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Friday 8 March 2013

KnitKnit


profiles + projects
from knitting’s
new wave

Author: Sabrina Gschwandtner

Published in 2007 by Steward. Tabori & Chang.
An imprint of Harry N. Abrams, Inc.

This excellent resource book is a great mash-up between an exploration of knitting in a current and modern context and interesting projects contributed by all 27 “artist-crafters” profiled in KnitKnits pages.

I am particularly interested in this because Sabrina Gschwandtner initially wanted to create…
“…a zine, a new art project, and a way of exploring the link between knitting and fine art practices like sculpture and performance….”

I like the expansive view she takes of knitting and its involvement in not only the craft world, but in the art world too.

Kiriko Shirobayashi travelled with Gschwandtner to take photographs of the featured women and men in “settings that represent where and how these knitters live and work”.

When I want to start a new project or I am looking for encouragement to keep going, I will often look at books like this. I feel it shows a world not bound by convention, it shows a world full of experimentation, skill and self-expression. I’ll let the author herself have the last word on what KnitKnit is all about.

“This book is not just a presentation of knitters and their projects; it is also a profile of a medium as it exists today. Knitting can be clothing, gift, sculpture, therapy, protest, graffiti or performance…..you choose.”



*All quotes were taken from the introduction to “KnitKnit” by Sabrina Gschwandtner
Front cover photograph: Debora Small
Jacket design: Kevin O’Neill
“Knitted teacups and saucers” by Debbie New, photographs by Kiriko Shirobayashi.
 KnitKnit #6 zine by Sabrina Gschwandtner

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