Botanically Knit

Botanically knit is a couture design utilizing digital print in combination with finger knitting in an effort to create a garment focusing on a mix of new technology and the ancient and simple technique of finger knitting. Inspired by images from the Orchid Mania exhibit at the Botanical Gardens the flower design was manipulated in an effort to create a textile where the flowers turned into yarns in an array of colors. Through my current work the knit stitch is a main focus and looking at how the approach to the simplicity of the stitch can be utilized through different perspectives looking at shaping in woven garments, such as this one, as well as scale of the stitch and the visual approach in the design of piece

Knit Stitches Squared

Through the past few years my design scholarship has been focused around the knit stitch. I have looked at the form from different perspectives and been inspired by its shape, form and function in designs. In this dress the aim was to look at how I could use the knit technology of the Stoll knitting machine and the M1Plus software to develop a knitted design with shape and surface appeal that both utilized the stitch as a way to create the garment yet also showed the stitch in the surface design. Through extensive sampling and exploration of the machine and the software the development of the dress took shape with the intent on pushing the knit technology yet developing a file and a garment that could be reproduced

Zero-waste pattern meets technology for marketable & sustainable design

This practice based research paper explores a meeting between technology and craft through a zero waste collection to be marketed and sold in a bridge market retail store. By creating an end goal of a marketable and reproducible collection the sustainability factor became very important yet also a great challenge. Zero waste patterns naturally challenge the designer as there is required pattern knowledge that is the foundation of the design process. When designing with a zero waste approach the designer needs to be flexible taking into account thinking about construction, grain and pattern shapes to be able to create a successful design ( Palomo-Lovinski, Ohrn-McDaniel, Hahn 2012)

Business or Craft

Where is the fashion industry going? While the mountains of trash are piling up the fashion industy is focused on producing more at lower costs to make higher profits. This dress is done as a commentary on this industry where the craft is close to lost and the business is in focus. There are many reasons why the craft could be a way to a more sustainable fashion industry

Changing Perspectives

Changing Perspectives In this ready-to-wear design the idea was to use a Stoll ADF 7.2 gauge industrial knitting machine to create a design that was ready for production. The main challenges were to limit the use of seaming for shape as well as limiting the waste through creating a piece shaped on the machine. The dress is knitted sideways starting from center back and knitting all the way around the dress creating sleeves and armholes without seaming and using short rows in order to be able to add flare around the bottom and a closer fit around the sleeves and neckline. The design was programmed using the Stoll M1+ software and knitted in 14 gauge using overstock two overstock cotton yarns and one overstock polyamide yarn

Conference giveaway items, useful or wasteful?

Conference giveaways have mirrored fast fashion where items are given out, but then generally discarded after a short period of time. Shirely (2014) says, “600,000 tons of trash are turned out every year by the 60 million people who attend tradeshows.” These giveaways are often counterproductive and do less good by wasting time, money and filling landfills with cheap tchotchkes (Robbins, 2016). However, these promotional event products are the main sustaining income for the event industry and have an estimated worth over $17 billion (McKinely, 2017). The purpose of this study is to better understand what the most useful giveaways are for the annual International Textiles Apparel Association (ITAA) conferences in order to better plan a sustainable conference regarding giveaways. McKinely (2017) suggests to prevent conference waste, organizers should first ask if the item is needed and remember to put the focus on those attending. By using a survey with past conference attendees, this study aims to fill a gap in knowledge for useful giveaways to prevent waste at future conferences

Technology in apparel design – what is being used?

Undergraduate fashion and apparel programs strive to keep up with the changing needs of fashion industry employers, especially with respect to technology. Experience using design software is one necessary skill for fashion designers, but which software program or programs to teach is a question fashion faculty must grapple with as they strive to keep curricula current and relevant. While some software packages may be donated to schools as a gift, there are still substantial hardware, training, and support costs involved with maintaining and teaching specialized software solutions at a university. To this end, an examination of industry requirements for apparel design technology was conducted to determine if curriculum offerings are aligned or mismatched with industry needs

Teaching design research through practice: a pilot study for collaborative exploration

As design educators, we experience tension between devoting the precious little time we have in class to educating our students in ways of making (i.e., skills in sewing and patternmaking) and ways of thinking (i.e. design ideation, creativity, etc.)

Zero-waste pattern meets technology for marketable & sustainable design

This practice based research paper explores a meeting between technology and craft through a zero waste collection to be marketed and sold in a bridge market retail store. By creating an end goal of a marketable and reproducible collection the sustainability factor became very important yet also a great challenge. Zero waste patterns naturally challenge the designer as there is required pattern knowledge that is the foundation of the design process. When designing with a zero waste approach the designer needs to be flexible taking into account thinking about construction, grain and pattern shapes to be able to create a successful design ( Palomo-Lovinski, Ohrn-McDaniel, Hahn 2012).</p