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Extreme Knitting
CHUNKY YARNS ARE POPULAR WITH KNITTERS AT PRESENT, BUT DESIGNER JACQUELINE FINK MAKES BESPOKE KNITTED ITEMS THAT TAKE THIS CONCEPT TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL. USING GIGANTIC KNITTING NEEDLES AND MASSIVELY THICK UNSPUN YARN SHE CREATES KNITTED PIECES THAT HAVE A BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL QUALITY – PIECES THAT YOU JUST WANT TO CURL UP AND SNUGGLE ON.
interview: Judy Newman
How would you describe your knitted pieces?
What are the physical effects of working with knitting on this scale? My work is as much a feat of physical endurance and capacity as it is a creative exercise. Knitting on a large scale should probably come with a health warning because it is quite a workout. In the early stages of practising my craft, I felt 40 going on 80 for a good while. I hurt from top to toe. Many creative people strive to make a living from their work – are you doing this successfully or is it a labour of love? What inspires you? I am always captivated by the colours and textures found in nature but I tend not look outwards when it comes to inspiration. My creative process is driven by my internal machinations: I daydream a lot and it is in those moments that an idea will come to me. What keeps you awake in the early hours? Two things: What do you do when you have an hour of free time? Typically, it’s one of three things: What plans do you have for your work in future? I plan to launch my knitting yarn together with large scale needles very soon so that others can try their hand at extreme knitting. I would like to hold workshops for beginners as well as established knitters to teach them the ins and outs of knitting large. I also have plans to work with other artisans from afar but more about that later. Finish the sentence: In five years, I’d like to be … …running a successful handmade business from a beautiful white space where I can pass on my learnings to others and help other women find their own creative path. |
Visit Jacqui’s website at: http://littledandelion.com
NOT AS EXTREME AS JACQUI’S GORGEOUS RUGS, but here is a free pattern for you which uses two yarns together. It’ll keep the cold out! CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO THE LEFT