New knits, straight outta the MOVIES!!!

So...my exhibition opening has been and gone, thanks to everyone who came along, it was a great night! I gave you all a sneak peek at a few of the products before the opening, but for those of you who can't make it to Manchester, here's some more!

Hollywood cushion

Admit One - ticket roll scarves and Celluloid scarf

Some of my main pieces, errrr behind me!!! I will go back and get proper snaps of these, they are both red and green pieces, best viewed through 3D glasses, oh yeah!
Also, the majority of the exhibition pieces will be available in my online shop SOON, I will let you know when I get them in there.

Exhibition continues at Purl City Yarns until 28th November.

Kandy x

Exhibition.....

Hello again,

I have been bursting to tell everyone about this for a while and the time has finally come to shout about it...I am having a solo exhibition!!!

This exhibition showcases the new 2010 Autumn/Winter collection from Knit and Destroy.
The collection is inspired by classic movie making and the cinematic experience; and ranges from a celluloid scarf to a 3D glasses case with usherettes, Godzillas, Hollywood and popcorn in between! The short film featured in the exhibition is an ode to the silent movie and demonstrates the scarf making process.

All the info you need is on the flyer, you should be able to click on it to make it bigger. I am so excited for this now, can't believe it's only a week away, but here is a sneak preview of 2 of the pieces the will be in the exhibition.

Hope you like it..and that you can come and see the exhibition!

Kandy x
p.s. artwork on flyer and advert by the lovely benjamin cooney

National Wool Week!

Today marks the first day of the first National Wool Week...what is this?! I hear you cry...well, it's part of a new initiative launched in January of this year called The Campaign For Wool. It's all about raising awareness of the awesomeness of the fibre that is WOOL. More people need to think about what fibres they are using to make their goods or what the things they are buying off the rack are made of. By choosing wool rather than man-made fibres you help to care for the planet and support sheep farmers.

When I first read about National Wool Week it was supposed to be happening in line with London Fashion Week in September, I got excited about the idea of wool in fashion and promptly designed and made the below scarf...

It will be available to buy in my shop as of today, and of course...it's made of wool!

If you want to get involved in national wool week there are events going on up and down the country this week, most extreme of all is the turfing of and introduction of sheep to saville row! Check out your local knitting club for events or organise something yourself.

The way I see it is...the sheep need their fleeces trimming when it gets warm, we need fabrics to wear, using wool is the solution!

People of Edinburgh....

...get down to Candlemaker's row for some handmade delights!

I first came accross Hannah Zakari many years ago, and met the lovely Rachel at the fist ever (and best yet) UK BUST Christmas Craftacular in 2008. We had talked about her stocking my knits but it never quite happened, until now! They recently opend an 'in real life' shop in Edinburgh, and I recently got myself organised and made a proper catalogue...the result of which is this...

My knits in her lovely shop! There are also Knit and Destroy bow scarves to buy as well as lots of other great handmade things by other talented crafters.

2 of my favourite things...

Knitting...and tattoos! When they come together it can be a beautiful thing!

I love this knuckle tattoo...way better than love hate anyday! The lady in the photo is Punk Rawk Purl an awesome all round crafter, click the photo to read more about her amazing tattoos on her lovely blog!

This sweet specimin is by one of my favourites sunny buick, you can get a better look at this tattoo on her website, she also has lots of loverly pictures she's done on there, check it out!

High Street Horrors !!!

So...I have been designing and making scarves for 4 years now and until now I have only had one previous run in with 'design theft'...I count myself lucky as most independent designers experience being ripped off/copied at least a few times in their career. That incident was harsh because it not only involved a company that I had been producing scarves for...but it involved them developing an idea we had discussed and going into scarf production themselves (cough...mass produced in china..cough). I had some good advice from a fellow knitter (who has had one of her designs ripped off by NEXT..among others) who told me 'being copied is the highest flattery' which makes sense and made me feel better!
Anyway...I'm dragging on, this post is about one particular scarf of mine...the pencil scarf (see below image) first designed and made by me in 2007. All my designs are special to me but this is a favourite, and I have made many more of these than any other scarf!

So... on Sunday I got this photo of my partner in craft Seleena with this H&M version of a knitted pencil scarf, and I was pretty horrified. Initially I was angry, then laughed it off (cos that's what I do) but it put me in a real mood, mostly because I feel that this design being on the high street somewhat de-values my product. I have spent hours designing and days making these scarves for someone else to find something on google images and send a sketch off to a factory somewhere to get thousands made(said H&M designer could have had this idea off the top of their head and if so, I apologise for de-valuing their creative thinking)! I know it's not identical and mine is MUCH hiogher quality...designer-made...lambswool..but, grrrrr all the same...oh, and the facial expression below is wrong...she should be looking angry, but I wanted to post this asap, no time for a re-shoot...
I know that dirty deeds such as this go on all the time in the 'industry' as I had a stint in the world of commercial fashion knitwear design during my University course. It was the blatant copying and lack of creative input that I experienced in that job that put me off going back to work in it and set up my own business. It seemes that setting up my own label was one of the few ways I could really be creative and work with knitted textiles. Having worked in t'industry means that I also know the 'how to copy stuff without getting into trouble' rules...'change 5 things and yr off the hook' apparently. I am angry about this design stealin' but even if I did have fat stacks 'o cash to try to sue H&M....they would have that up their sleeves!
On returning from the knitting conference in Shetland I was already feeling very anti mass production having learnt about the hand knitters that still work in Shetland and on Fair Isle and generally being surrounded by people who knit a high percentage of their own wardrobe. I had told myself I would be more considered about what I buy and make an effort to make clothes where time and skill allow it....but now I feel like never buying anything from a high st shop ever again! It hasn't put me off doing what I do though,if anything spurred me on...
If you are still reading, that means you probably share some of my views voiced here, if not and you just stumbled upon this and it held your attention, I hope it has made you think about/given an insight into the world of commercial design. If you want a simple,well designed, conscientiously produced winter cardi go here.

Happy Designing, Making and SELECTIVE Shopping!

Kandy x

Like....adventuring!!!

I've been away from Knit and Destroy HQ these past 2 weeks on 2 very different but equally fulfilling adventures.

Part 1 was a trip to Shetland to attend a knitting conference. A lot of firsts in this one...first time...visiting Shetland...going to a conference...staying on my own for a week...and I was suitably apprehensive but the trip had many treats up its sleeve.

Bed and Breakfast decor in Edinburgh..on the way downstairs to my basement room, to brighten things up like!!!

Beautiful weather and a sweet view at lunchtime! There was also some beautiful countryside and loads of wildlife including seals saying hello from the sea. Not to mention all the knitting and talk of knitting...far too much for a blog...zine to follow.

Oh, and the Shetland film festival was on, which meant Jason Issacs was there and did a signing which meant Icould get my photo with him, SCORE...he totally took Lucius Malfoy to a whole 'nother level for me!!!

From Shetland to Sud-France, camping, beaches, pizza n ice-cream!

And this...amazing lady (the one sat up with black hair) knitting on the beach...

Now I'm back and ready to get my knit on for the winter. I leave you with this song by one of my fave bands...