Parfait Progress ...

It's all coming together nicely for the Independent Sewalong.  I love the fabric, which is a really soft Italian cotton.  It's all cut out now and I've read up on how to sew it all, so just need to do that!  Will try and get some done in the week but if not then a good session next weekend.  Still have 2 weeks to finish, which I'm happy about because I'm taking things at a much more leisurely pace nowadays.  Which is, after all, the Colette Pattern ethos ...

  

More Magnificence ...

The rhododendrons have been stunning ... they are past their best now but managed to photograph them before they turned ...

Independent Sew Along

Kat over at Modern Vintage Cupcakes is doing another sewalong this month.  I didn't get to finish the Burda Bomber in time last month, but hey ho, not to worry as it'll get done at some point this year - when I find the perfect lining!  I've signed up for her Independent Pattern Company Challenge and plan on making a Colette Parfait.  I have the pattern and fabric and am hoping the sun will come out again for some supa dupa photos!  (Fingers crossed!).  This also ties in with Sarah Liz's monthly de-stash sewalongs, which she is hosting for the rest of this year.  Hop over to both websites for a look.

Old Haunts ...

I took a bus up to Piccadilly from outside the Costume Museum - 2 came along at once straightaway!  Travelled the length of Oxford Road, past the University and the Polytechnic buildings - now known at Manchester Metropolitan University.

I used to cross All Saints Park several times a day to get to the School of Art  ... picture taken from the bus window ...

Past the library ... spent many happy hours in here searching with microfiche ... before computers!

Piccadilly was extremely busy, due to The Manchester Games.  A long jump and high jump in Albert Square I believe, as well as a sprint up Deansgate!

Love the trams, a great addition to the city.

There seem to be markets on a regular basis in the centre of Piccadilly these days.  Always on different themes ...

Didn't have much time to spare as I had spent too long in the Costume Museum this time, but I hope to be back soon.  Did manage to find Purl City Yarns on Port Street in the Northern Quarter though.  They seem to stock a large range of the more unusual brands - will investigate properly next time ...

 

'Knitted Elegance', Platt Hall Gallery of Costume, Manchester

I went a bit mad photographing exhibits here.  The Costume Gallery is newly refurbished and open every day of the week now, whereas 20-odd years ago, when I last visited, you could only go on certain afternoons of the week or by appointment. 

The redecoration is fabulous.  Galleries are clean and airy and the exhibits well chosen and placed.  The ground floor concentrates on 20th century fashion and represents a wide range of designers and includes hats, shoes and handbags.  Upstairs, the decor is Wedgwood blue, picked out in gold, to emphasize the stucco plasterwork, which is part of the original decor of the hall.  The exhibits here date as far back as the 1600's and include framed examples of textiles.  See www.manchestergalleries.org/.../platt-hall-gallery-of-costume for further information in a comprehensive website divided into collecton themes such as Designers, Clothes for Work, Recycled Fashion and Materials and Making for examples.

I'll write some further posts about the collection, but at the moment, I'm concentrating on 'Knitted Elegance', which is currently showing as a special exhibition but ends 2 June 2013.  There are pieces from most of the decades of the 20th-21st centuries on display with a mix of hand and machine knit, constructed in a broad range of materials, from synthetic through to natural fibres.  Featured designers include Missoni, Westwood, Hilfiger etc ....  I was so pleased that my photographs turned out well.  I've listed each exhibit below.


Peruvian Wool Dress. Rene Dmytrenko, 1976. Shetland wool, A-Line. Knitted on a domestic knitting machine by a craft knitter in Todmorden, Lancs. In horizontal bands - Llamas, dogs, birds and men. High waisted, wide skirt, labelled, 'An Original by Rene'. Worn by the textile conservator at Platt Hall in the 70's.

Green Handknit, 1954, eau de nil wool in stocking stitch.  Copying Dior's New Look.  A state registered nurse from Ashton-Under-Lyne knitted this herself and wore it for work.

Black wool cocktail mini.  Alice Temperley, mid 2000's.  Openwork large diamonds with wide boat neck.  For glamorous evening events.  Labelled, 'Alice Temperley, London'.  Company launched in 2000 when she was 25.  She often chooses to use knitting in her fashion collections.

