Surfacing

Perhaps I shouldn't give myself away but this may be my laziest post to date. I started this blog out of a desire to share information that was, way back then, hard to find. Information is everywhere now and still, I can't help sharing even if this post merely cobbles together a selection of links from the first page of my google search. Anyway, I have a couple of friends who might be interested in what I found. Let me explain...

I love seeing people find and explore the process of making things. It's exciting to watch an evolution of discovery especially when you've been wondering what someone would make -not if they could but if they would.  This post is for two friends I've been curious about for a while. They are both creative spirits and well, let's just say surface pattern design has come up in collective conversations. Their lives are busy and full and every now and then they'll share something they've made and leave us wanting more. Maybe I'm being greedy. Oh well. Here is my selfish list of encouragement:


-This link reveals the simplest way to create a repeat pattern using just paper, pens and scissors.

- Here you will find 10 tips for creating pattern designs:  The UPPERCASE Surface Pattern Design Guide

-This blog would be really fun to explore. A magazine subscription would be even better: the UPPERCASE blog

-Look! There's even a professional Guild! You could be comrades: Surface Pattern Design Guild

- This book:  "Repeat After Me,"

-How to do it with a computer:  surface pattern design tutorial (& Adobe Illustrator)

-More fun exploring:  Going Home to Roost

xo

A New Year: Fresh Inspiration

Oh, the machines...

Has It Been This Long?

Hello Spring. There are new things for sale at Trapper Jane.

What is She Building in There?

The last year has flown by. I've been too busy making things to post. Here are a few images from the 2011 Trapper Jane All Season Wear Archive:

trapperjane.etsy.com

Lucky x 2

You are lucky if you live in New York because 1. you live in New York, and 2. there's a wholesale fabric show happening in New York specifically for small manufacturers. Low minimums. Go.

Hotel Pennsylvania
New York City
February 6-7, 2012
Hours: 9:30 to 6:00

This information courtesy of Fashion Incubator and more details can be found on the FI Website.

Knit & Weave II

Voila! The second Knit & Weave link list:

-Brutal Knitting -need I say more?

-I look forward to reading this book someday:  Knitted Clothing Technology by Terry Brackenbury

-I've been seeing a lot of trees wearing sweaters lately. Apparently, I'm not the only one. Knit & Purl -International Yarn Bombing Day shows knitwear like you may never have seen it before.

-The last link is on the Poppy Gall Blog which is an interesting blog to visit for insight into another's design inspirations and processes. I found her site via this post on the always amazing Fashion Incubator.

-Sri Threads. Incredible textiles.

-Really excited to have found a post about the Tripod Loom in Sierra Leone from the Adire African Textiles blog. Looking forward to setting up my Grandma's old loom which I mentioned in this post.

Happy clicking!

All Things Considered

So there's a link between skinny jeans and Tar Sands after all. According to an article found over at the Knitting Industry News blog:

"RadiciSpandex Corp., a U.S. RadiciGroup company engaged in the production of RadElast spandex, is developing the world’s first eco-friendly elastane using a 100% renewably sourced material (biopolymer).

“The innovative product line will be the world’s first spandex consisting of 80% biomaterial made from a 100% renewable source (corn), as opposed to propylene, an oil derivative,” a statement from the company said today.

According to RadiciSpandex, not only does the use of biopolymer help reduce dependence on fossil fuels, but the production process also emits fewer greenhouse gasses and uses less energy than petroleum-based processes. The company claims its new green elastane fibre will ensure the highest environmental sustainability while providing excellent performance (greater stretch and high-speed spinning) and good quality."