Following last year’s Eek hat for the Giles Fall ’14 collection, my friends over at Wool and the Gang had more knits walking the runway at London Fashion Week yesterday. This time they collaborated with Christopher Raeburn on his shark-themed Fall ’15 collection. As seen in the photos here (from @woolandthegang and @jade_harwood) the pieces include a pair of shark-shaped mittens plus a killer multi-color slouch beanie and big fringed scarf. The mittens, dubbed the Bruce Knitmitts, are available on their site straight away, both as finished goods and a knit kit, and they’ve promised to let me know when the hat and scarf patterns are available later this year. My compliments to the Gang on what must have been another thrilling ride. And to Raeburn, who looks pretty pleased with those mittens.
p.s. They were kind enough to send me an Eek hat kit when I was crying for a fast break from my four months with Amanda, but I haven’t knitted it up just yet. Love. That. Hat.
p.p.s. If I had the sewing chops, I would totally be making my own version of that olive-drab duffel coat with Grainline’s pattern. That is my dream coat right there.
Interesting, but really not so practical in the real world. I do like some of their hats, tho.
I love the direction Wool and the Gang is going. I’ll admit, I was skeptical of their hip branding at first, but after making a hat with one of the kits, I’m sold. The needles and yarn were dreamy to work with, and I love how they’re showing that do-it-yourself fashion is totally attainable.
The way that hat reflects the tweedy jacket…perfect.
Right? That coat looks like heaven.
Color me still skeptical, I guess? I hate to sound like a grump (or worse, a philistine), but I’m struggling with this. People whose taste I respect are excited about these knits, and I’m trying to Get It, but I feel like I’m missing something. Are these interesting or admirable handknits on their own, or is it mostly exciting that Fashion People are paying attention to something to do with hand-knitters?
I can’t help wondering…if I saw one of these projects featured on a pattern pamphlet in the aisles of Jo-Ann’s, would I think “omg, so cool” or would I dismiss it as another slightly goofy and vaguely patronizing entry in the long list of novelty jiffy-knits? And which reaction would be “right”? Is context (not to mention marketing) everything? Am I asking all the wrong questions?
I have to agree – it looks like a jiffy knit to me, too. I do like that coat, though.
Well, it’s a matter of opinion. All I know is I love it — especially that hat, and the way it plays off the textile of the coat and vest. I can’t wait to see how it’s done.
I especially love the hat pictured above, and I think it might be an interesting mix of wow, these handknits are comfortably fashionable and achievable for every level of knitter AND they could potentially be seen in the aisles of Jo-Ann’s—EXCEPT for the fact that the details have been reigned in just so. I think they’re edited beautifully, and styled in a really fashion-forward way, which makes all the difference between a novelty jiffy-knit and what WATG seems to be doing. I think context, editing, and styling is everything—these knits could look goofy and underwhelming, but they’re styled so well and so appropriately that they seem to work. I often see knitwear patterns that just read terribly, and then I realize that part of the fault lies in how they’ve been styled, or the particular yarn used. I think WATG is striking the perfect balance between styling (and lifestyle styling) and simple pattern writing.
I can’t wait for the hat and scarf patterns!
That coat pattern is wonderful!
That tweed jacket is gorgeous….
OH, I love that hat and that coat is spectacular!! I could sew that and will keep that pattern in mind.
Thanks.
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