Sandra's Designing Blog

This is an exclusive area of my web site where you can find out more about my knitted designs, what inspires me, how I work and what I like (and don't like) to design. 
 
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  1. 3 small bowls

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    Pottery and Mindfulness Crafting: My Journey to Inner Peace

    In today's fast-paced world, finding creative outlets that fosters mindfulness has been incredibly rewarding for me
    Earlier this year I decided to join a pottery class at The Clay Mill in Slaithwaite where I could start to learn the craft in a 6 week course (1 afternoon a week),

     The process of shaping clay whilst it's spinning on the wheel brought me a profound sense of calm and satisfaction. I was surprised how the process did just take over my mind and empty it out; it stopped the niggly thinking and agitation.

    Learning to Spin on the Wheel

    My journey began with learning to spin on the potters wheel. This practice demanded focus and patience as I centered the clay and guided it with steady hands. The rhythmic motion of the wheel and the tactile sensation of the clay beneath my fingers created a deeply immersive experience. 

    3 Small Bowls

    I started with throwing small bowls, a perfect introduction to pottery. These manageable projects allowed me to practice and refine my techniques without feeling overwhelmed. As I molded and shaped each piece, I experimented with different forms and sizes, finding joy in the imperfections and unique qualities of each creation. 

    Playing with Colors

    Once my bowls were formed and dried, the next step was to play with colors. Selecting glazes and mixing hues allowed me to express my creativity and individuality. The anticipation of seeing how the colors would transform in the kiln added an element of excitement and wonder. 

    Painting the Glaze On

    With each brushstroke, I lost myself in the gentle rhythm of applying the glaze. This act of painting encouraged mindfulness, as I focused on the texture and coverage of the glaze, ensuring each piece was evenly coated. 

    Waiting for Results

    The final stage of pottery was perhaps the most challenging for me: waiting for the results. Once my glazed bowls were placed in the kiln, I had to wait for the firing process to complete. When the kiln was finally opened, the sense of anticipation and excitement was unparalleled, as I witnessed the transformation of my creations.

    Conclusion

    Pottery has become more than just a craft for me; it is a journey of mindfulness and self-discovery. From the initial steps of learning to spin on the wheel to the final reveal of my glazed creations, each stage offered an opportunity to practice presence, patience, and creativity. 

    I MUST join the classes again in September.

  2. Seams or No Seams?

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    I'm taking a little break from designing to knit myself this lovely stranded knit Bifurca vest by the designer Teti Lutsak.


    For the tops I have designed and knit for myself I have concentrated on mastering classic techniques and precise construction, following on from my sewing experiences. However, now I'm at a stage where I want to experiment with  creating different shapes and using different construction methods for my knits. 
     
    This top, with a mixture of top down circular knitting, raglan shaping from the neck centre points, short row shaping to define the shape under the armholes and picking up stitches to work on for the bottom rib has given me a lot of chances to learn a different approach.  It's been fun too!
      
    Hopefully I can take some of these ideas forward in some new designs for you in the future. 
    In the meantime, lets look back..........

    Above are 4 of my "seamed" patterns.

    Having been a sewer all my life when I started knitting, I took the traditional approach and created seperate pieces of a garment and sewed them together.
    I knew no better. 

    This method has been the cornerstone of garment construction for centuries. I do think that seamed garments often have better structure, especially in areas that require reinforcement, such as shoulders. Side seams also help with the drape of the garment so it hangs well.
    Yet one of my first designs - Lois created 8 years ago didn't have any seams! I felt I had hit on something rather special, a way that knitters could purely concentrate on the lace knitting and not have to do any shaping of the fabric (which can be quite complicated with lace knits). The finished rectangles would not be seamed but placed on top of each other and sewn in place, no bulky seams. 

    So I came up with the idea, but before I set to work knitting I had to make sure this concept idea worked. I found my notes the other day and thought I'd write them up for you. Basically I did this for my size and with a bit of clever maths scaled the measurements up and down for the various sizes. Phew.
     

    Materials Needed:

    • Fabric (2 long rectangles)
    • Scissors
    • Sewing machine or needle and thread
    • Measuring tape
    • Pins
    • Chalk or fabric marker

    Steps:

    1. Measure and Cut Fabric:

      • Measure your desired length from your shoulder to where you want the top to end.
      • Cut two long rectangles of fabric based on this length. The width of each rectangle should be enough to cover half your bust plus some extra inches for seam allowance and ease. The length should be double the desired length of the top plus additional length for the crossover and going over the shoulders.

    2. Position the Fabric:

      • Place one rectangle over one shoulder, drape it across the front of your body, and across the shoulder to the back
      • Repeat with the second rectangle on the other shoulder, crossing it over the first rectangle at the front and back.

    3. Adjust the Crossovers:

      • Adjust the fabric so that it fits comfortably across your shoulders, chest and back. The cross at the front and the cross at the back should be positioned to your liking.
      • Use pins to hold the rectangles in place where they cross.

    4. Pin and Sew Side Seams:

      • Once you have the fabric positioned correctly, pin the sides together where the rectangles overlap under the arms.
      • Sew the side seams from the armholes down to the hem.

    Both modern knitting with unusual shapes & construction and knitting with seams offer unique benefits and appeal to different facets of a knitter's creativity. Whether you’re drawn to the structured elegance of traditional seamed garments or the more freeform innovation of modern designs, there's a wealth of techniques to explore and master. Embrace the best of both worlds, and let your knitting journey be as varied and rich as the craft itself.  Just keep learning & creating.

    Happy knitting!

    Sandra
     
     
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