Intricate hand knitting back in vogue

11 Oct '06

2 min read

As fashion takes a retro step, designers are snapping up home knitting women to attain crochet, appliqué, broderie anglaise, lace and chunky Aran patterns, Fair Isle knits and long cardis.

There are several hundred enthusiastic 'home knitters' working for superior labels.

The armies of hand knitters are at work on the cutest autumn collection of berets, fingerless gloves, ponchos and wraps.

Even the bigger labels are drawing on the experience of elderly women hand knitters.

The super-skilled senior citizens are highly prized as these generations of women in there 60s, 70s and 80s have the most tremendous skills.

Their unique skills are in huge demand again as they have the most amazing technical ability.

Though there are some younger knitters, the really intricate work tends to be done by the older ones.

These grannies generally might have learned to knit almost before she learned to read and must have been clicking away with it all her life.

These women are doing something they really enjoy and are fairly well paid at the same time for doing something that is a hobby which they would do out of love anyway.

Now their hand-made look is back in vogue although many were worried that hand knitting would slowly die out, but the other greatthing about the return of the homemade look is that younger women are being inspired to learn how to do it themselves.

This army of experienced knitters is influencing fashion, too.

Hand knits have an inherent heirloom quality and luxurious feel that has become a very strong focus this season.

Now it is convinced that the hand-knitting revival will remain a strong theme over the next few seasons.

More Fashion News - United Kingdom...