6/30/2010

Vogue Knitting iPhone Application

This is a very cool application with many useful tools and features.


"The Vogue Knitting iPhone app is a complete digital organizing, tracking and planning app for the active knitter. Keep all of your project notes, multiple row counters, needle and crochet hook inventories, yarn stash and swatch info with you when you're out knitting or buying supplies at the local yarn store. Never buy an extra row counter or duplicate needles again!"

It costs $3.99 to download, but that is well worth it and will pay for itself with the amount of time an energy you will save when you use it. Don't forget to scan over the customer reviews for extra important information about this app.

ideeli | lola Knitted Dresses




These beautiful dresses, by lola, are on sale for $39.00 each. This sale ends in one day. Join ideeli now here: http://www.ideeli.com/invite/accessfashion

6/29/2010

Maria Ficalora Knitwear


Maria Ficalora has designed knitwear for the annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show for the past 4 years and she is in the midst of creating this year’s fabulous pieces. She also spent the last few months channelling the 60’s as she created the knits for Promises Promises on Broadway and was featured in this month’s V magazine with a great Fiorucci inspired monokini.




I will be updating you on the latest designs from Maria Ficalora Knitwear.

6/09/2010

Book Review: Closet Confidential by Vinona Dimeo-Ediger

Closet Confidential, Style Secrets Learned the Hard Way, written by the author of Daddy Likey, is a melting pot full of information about how to dress, specifically catering to women. Included are fun and helpful tips with quirky yet delightful illustrations, sparking your own insightful outfit combinations for practially every occasion. Closet Confidential is the "do's and don'ts" bible of fashion, in a smart and easy to read, very portable volume. You are sure to laugh and smirk while you learn about everything from jeans to shoes, and bags to shape wear. One of my favorite parts is about dressing for events. Every woman stresses over those! There are also fun anecdotes and side notes that will surely keep your interest. Pick up a copy and enjoy stress free style with a little help from Ms. Dimeo-Ediger.

6/04/2010

Society of Dyers and Colourists Winner

Fabric design and dying techniques have always intrigued me, such as how manufacturers get those patterns to form so nicely on the luxury fabric we like to wear. It all starts with an artist a wonderful eye for color, and

passion.

The winner of the Society of Dyers and Colourists’ (SDC) International Design Competition’s UK heat is Kelly Taylor, a 23-year old textile design student studying at De Montfort University in Leicester.

This year, the students had been asked to demonstrate socially responsible thinking in their approach to their original design or written statement which accompanies the submission and explains the designer’s inspiration or theme behind their piece. Kelly Taylor’s winning piece entitled ‘Chain mail and floral filigrees’ was inspired by the ornate embroidered material worn beneath ancient oriental armour. The collection was deemed by the judges the most innovative and creative of all the entries, showing Kelly’s understanding of social responsibility and the issues which surround the fashion and textiles industry today.

She will now go on to compete against winners from Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Pakistan, Singapore and South Africa at the grand final which will be held in London on October 5, 2010 at the Historical Clothworkers’ Hall. The global winner will be presented with their award by leading retail investor, entrepreneur and chair of the British Fashion Council, Harold Tillman.


“I was influenced by the pattern, texture and colour of worn ancient oriental armour and combined a variety of fabric weights, textures and techniques to create the collection. Bold pink and reds accent the soft light greys and peaches creating a sophisticated colour palette throughout the textile design work. I used digital printing on the fabrics as it is a much more eco-friendly way of printing, unlike screen-printing which uses harsh chemicals that can lead to air and water pollution. This method of transfer printing is fast becoming a popular technique for the textile and fashion industry. As well as printing I used hand embroidery and knitted fabrics which were then laser cut and foiled to produce samples inspired by metallic textures which represented the chain mail material of the original armour. Although the collection was originally designed for the contemporary fashion market – the project has now evolved and the subtle colour palette would work well in interior design fabrics as well.” - Kelly Taylor


" I am very thankful to the SDC and the judges for giving me the opportunity to move forward to the grand final of the competition.” - Kelly Taylor

Further information:

6/03/2010

Fine Knit Sweater Dresses

Fine Knit Sweater Dressesext
Perfect for your latest Summer looks.
See more of my Desirable Dresses list at ThisNext.

6/01/2010

Book Review: Vogue Knitting Stichionary 5

If you are a knitter, you probably already know about the Vogue Knitting Stitchionary series. The latest edition, Stitchionary 5, Volume Five Lace Knitting by Carla Scott, will be published in June 2010. It is wisely divided up into seven categories as follows: Easy/Mesh, Allover, Panels, Edgings, Motifs, Combos, and Chevrons. I personally love edgings, because they give added interest to something that is minimal, or to some, boring. The book also features huge images in which you can see great detail, which is much needed for knitting. There are no garment patterns in this book, only the stitch patterns for creating that beautiful and fashionable piece for you to wear for years to come.

Also, don't forget to check out the other series of this collection:
Stitchionary Volume One Knit and Purl
Stitchionary Volume Two Cables
Stitchionary Volume Three Color Knitting
Stitchionary Volume Four Crochet

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