knitted fabrics

I had another course on knitting, this time with patterns and some new techniques. First I designed different test patterns by using a computer program and after uploading the patterns into a control device I started to knit test pieces with varying yarns. It was all in all very inspiring and interesting. :)

We also had a great chance to manufacture some knitted fabric industrially at Kutomo Holopainen Oy in Tuusula, Finland. Here is my two-sided fabric:

I had made a decision to turn it into a cardigan that can be used with both sides. By now I have planned a photoshoot for documenting the final product. Kutomo Holopainen finished the cardigan very decently, I must say.

Reversible knitted cardigan

---

Design: Amanda Halonen

Sewing: Kutomo Holopainen Oy

weaving is fun

School is keeping me busy again. At the moment I'm weaving interior textiles with a computer connected loom (pics 1-2) and a jacquard machine (pics 3-4). I took some pictures on the go.

Here are two examples of my woven fabrics.

And then the jacquard try-out. Huge difference with thick and thin yarns. :)

triangle cushion

Hi there!

The second year in Metropolia University started with hands-on action by experimenting different textile materials. Let me introduce to you the handmade triangle cushion which I designed last fall.

This unique triangle cushion of mine is made of recycled materials. It consists of carefully selected pieces from two different vintage leather jackets and self-made yarns from leftover fabrics. I hope you like it! :)

extreme haste

Phew! I mean... I have been really busy with school. Our class is going to participate in the biggest international textile fair, Heimtextil , in Frankfurt next January (!).

Go check out our project blog and have a look at what it's all about. We are on Facebook too! :)

Helsinki Design Week

About a week ago one of our teachers sent me an e-mail. It was about the raincoat prints we made in the end of last semester. A selection of three printed raincoats was made and it will appear at the HDW Above Exhibition - and two of the selected ones happened to be my designs! I'm really excited about that.

Once I visit the exhibition I will take pictures of my works. The truth is, I really haven't even seen the final prototypes, since they were completed during the summer. At the exhibition, at Old Customs Warehouse, there will be a section for New Arrivals, so more of Metropolia University's young talents' works can be seen there as well.

Go there! It's free!

I got an invite to the opening party - I feel very good about that too. :)

life and other stuff

A pause in posting - a moment for living.

After a whole harsh week of an entrance exam I flew to Spain with a friend. We explored four different cities: Bilbao, San Sebastian, Zaragoza and Madrid. It was an efficient, yet brilliant two-week trip. Especially the Basque Country had some of the most beautiful views I've seen!

**
About the applying results. I made my way one point behind a backup place (Fin: pisteen päähän varasijasta). Not so bad to get ranked somewhere in the top 20. I did not get in, but I will happily continue my studies in textile design at Metropolia University. :)
**

I tend to promise more pictures and stories of my trips, and what I've learned is the fact that it's surprisingly hard to keep those promises... Never did another post about London + Sheffield + York. I have quite a load of photos taken in my camera / phone this time too, so we'll see what happens.

I will be busy with many positive things this summer. If you can, go and enjoy your time in the sun! :D

textile printing by hand

At school we have had a course in textile printing as I told you before, with the traditional screen printing method. Very briefly summarized: you create your own design and you make a film of it, after which you make the screen for flat printing (with several steps). Then you mix the right color and then you print.

Might sound like a swing of a magic wand. It really isn't. :D

The task was to design a pattern for a raincoat. More accurately it is a poncho, that can be worn when cycling and moving around the city. There will be a small exhibition of our textile print works later this spring.

My idea in this design was to mix elements of bicycle itself with the elements of water. So I studied bicycle's anatomy and did some research of all kinds of stuff that can be found from the bottom of the ocean - such as sea anemones, corals, alga and nudibranchs.

Strange words, I'm giving you respect to the fullest, dear Google translate.

These are an example of inspiration pics when I did the design. :)

(picture source: National Geography)

Tyttö ja Hauki

A girl and a pike.

Well actually in the bag print she must be deeply yearning for the fish.

These three are soon to be kitchen towels. The theme is very Finland-oriented and the outcome reminds me of our northern nature, largely because of the raw linen fabric and the earthy colors.

The textile printing course will be continued...

by daylight

The weeks have gone by so fast. This monday we started a new course at school - textile printing. And I am excited! In the morning I felt like doodling a bit, so I sketched this drawing that I might well use in printing on canvas. I'm only wondering how I should use the end result... Maybe I'll grab some old pillowcases and t-shirts with me tomorrow. :)

And the other day we used these lovely flowers as a basis for a task.

exponential

Hi there! I can see from my blog statistics that there is one week left for this spring's admission assignments to be released for not only Aalto University / School of Arts, Design and Architecture but also Metropolia University of Applied Sciences... This is for y'all:

textile design - knitted by me

Photography by Johanna Karttunen

Here are documented knitted scarves that I made during past semester. The mint green tube scarf in the first pic is knitted by hand and the others with a manually-used knitting machine. In the end there's also a hairband that I made as a small extra.

Don't freeze out there, folks! :)

designing a magazine layout

Let's have a look at some more schoolwork. Lately we have been doing interior magazine layouts. I'm already familiar with Photoshop and InDesign, but I'm still totally enjoying the assignment! The task was to visualize your own home in a few magazine spreads with some self-photoshopped pictures and decoration ideas. I named my magazine 'Homehow' and the issue is inspired by traveling.

I had fun with textures and went wild with writing. :D You see, now our tiny student apartment has been turned into a "renovated residency" with natural floor planking, vivid green-painted wall surface and an edgy brick wall. Oh how I wish all that would be true...

(Click to enlarge)

All the fabrics seen on the pillows (x3) contain woven textures from my previous post. I have adjusted the pillow colors to fit in the surrounding atmosphere.

Below some details in bigger size (click to enlarge):

skills for future

My intention has been to post these pictures during the past fall, but better now than never. We had a course on weaving and here's what I've made. I liked the course in general and had the privilege to use the computer-connected loom.

The most difficult step was definitely the beginning. It's tougher than it looks in the pictures. Still, I got past it and could begin to weave.

The fabric started to form in quite good time. We had taken photos on which the 30 cm long pieces were based and in the end of the length we could do a piece for our own use. I'm planning to make a folkloristic (sort of) bag of this last longer piece, with leather details.