Pattern previews for The Knitted Fabric
Dee Hardwicke's The Knitted Fabric takes a completely fresh and unique approach to traditional knitting books. Inspired by nature, the book includes 20 patterns divided into three main sections – Butterflies, Garden City and Homecoming – with patterns ranging from stylish sweaters, hats and scarves with botanical motifs, to beautiful and incredibly versatile projects for the home such as geometric cushion covers and heirloom quilts.
Take a closer look on the patterns featured in the book.
Butterfly
"I love the way that butterflies embody the ethereal beauty and fragility of nature. I used to get lost in dreams of fluttering wings and the magic of changing forms. It wasn't until I was working as an artist and I was commissioned by a biologist to make a series of hand-painted tiles illustrating our local butterflies that my dreamlike love turned into a keenly observed study of these intricately beautiful creatures.
The original watercolours for that butterfly tiles commission have inspired designs for many of my collections and collaborations over the years, including knitwear, textiles, china and stationery. They've now metamorphosed into the designs in this chapter. These include a spectacular butterfly quilt that echoes the evocative shapes, patterns and movement of butterflies and encapsulates my on-going sense of wonder at these spectacular beings. The gentle and steady repeat of the Meadow garment designs is inspired by the flower-filled fields that my son and I spent so many happy hours watching butterflies in during that summer when I was working on my commission."
Yarn:
John Arbon, Knit by Numbers DK
Butterfly Colourwork Cushion
Butterfly Colourwork Shawl
Butterfly Geo Cushion
Butterfly Patchwork Cushion
Butterfly Patchwork Quilt
‘The Butterfly Patchwork Quilt map (in a pocket at the end of this book) is a visual guide that shows the chart and colours used for each hexagon (or half hexagon). Each hexagon is marked with the chart number (lower centre edge), background MC yarn shade number (top centre edge) and the yarn shade numbers for the lower wings, upper wings, and body of each butterfly. Note that on most hexagons the same yarn shade is used for the lower wings, upper wings and body and only one shade number is given for the butterfly. On a small number of hexagons the upper wings are worked in a different colour. These differences are marked with a yellow number on the quilt map.
Meadow Cowl Neck Sweater
Meadow Crew Neck Sweater
Meadow Vest
Homecoming
"The projects in this chapter celebrate a return to my original passion for expressing my art through knitting. I've always seen myself as an artist and as an artisan – equally happy working with a paintbrush, paper, clay or yarn – and knitting is where everything comes together for me: art, making, friendship and my love of the landscape."
Yarn:
Tukuwool DK
Homecoming Flower Garden Cushion
Homecoming Geo Cushion
Homecoming Hat & Gloves
Homecoming Long Cushion
Homecoming Throw
Homecoming Wrap
Garden City
"I’ve always been very inspired by the creativity, ingenuity and craftsmanship embodied by the Arts & Crafts movement and by the Garden City pioneers in the early twentieth century. My work draws on that heritage and the beauty and wonder of the natural world.
My Garden City motifs began life on a special collection of ceramic tiles and they’re a celebration of the wonderful florals and geometric patterns in nature. The designs are a lovely way of bringing the outside in and – very much in keeping with the Garden City movement – of being able to enjoy a little bit of the natural world whether you live in the city or the countryside."
Yarn:
Di Gilpin, Lalland DK
Garden City Geo Cushion
Garden City Patchwork Cushion
Garden City Patchwork Quilt
Garden City Seedhead Cushion
Garden City Wrap
