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Activity answers
- What is the first stage for Lorinda Grant in developing new designs?
Lorinda experiments with different stitches and needle sizes. She then briefs the knitter regarding the new shape and completes the finishing when it is returned.
- Lorinda's innovative designs are closely tied to the fibre. What research
does Lorinda undertake in sourcing her wool fibre?
Lorinda discusses her wool requirements with:- the owner of what was her grandfather's sheep station
- local farmers
- mills for yarns
- CSIRO for new techniques
- local knitters about stitches.
- Lorinda thinks isolation is one of the challenges facing regional Australia.
How does she hope to contribute to regional life?
Lorinda plans to set up a craft centre where knitters can meet and share their knowledge and skills.
- Lorinda has been hand knitting for some time,
she is now exploring machine knitting. What advantages does machine knitting
offer?
Machine knitting offers a wide range of alternative finishes, it is relatively easy to make tubular shapes and hence sleeves and it allows her to "come up with shapes that are a bit edgier".
While Lorinda uses the cottage industry of local knitters to produce many of her designs it is difficult to meet demand. Machine knitting offers a quicker product turn around.
- Explain the benefits of Lorinda's creative partnership with Akira Isogawa.
The Sydney-based fashion designer Akira Isogawa has been a mentor since she walked into his Sydney store wearing her innovative knitted garments. Since their meeting she has made pieces for his range and maintained her own label. Her designs are now recognised nationally and internationally.
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