stitching – KDD & Co

mend

We celebrate the new edition of Wheesht with this essay exploring the creative work of mending and Celia Pym’s inspiring practice

One of the things I’ve been really struck by, as I reach the end of the process of writing our People Make Glasgow book, is just how many thriving enterprises in this city are led by brilliant young women. I’ve found learning more about the innovative work of makers, artist and designers like Rachel E…

Making books by hand: part 1

By: Kate Davies Designs September 8, 2018September 11, 2018

bookbinding, Tombookbinding, books, coptic binding, making, stitching, Tom63 Comments

Hello, everyone. It’s Tom here – popping in to the KDD blog to share my latest obsession – making books by hand. . . One of the most enjoyable aspects of my work at Kate Davies Designs is the making of books. I’ve talked about the creative choices involved in making a book with a…

a treasured gift

What’s this? A handknitted hoose? With flowers in the garden . . . . . . and a wee gate . . . . . leading to a horse-shoe adorned front door . . . . . . there are flowers in the windows too . . . . . . shrubs round the side…

Great Tapestry of Scotland 124-160

Panel 140: Cumbernauld Well, this is my final post on the Great Tapestry of Scotland! I have really enjoyed revisiting my photographs, and thinking more about the tapestry, and your comments have also provided much food for thought. These photographs are, of course only snippets, and you’ll find much more thorough information in the two…

Great Tapestry of Scotland 93-123

Panel 94: Hill and Adamson The silver herrings and striped petticoats of the Newhaven fisherwoman. In the comments on yesterday’s post, Heather linked to an interesting take on the “when is a tapestry not a tapestry” question from a tapestry weaver who strongly objects to the misappropriation of the term in reference to non-woven textiles.…

Great Tapestry of Scotland 60 – 92

There have been some interesting questions in the comments on my previous posts about the Great Scottish Tapestry. Elaine and Deborah asked what materials had been used in the creation of the tapestry – well, the stitchers used Peter Grieg linen and Appletons crewel wool throughout. Terry asked why it was called a tapestry at…

Great Tapestry of Scotland 24-59

Some more details of the Great Tapestry of Scotland for you this morning. You’ll find the first post in the series here. Panel 25: Duns Scotus. The feet of Duns Scotus, the medieval philosopher for whom we have to thank for the concept of Haecceity Panel 26: Somerled, first Lord of the Isles A beautiful…

Great Tapestry of Scotland 1-23

On Sunday I finally got to see the Great Tapestry of Scotland. I was completely blown away by the vision of Alistair Moffat (who produced the tapestry’s historical content and context), Andrew Crummy (the superb artist who designed these 160 panels) and perhaps especially by the skill and beauty of the work of the thousand…

finishing a steek

By: Kate Davies Designs March 13, 2014March 24, 2016

tutorialbound steeks, finishing, finishing a steek, finishing techniques, ribbon, sewing, Shetland, Shetland Museum and Archives, steeks, stitching, wool36 Comments

I have recently been designing and knitting a thing with steeks, which required finishing. This project is part of an exciting collaboration, and I’ll be able to tell you (and show you) more about it in a couple of weeks. When working on the steeks, it occurred to me how many different ways there are…

sew what?

By: Kate Davies Designs January 9, 2014

sewingpattern, sewing, sewing machine, stitching48 Comments

I have been getting to know my new sewing machine. I have to say that I really, really love it: my old machine was rather basic, but this one has several different feet, a fancy buttonhole thingy, and a multitude of decorative stitch patterns. Plus, it is so smooth! So intuitively simple to operate! The…

my handmade childhood

By: Kate Davies Designs May 3, 2013May 3, 2013

personal, textilesfamily, GBSB, Great British Sewing Bee, knitting, making, sewing, stitching, textiles73 Comments

Various things have been prompting me to think a lot recently about the role that sewing and knitting and other handmade things can play in the shape of ones life. Like many crafty folk in the UK, I enjoyed watching the Great British Sewing Bee. Unlike so many of these competitive TV formats, this programme…

Modern Embroidery

By: Kate Davies Designs June 17, 2012June 17, 2012

books, color, colour, embroidery, textiles1970s, Carousel, carousel sweater, design, Ike Rosen, Kate Davies, Modern Embroidery, Sheep Carousel, stitch, stitching, textiles35 Comments

A few weeks ago, I discovered a craft / design book that really blew me away. This hasn’t happened for a while, and I love this book so much that I’ve been itching to mention it. Here’s how I came across it: back in April, I decided I would design a tea cosy for Woolfest.…

another feature

By: Kate Davies Designs January 15, 2011January 17, 2011

History, textiles, writingdarning, Kate Davies, knitting, make do and mend, mending, Rowan, Rowan 49, rowan magazine, Rowan no 49, stitching34 Comments

The new Rowan Magazine has just come out, and I have a feature in it, exploring the history of mending, darning, and ‘plain work’. I really enjoyed researching and writing this piece, and working on it became quite important to me during some difficult times over the Summer. In many respects, it is a very…

Buttons of Dreams

By: Kate Davies Designs October 5, 2010October 5, 2010

buttons, finishing, knittingbuttons, finishing, joy, knitting, nichols buttons, sewing, stitching35 Comments

Several of you left comments or sent me messages regarding my button dilemma (for which many thanks). But the biggest thanks must go to Jayne, who told me about the amazing buttons of Lionel Nichols. (Warning! Prepare yourselves! The link takes you directly to button heaven!) Sixty years ago, Nichols fashioned beautiful glass buttons by…

racy mending

By: Kate Davies Designs August 6, 2010August 6, 2010

feminism, photography, sewing, textiles, writingdarning, early photography, feminism, gender, History, mending, sewing, stitching, women25 Comments

I have been playing around with ideas about mending and darning for a forthcoming article, and have been turning up some interesting tangential things in various digital collections. Pictured above are “Chicago’s top models for 1922” who have been co-opted to advertise the novel innovation of the seam ripper. The caption reads “Ripping is a…