Devereux Sweater In The Knitter Magazine Issue 75

My Devereux Sweater is on the front cover of the Knitter Magazine!!!! I am so pleased, proud and excited to see my sweater design so beautifully photographed and presented.

The Knitter Magazine Issue 75

The front cover of the Knitter Magazine with my name!

The design was inspired by the delicate acid etched patterns found on Tudor and Elizabethan armour. The elongated twisted stitch pattern begins as a narrow panel and widens towards the shoulders in a flattering V-shape. The central panel is made using twisted stitches in a structured criss cross grid. The increases in the centre panel are gradually brought into the twisted stitch pattern.

Devereaux Sweater Back
Copyright Emma Vining

Devereux Sweater Front
Copyright Emma Vining

The sides of the sweater and the undersides of the sleeve are worked in rib; as the back and front centre panels widen, the side rib panels decrease.

Devereux Sweater
Copyright Emma Vining

Issue 75 is on sale now. More details on The Knitter Magazine website.

Dazzle Ships

An exciting installation commemorating the First World War is currently on the River Thames at Victoria Embankment. HMS President (1918) has been dazzled!

HMS President (1918) at Victoria Embankment
Photo by Emma Vining

The German artist Tobias Rehberger was commissioned by 14-18 Now (WW1 Centenary Art Commissions) to design his version of dazzle camouflage for the ship. There is a wonderful time lapse short film of the dazzling in action on the 14-18 Now website. You can view the dazzle ship from Waterloo Bridge, Blackfriars Bridge and along the South Bank, with one of the best vantage points being near the OXO Building.

HMS President (1918) at Victoria Embankment
Photo by Emma Vining

In Liverpool, as part of the Liverpool Biennial, Maestro Carlos Cruz Diez was commissioned to  dazzle the Edmund Gardener, an historic pilot ship in dry dock adjacent to Albert Dock. A second film on the 14-18 Now website shows the colourful dazzling being applied to this ship. At a recent talk at the Royal Academy, Maestro revealed that his inspirations for the design were colours that represent Britain, especially those on London buildings and doorways.

The Edmund Gardener, Liverpool.
Photo by Craig Stanley Adamson

During WW1 many ships were dazzled to confuse the view of their movement when seen through a U Boat periscope. The designs were developed and tested at the Royal Academy in London. A blog post on dazzle ships at the RA can be found here. A great display of model dazzle ships can be seen in the new WW1 Galleries at the Imperial War Museum. 

Dazzle ship models at the Imperial War Museum
Photo by Emma Vining

More on the background of dazzle ships can be found on the 14-18Now website here and a short history of dazzle ships and their deployment in WW1 can be found on the BBC website. 

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultuer: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk, is a brilliant exhibition at the Barbican Centre, London. From the wonderfully inventive details on the stunning couture clothes, to the way the whole Exhibition has been staged, visitors are in for a treat!

A welcome from the virtual Jean Paul Gaultier is not to be missed.

There are so many fabulous costumes, some of which were designed for Madonna, Kylie and Beth Ditto; insights into the muses who have influenced the designs and lots of examples of Jean Paul Gaultier's stunning catwalk creations. However, the standout parts of the show for me were the awesome knits! Jean Paul Gaultier has used knit and crochet techniques in many of his garments in such creative ways. Here are a few highlights.

Combining crochet with metal plates using metallic yarn. 

Knitted one-piece inspired by David Bowie. 

Punk Knits. 

Knit as a costume for the Catwalk Show. 

Combining knit and crochet with leather. 

Knit and crochet skilfully combined and entwined to make a stunning fitted dress. My favourite! 

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier is on at the Barbican Centre until 25th August 2014. You can also download the free "Gaultier: His Fashion World" App - a great way to explore the exhibition both at home and while you visit.