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and later the Universities of York and Newcastle. My work often took me to the U.S., where I spent long periods working in some wonderful research libraries. On one of these trips to Philadelphia, I became fascinated by how textiles were central to the lives of a group of eighteenth-century women writers whose letters I was reading. As well as exchanging poems and essays, these women spun, sewed, knitted, and swapped patterns for lace collars and embroidery. It was their enthusiasm for textiles that inspired me to start knitting again. From the moment I took up my needles I found it immensely enabling to create garments that didn’t exist in the world of mainstream fashion, and I particularly enjoyed the way that knitting connected me to a place or to a moment, allowing me to bring an idea to life in a very material way.
In this respect, as in many others, I find that designing is very similar to writing, an activity which I also enjoy. Essentially, you are giving free-rein to your creativity, but there is a tremendous amount of hard work involved as well. I feel that technical knowledge is just as important as artistry: in the same way that its crucial to know about rhythm in order to write a good poem, I think its also desirable to have reasonable technical knowledge of one’s craft in order to create a beautiful garment. For me, these things are hand in glove. I enjoy the nitty-gritty of figuring out a technical conundrum, and the actual crafty process of making, just as much as any
lightbulb moment of inspiration, and I think that the pleasure I find in designing arises from this singular combination of creativity, process, and discipline.
Designers are often asked the “where do you find your inspiration” question, which I find a little odd. I think that if you are someone who enjoys texture, pattern and colour, then the world is constantly alive with inspiration, whether you are on the streets of Kyoto or out in the Scottish Highlands. Because I live in Scotland, and because I love to be outdoors, the colours of this landscape and the textile traditions that have shaped it are endlessly inspiring to me. But inspiration is everywhere, and I think that a hat or a sweater can be an opportunity to celebrate many beautiful things that are often overlooked, from pavements to vegetables. I also think that, while its important to take yourself seriously, its also crucial to retain a sense of humour. That way you are able to recognise when an idea is probably a bad one, such as the time I attempted to knit a sweater inspired by the curious texture of a rhino’s behind.
katedaviesdesigns.com 01. Kate. 02. Blaithin Cardigan.
03. Funchal Moebius - inspired by the mosiac pavements of Madeira. 04. Nepal Wrap from the FOLK collection.
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