Simply Knitting - UK (2020-02)

KNITTER’S WORLD

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Becky’screativity

shines through

Beckyknittedthecardis

in cosy Shetland wool

Beckyinherfab

wedding shawl

Thebride’sbeautiful

cardiganismadeof

Merino and silk mohair

Simonshowso

hischeerfulyarny

corsage and tie

Beckylearnttohandknit

from her grandmother

It tooka yearforBecky

tocreateherwedding

collectionaroundher

family and work duties

Thecouple’sbrightcardis

bring happiness and joy!

E

verycouplewantstheirweddingdaytorepresentexactlywhotheyare,aswellastheir

passions.OneCornishcoupledidexactlythis,incorporatingtheirlove of knitting –

andllamas– intotheirveryspecial(andbeautifullybright)day.

Aroundfouryearsago,BeckyDodman-Wainwright’sbrotherboughtherandnow-husband

Simona ‘llamawalk’asa gift– andtheylovedit!Theycontinuedtheactivity,spending

numerousfamilydaysouttherewiththeirchildren.Whenit cametoplanningherweddingday,

Beckywantedtogiveherfamilya gift– a friendcameupwiththeideaofa weddingphotoshoot

withthellamas.Beckydecidedtocombinethisideawithherloveofknitting,makingfabknits

thatthewholefamilycouldwearontheshoot– theperfectgift!Shesetaboutdesigningand

creatinga knittedcollectionofcardigansandshawls.Thislabourofknittinglovetookarounda

yeartomakeintotalinbetweenhermumduties, art businesses and job as a degree lecturer in

thetextilessuiteatPlymouthCollege.

Havingtraditionallyworkedwithmachineknitting,crochet,tufting,embroideryandhand

knitting,Beckydecidedthatforthiscollectionshewouldworkexclusivelywithhandknitting.

“IusedShetlandwoolforthestrandedandintarsiaknittedcardigans,andluxurymerinoand

silkmohairfortheshawlandsecondweddingcardiganI wore,”saysBecky.“Theseincluded

lace knitting. It was important for me to take the year knitting these items, taking my time

makingdecisionsandexploringyarnoptions.”Theyarncompaniessheusedonlinehad

fantasticyarnshadecards,andBeckywasluckyenoughtogototheEdinburghyarnfestival to

purchasesomeluxuryyarnsandmeetsomegreatindependentyarnproducers.

SimonhelpedBeckydesignhiscardiganandshecreatedthe‘love’cardigans.“They’re

digitallyplannedandhandknitted,”Beckytellsus.“Theytookmesixmonthstomake.Being

abletoexpressmyjoyandhappinessthroughknittingwasreallyimportant.Forthebigday,

I knitteda shawl,thecorsages,ties,anda cardiganwhichwasmoreinkeepingwiththewider

celebrations.They’revisuallydierent,butallexpressmyloveandjoyforthisspecialevent.”

It wasimportanttoBeckytohandknitherweddingcollection.Shelearnttheskillfrom

hergrandmother,whotaughthertoknitata veryyoungage,usingthecraftasa vehicleto

tellstoriesofhertimegrowingupoverseas.“Ialwaysrememberbeinginwonderthatshe

couldcreateblankets,vestsandsocksfroma simplestrandofyarn,”saysBeckyofher

grandmother.“Sheusedneonsandbrightlycolouredacrylictomakepracticalitemsforthe

home.I alwaysfeltshecouldmakesomethingbeautifulfromverylittle,andcoupledit with the

storytelling.Shewasalwayshappy,lifewasneverhurried,butalwayscolourful.”

Heavilyinfluencedbythis,handknittingthegarmentswasanexpressionofherdedication,

consistency,andloveforSimonandherfamily.“Weareinsucha fortunatetimethatthe

choiceofyarn,fibre,bothtraditionalandexperimentalisendless.Pricepointsvarydepending

onyourpocketandyoucanmakesomethingfroma simplestrand,”shetellsus.“Withthe

choicesavailable,I canmakewhollyuniqueknittedgarmentsorobjectsthatretainmyknitted

‘handwriting’,muchlikea painterorprintmaker.Knittinggivesmethetimetomakedecisions

whenworkingorganicallyor in a more planned way, and I find it a very ‘in the moment’ process

withoutbeinghurried.”

For more details check out Becky ’s colourful website at http://www.beckydodman.work

“Expressing my happiness

through knitting

was really important...”

BeckyDodman-Wainwrighttellsusallaboutthe

colourfulpiecesshehandknittedforherwedding

and for a llama photoshoot with her family!

Written by Colette Early

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