's back now and is having a good rest and I'm once again making and loving my work. I've got a week off from the day job and I'm looking forward to making a start on some new things and planning new content for the blog. Watch this space!

Today I thought I'd share some things I've finished so far this week...

I'm really enjoying making these hand knitted Fair Isle brooches, designing the Fair Isle patterns and hand knitting them using Shetland wool. I'm learning more about Fair Isle with every one I make- I'm seeing this as an evolving project and a learning process

I'm hoping to take these particular brooches to show a potential new stockist of my work- fingers crossed!

When I first started making Fair Isle brooches I made them rectangular, but as I'm finding that these new square shaped brooches are getting a really good reaction, I'm going to go ahead now and always make them square, unless requested

Although I plan the patterns on knitter's graph paper, sometimes the design doesn't really pop until you knit it up. I had previously knitted this design in other colours and I thought I'd try it using different colours- it's one of my favourites. I don't intentionally try to make the patterns look like anything, re. flowers etc, as I like to design in a more spontaneous way, but I think this one looks like little houses!

Thank you for letting me share an insight into life lately- I'll be back later in the week to share my Instagram photos from March and also sharing a sneak peek at what I'm up to on my week off. I've also got a floral Spring themed How To in the planning!

Hope you've had a lovely March and wishing you a happy week!

New Work- Hand Knitted Fair Isle Necklaces

I've been busy working on some new pieces for my Fair Isle jewellery range and I'm excited to share the first of my new Fair Isle necklaces! I hand knitted the necklace to my own Fair Isle design in beautiful British wool and the knit encapsulates light wooden beads that tie with ribbon. This is my first prototype of Fair Isle necklace in this style and I am going to experiment with other colours and designs to add to my Etsy and Folksy shops soon. I'll keep you posted! 

I find the Fair Isle process very therapeutic and very rewarding. One of the reasons I love knitting so much is because you are creating your own fabric. Maybe one day I'll go one step further and try spinning my own yarn!

This is a real statement piece that can be dressed up or down and is a great way to wear wool every day! 

I've been following the Fair Isle tradition by using a maximum of 5 colours per design

The nature of the design means the necklace is reversible, so you have two looks in one!

You can check out my other Fair Isle necklaces and brooches here. Watch this space for more new designs!

WIP- New Fair Isle Jewellery #2

The Fair Isle practice continues here at Louise Dawson Design! As you may know, I have previously hand knitted a fair isle jewellery collection in Shetland wool. I loved using the Jaimesons 4ply to make these, but I'd like to make more complex designs and I've now chosen to make a new range using Susan Crawford Fenella 2ply.  In this post I shared with you the start of some Fair Isle brooch designs in this beautiful 2ply British wool

I used one of the knitted samples to make a round brooch using a cover button but I thought that this hid the fair isle design too much, so I've knitted the same design and made it up as a small square brooch. I'm much happier with this, I think there is more scope for trying out different designs within this shape.

I'm so enjoying making up my own fair isle designs using knitter's graph paper and coloured pencils!

I'm trying out lots of colour ways to find out what works too. I've just ordered a few more colours in the Fenella to add in too- it's such a beautiful yarn, I find it hard to resist!

I'll continue to share my fair isle progress- I'm aiming to create a whole new fair isle collection

Behind the Scenes

I just wanted to share with you some behind the scenes images of new pieces taking shape in my studio...

To make my brooches and necklaces I mostly use recycled wool or wool that people have given me, but working where I do it's hard to resist new things and this is how I have found myself with this beautiful Bergere De France yarn! Luberon is actually a 4ply sock yarn, but it works beautifully through my machine and there is a  lovely range of colours. 

All knitted covers for my brooches and necklaces are knitted by me on my knitting machine!

Brooch bases waiting to be embellished!

New pieces that will be on sale in the Jessica Muir Gallery, Long Melford

Don't forget to check out my new Etsy Shop and visit my Facebook page before the end of June for a free UK postage coupon!

Learning to Crochet!

Although I've been knitting since I was five I've never learnt to Crochet, instead using my made up Crochet method, which is joined up chain stitch (great for ethereal effect in my textile hangings but lacking structure for practical use). However, working in the Wool Room at work I've been inspired to learn, especially after discovering Attic 24 (if you love Crochet, colour and craft do check it out, it's a beautiful blog). A lovely friend of mine has been teaching me to Crochet properly and I'm starting my Crochet education with a giant Granny Square made in a combination of Rico Pure Wool DK and Sublime Baby Cashmerino Silk DK- it's going to be a blanket for my niece! I'll keep you updated on the progress as I keep learning! I'd love to incorporate it into a future jewellery collection, there are lots of exciting possibilities!

I love the portability of Crochet- I'ts handy to keep a project in your bag for when you have a spare moment, like on your lunch break on a bench in the sun!

It looks a little wonky but blocking will sort that out!

New collection in progress!

I'm currently making a new collection with a focus on my recycled fabric "sequin" idea as the main focus. I firstly came to the idea after having a move around in the studio and realizing how many materials I have that I never use, and forging a new determination to use them! I'm lucky that people know me as a bit of an avid recycling fan/hoarder (!) of wool and fabrics, so I get given lots of things and in that respect I'm never short of something "new."

The basis for the badge brooch is a self-cover button with the wire loop removed, and which I then cover with Tweed, Felt or Knit (I've tried using recycled Sari silk pieces, lace and other light weight fabrics but I find the heavier weight fabrics give a more substantial backing to be stitched onto).  I then hand cut all my little fabric sequins from any type of fabric that suits my colour way for that particular brooch, then coat them in fabric stiffener to prevent fraying. Once dry I can then stitch them onto the button.

It only makes a tiny dent in my fabric collection but I'm glad that I'm making good use of what I have, turning unwanted materials into something new to be kept and treasured! It's also been a good way to introduce more colour into my work- I'll always love and return to my white and cream but I'm pleased I've found a way I'm happy to use colour!

Some new colour ways (pre-stitching) using Harris Tweed off-cuts as the backing fabric