Posts in Textile Design
Knitting Pattern: Reflective Triangle Shawl
Knitting Pattern: Reflective Triangle Shawl

I was sent a link to this reflective yarn by a friend and it was one of those yarns that exited and inspired me as soon as I saw it. It was perfect for something you can wear at night as it sparkles when light hits it. It also needed to be an item that isn’t worn too close to the skin, as the yarns is a bit scratchy with the reflective fibre in it. I decided to make a large shawl to wear over a coat that can be pulled up over the head if it gets cold or starts to rain.

To create the design I alternated stripes and colours to make a geometric shape combining two different yarns.

To create the shape it is basic increasing and decreasing while changing colour thread to make a giant triangular shawl.

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

As it was a great project I wanted to share the method, which can be used with any type and colour of yarn. The knitting pattern can be viewed and downloaded from below with links to the fibres I used.

(I also did a mini photoshoot so yes that is my face in the pattern photos)

I love to talk all things knitting so if you have any feedback on this pattern, patterns to share or tips and interesting methods please get in touch - info@amberjames.co.uk

Product Design, Studio, Textile Design, Graphic DesignAmber JamesKnitting, Wool, Textile Design, Knitting Pattern, Knitwear, Accessories, Made in England, maker, Craft, Minimal, Geometric, Hand Made, Reflective Yarn, Knitting Project
1,700-Year-Old Sock Spins Yarn About Ancient Egyptian Fashion
1,700-Year-Old Sock Spins Yarn About Ancient Egyptian Fashion
“There are old socks, and then there are old socks. This stripy sock, discarded around the 3rd or 4th century, falls into the latter category. Fished out of a landfill during the 1913-1914 excavation of the Egyptian city of Antinooupolis led by English papyrologist John de Monins Johnson on behalf the Egypt Exploration Fund, the sock ended up in the collections of the British Museum in London.”
— Smithsonian Magazine
Textile DesignAmber JamesTextile Design, Research, Wool, Ancient History, Knitting, Craft
Zero Waste Project No. 1 - How to Make A Recycling Bin From Old Plastic Bags
 
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So I have decided to start my own zero waste mission, or as close to zero as I can get. It’s all about throwing as little away as possible, especially plastic. I have always been thrifty and resourceful with what I consume but so many things we buy come wrapped in plastic and unnecessary packaging. I am going to make extra effort to cut out plastic at the source, at the point of purchase.

I want to think of ways to use things I no longer need, turn them into materials or components that can be made into something else. It’s like adding a ‘filter’ on your rubbish bin or recycling bin that means you look at waste differently and take that into consideration when you are buying anything new.

My zero waste journey needs to start with what I already have, looking at where the changes need to be made in my everyday life. As I go through my day I can identify where I am using the most plastic and try to find an alternative that is either made from sustainable, natural materials or from recycled plastic.

The first everyday plastic I want to look at is plastic shopping bags. I use tote bags but still have a bunch of old plastic bags that I couldn’t bring myself to throw away. I found this technique a while ago that makes a continuous strand from anything tubular like a t-shirt, sock or a plastic bag.

I have made a PDF that you can view below or download here:

 
 

I made another recycling bin from old Tesco bags which had a nice blue red and white colour scheme, always a winner. They were the thicker bags for life and were much easier to crochet with as it is a chunkier strand. This gives it a stronger structure as well and it feels more like a waste paper basket when finished. You can achieve different thicknesses when cutting out the strands by adjusting the width of the strand. This does however mean that you need more bags to cut up if you make the strips wider.

I feel immensely satisfied that I got rid of the bags that were cluttering up my cupboard and turned them into something useful (smug face and self five :D). If all goes to plan my new recycling bins will be empty most of the time.

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amber_james_design_recycled_plastic_bags_zero_waste_project_tesco1web.jpg
 
Product Design, Studio, Textile Design, Zero Waste ProjectAmber Jamesrecycling, zero waste, plastic free, upcycling, crochet, knitting, weaving, Sustainable DesignComment
Wool As a Valuable Resource
Wool As a Valuable Resource

“The UK has more breeds of sheep than any other country in the world, but wool has gone from being so valuable that the Speaker of the House of Lords still sits upon a wool sack – symbolic of the historic significance of wool to the wealth of the nation – to a throwaway by-product of the meat industry.”

“Most farmers don’t value their wool because the price is so low, sheep flocks have become much larger and it’s not easy to process and market wool yourself. As a result, most sheep don’t get sheared.“

“By the 1980s the use of wool (and other natural fibres) crashed as synthetic fabrics, derived from oil, saturated the markets with cheap, quickly produced clothing and other domestic and industrial products. Almost overnight wool, upon which so much of our national wealth had been built, became practically valueless in mainstream markets.”

“Processing options for wool are limited and current outlets typically fall into the ‘niche’ or ‘craft’ categories.”

Textile DesignAmber JamesWool, Textile Design, Sustainable Design