Mondrian.  1980, Yves Saint Laurent.  Wool jersey in blocks of primary colours.  House of YSL re-issued the 60's look using machine knit instead of woven wool.  Labelled, 'Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche'.

Vivienne Westwood.  Mid 1990's.  Short cocktail dress, knitted in hairy mohair, brushed with gold in painterly splodges.  Deep 'V' shapes at front and back necklines.  Pink cotton jersey lining.

Missoni Trouser Suit.  Early 2000's.  Machine knitted rayon.  Open work with wide 'V' at front and back, with tiny cap sleeves.  Flared, scalloped hems on trousers.  Labelled, 'Missoni - Made in Italy'. Purchased at a Manchester Dress Agency.

Jane Sarkar.  1985.  Knitted on a domestic machine in horizontal panels of Fair Isle.  Right shoulder knotted, left twisted and fastened with silver coloured buttons.  Jane Sarkar is a north-west based designer, who started work in 1983.  This is an early creation acquired in 1986.

Black cocktail dress with perspex discs.  Sonia Rykiel, 2012.  Retro mini dress in machine knitted cotton.  Opaque black perspex discs.  Labelled, 'Sonia by Sonia Rykiel'.  She is known as, 'The Queen of Knitwear' and started out in the 60's.

Striped dress, Coast, late 2000's.  Machine knit.

Dark brown cocktail dress with cerise band.  Bitte Kai Rand, 2012.  Machine knit stocking stitch.  A Copenhagen, Danish company founded in 1981.  Now the premier Scandinavian fashion house with branches all over Europe.

Monsoon, 1986.  Jacquard design of flowers and stylized geometric motifs.  Bought for £55 by the gallery from Monsoon in Manchester.

Hilfiger denim.  2012, camel coloured wool/viscose fitted shift dress.  Machine knitted to resemble handknit.  Contrast at neck simulates an under vest.

Claret Top and Black Skirt.  2001.  Maria Grachvogel.  Knitted cashmere top, trimmed with ostrich feathers.  Black silk crepe skirt.  Labelled 'Maria Grachvogel'.  She launched the label in 1999 aged 21. Internationally known now since her catwalk show of 2001 when Victoria Beckham modelled.

Gold trim cocktail dress.  Early 60's.  Machine knitted with spotted allover bugle beads.  Gold interlocking bow reminiscent of Schiaparellis knitwear.  Figure hugging and fully lined.

Moschino.  Jumper dress, machine knit in pure new wool.  Labelled, 'Moschino Cheap and Chic', 1988.

Contemporary artists have provided their response in an upstairs room.

There's a hanging display of knitted nets and a sound installation plays chattering voices which conclude with,

                                               'We knit, we stitch, we unwind ...'

The continuous loop is effective.  A piece of knitting lies on a large wooden spool, ready for visitors to add their contribution and I couldn't help but leave a few rows of stocking stitch behind me ...

Holidaying at Home - Ely

I ADORE Ely in Cambridgeshire.    There's a real community feel about the place and it is home to interesting independent shops and cafes.  Plus it has the riverside which on a fine day is a joy to walk along.  Yesterday, unfortunately, I seemed to leave the sunshine behind me and the further I travelled, the more overcast it became.

This barge has an apt name!

 Still managed to enjoy my day though.  The riverside is home to various waterfowl ...

Well my mum thinks I'm beautiful! 

I love this Morris Minor car which always seems to be parked outside one of the terraces on the hill up to the main town.

Residents take care to make their windows just as interesting to passers by ...

A walk up the steep hill to the town demands tea and lunch!

Delicious!

All set now for a bit of indulgent shopping!

Yarn on the Square is on the Market Place.  I found a crochet instruction book for left-handers here - have always been put off trying because of my 'sinister' nature!  I can have a go now ... they also hold classes on Saturdays which I might investigate.

Spent some time photographing things I found, for my coursework reference.

Interesting brickwork ...

A lovely old door ...

And of course, the cathedral ...

The sun actually came out!

 All in all, a very enjoyable morning and home I go  ...

A packet from Judy ...

... all the way from Blue Mountain, MS, USA.  Thanks for the swap Judy - great to keep in touch.  Love the 'shades of spring' bias binding too - will use that on something special!