Monday 8 February 2010

My art work

I'd like to show you my own personal art work that I made in the last ten years and they have live hanging up in my wardrobe.

Years ago I used to spend hours knitting. I started with simple one coloured jumpers, but as I got more confident I started to experiment. I would get a pattern just to tell me how many stitches I needed for the back or front. Then I would invent the pattern of the wool.

So I decided the other day it would be good to pick it up again. I got a pattern for a cardigan that was ribbed. So started off, but I can't stand just knitting in one colour, so I decided I would put a pale green stripe in the purple cardi.
Trouble this didn't work as the ribbed stripe didn't look good. I undid the work and decided to knit the way I thought would work. Now I have lovely thick purple bits with an inset green strip.



This cardigan was made up from many scraps of mohair that I was given along with some jewel bright colours left over from the cardigan in the bottom picture. One sleeve is in squares, the other in diamond shapes also echoed in the pockets.



This piece of work is my art piece. I invented it as I went along. It is almost impossible to wear as the amount of wool has doubled the width so it really is very cosy. I am very proud of this piece as I didn't know I could be so creative. Only problem with this amount of knitting is it makes my hands very painful so I can only do a piece at a time and then have a break between.

15 comments:

speck of dust said...

Coat of many colours! Fantastic pieces! I absolutely love your knitting. I also make things up and often get myself in a bother but I guess I like the challenge. I've never made up a whole cardy though. I knitted a pink and white striped mohair jumper from a pattern and it shrunk in the wash to tiny size argh!

Miss Robyn said...

oh they are divine! I love knitting, but I don't do it alot now. love your newest one too, cannot wait to see it finished.. knit some pockets and sew onto it!

Anonymous said...

Wow! Double Wow! Love 'em!!!

Rosaria Williams said...

Wow! Wearable Art. One of a kind. It takes lots of patience and lots of concentration. I bet it is quite relaxing!

Zan said...

very artistic! I am absolutely useless when it comes to knitting or sewing.. In school I was the only girl in the wood workshop instead while the girls made pretty dresses. I must applaude you. Double well done! =)

xx

Lori ann said...

Oh how exquisite, what works of art those are. I would be so proud too. I bet they look lovely on, so colorful.
I have a friend that gets shoulder (and wrist)pain from knitting, she has acupuncture for it, it helps. When I used to do lots of colorwork it would make me tired too. Now, i like to keep it pretty simple. The sweater your working on now looks great, i love stripes!


I was so glad to hear your good news. My sister just got her report back as well. We can all breathe now.
xo

Merry ME said...

Good for you for calling your work art. The colors are delightful. The sweaters look warm and cozy.

Mel said...

Wow....

What a talented gal you are!

Lyn said...

Mandy - you are a woman of many talents. I used to knit with my grandmother when I was a little girl and really enjoyed it. You make me want to take it up again. You knit in technicolour -- do you live the same way? Thanks for sharing the artistic side of you. Love them all!

Von said...

What fun!!! Course you know Kaffe Fassett's books and patterns?
My Granny always said knitting was the best thing for arthritis in the hands if that is what you have?.Mum always said spinning was good because of the lanolin in the wool.

Angela said...

Great, Mandy! And great for your good news and your livelihood back in shape!
I get pain in my wrists after a while when knitting, so I can only do doll`s things. But I admire such art tremendously!

janis said...

Ohh so pretty!!!!

angela recada said...

Beautiful work, Mandy! The colors are really stunning. Very nice! I'd never have the patience to knit such beautiful and complicated things. I really admire you and others who can do this.

Paula said...

Simply WOW. I am glad you call it ART. because surely it is. Love the colors. its amazing. looking forward seeing the new one done and up. HUgs to you

CheekyDani said...

Oh wow, yes very much art works. I am a knitter too, though personally I prefer to crochet, but I'm not as inventive as you are with combinations yet, though I do receive a lot of compliments for the items I've made. Nothing like something that's been handmade though is there, all those hours of love being poured into it... :)