A series of do's and do knots...

The Crochet 'V' 

‘I’m not willing to put my heart on the line, so you get practice at being a human being’ - Nikki Boston

Vintage Myth - Fastenings will fall.

What a week it has been!! Wooooah, NEVER knew so many emotions existed! The rollercoaster of emotions has well and truly got me this week! My dear readers of this what has to be the best Vintage in denial blog around. (Ok, blowing my own trumpet a little bit, but hey, who doesn’t at times and this is prob the only Vintage in denial blog, I know brilliance on my par). Been watching a few films this week which was moderate as films go. Previously in my life, crochet has become my new obsession, I used to hate it but now I find it therapeutic and enjoyable. I am a person who will spend a few weeks intensely learning something and crochet has become my new best friend. Also my obsession with knitting has hit a new high, (OBJECTION MY LORD!!) Yes, I am trying to get hold of a knitting machine and a knitting loom but does  that mean I am obsessed? I don’t think so m’dear. I have been looking at knitting and crochet as it is how I intend to create new materials for my final piece. ‘The death of Haute Couture’ is becoming increasingly tested as I find and discover new ways into which it’s gravestone will tell its tale when it ends up 6 feet under the fashion catwalks.  Main reason? Primarily cost as they cost hundreds upon thousands to put on BUT there must be other theories and as I as am studying Fashion marketing as University in September I must investigate further, call me the Sherlock Holmes of the impending murder.

This page is from my sketchbook enabling you to see what I am doing at the moment!! Crochet has becoming predominant in my life as it uses the idea of knots to create a material, (just like knitting) but is done with a hook that shifts the thread in and around each other creating different types of crochet. When I first started it looked like a mix of random knots but as time progressed I mastered it. I have been moving forward from Single to double and then onto triple. In essence as you increase from S-D-T, the ladders as such from each ‘V’ increasing in size creating longer pieces of material as more yarn is woven into it. You have to be careful with it as if you’re not careful you can change the tension making it too tight or too loose. The idea behind the knots is to create a piece of material which could become part of my final piece. I have explored a range of different materials and want to continue looking at creating the flowers and other pieces.

Vanity sizing has becoming predominant within my work now as it relates to the ideas of consumerism and the idea of size inflation to boost sales and is part of the ‘ready to wear’ clothing era. Marilyn Monroe is a prime example of the shrinkage of the sizing. Back in the 50’s and early 60’s she was seen to be somewhere between a size 12-16 but today mannequins that fit her clothes are a size 0-4 which shows us that clothing brands are putting a label on a pair of jeans that should be a 10 but calling them a 4 as it gives confidence to the person who is wearing them as they think they are thinner than they actually are. It is all to do with money as they know that if you think you're smaller than you are then you will return.  My piece says that ‘Size 0 is the new 8!’ which is true and my sewn piece delivers impact, being sewn onto fabric represents the thread that could be used to sew in labels to the garments. I want to continue looking at this idea and progress it forward.

Overall I a content with my work with knitting and crochet as it relies on the idea of knots and ties as the needles and hooks pass around each other to create the new material and if I have time I want to design and create a garment that reflects the ideas of concepts that are present through my work with the ideas of vanity sizing and disposable fashion.

Ripping into fashion...

'Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you'll get...' - Forest Gump.

Vintage Myth - One off pieces are more valuable.

Heyyydeehooo guys and gals!! It has been 2 whole weeks since my last blog post!! Woooah haven't they pasted fast my dear reader chums! What a past couple of weeks it has been!! Finally got round to watching both Frozen and Tangled! BUT which one was better? I judged it on if I had to sit and watch one right now I guess it would be either. They are both sensational films and I feel I could watch them both time after time. Previously in my life I realized that I drinking knowing that I have to drive isn't my best idea as I had to spend 20 minutes outside in the freezing cold to sober up. Also that I am quite clumsy... OBJECTION MY LORD!! Quickly moving on. My fashion drawing is getting better as I can now a simple silhouette without a template which I prefer as it enables me to choose the proportions whether I am wanting to exaggerate the waist or lengthen the legs! The reason I have used the picture above as it allows you to see the different ways into which the body can shaped and the proportions that lye within it whether it be pear shaped or hourglass. What have I been doing? My working journal is taking shape but its full of miscellaneous stuffs that make no sense but I partly feel this is good and a positive thing as it doesn't follow any such pattern and allows a random flow of work that isn't expectant.

This picture is a page from my sketchbook so that you can see what I'm up to at the moment! This page is on the history knitting allowing a brief timeline to show it through the 20th century. Knitting goes back to the 3rd century but I decided to focus my attention on the 20th as it relevant towards modern history. I have put in knitting my own sample as it shows the weave within the knitting itself and shows a physical representation of what I was talking about. The decade into which I focused my attention was the 1950's as it was the height of Haute Couture and knitting. I will have to do more research into this area as it relates to my work and how the death of Haute Couture is relevant. I have knitted with carrier bags to show the ideas of disposable fashion and how it has effected Haute Couture.

This piece relates to Adam Saaks who a fashion designer/artist who takes a t-shirt, puts slits through it and then creates a series of knots to create a new structure and integrity to the material as it changes the shirts properties and how it looks revealing more skin creating a rock chick look with the strands. He is renowned for his work with Ed Hardy and the idea of cutting up his shirts, this worked for both parties as the cutting into the shirts helped represent this brand further as it symbolized the ideas of rock and his customer base. Adam Saaks is known for this and is his trademark, it still entrances me how he goes with it and creates unique one off creations from nothing but a t-shirt, a pair of scissors and his creative box. This relates to my work as it is seen as changing how a garment looks and the ideas of up-cycling rather than recycling. This starts to question where the death of haute couture sits and what the real answer is and how it can relate to my project which I will find out soon.

Overall so far I content with where my work is going, yes, my work is going a tad slower than it should be at  the moment but the work will be done and sleepless nights are inevitable but I will deal with them when I come to them.