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.