jan
14
2015The fashion industry is the second most polluting industry in the world. Think of the immense amounts of water necessary for the cultivation of cotton, oil as raw material for synthetic textiles, chemicals to improve characteristics of textiles, dyeing chemicals, machineries, wrapping and transport.
The production of a simple t-shirt affects most of the above mentioned parts of the chain. Regarding the huge quantities of fashion articles we annually buy (as well as an equal amount of (scarcely) used items we discard), every improvement somewhere in the chain contributes to a less polluting fashion industry. But today I want to talk about waste.
Read More»sep
26
2014
I’ve been exploring a new material: cotton. I have long felt a hesitation towards using cotton on the knitting machine. Woven fabric made of cotton makes a terrific summer cloth. But as cotton has little to no elasticity, knitted cotton fabric tends to grow heavy, loose its shape and make baggy tops and dresses. Not very appealing to me.
Still, in summertime you don’t want to wear woollen stuff, you ‘d rather want to feel the airy coolness of cotton on your skin. Consumer yarn is mostly too thick (OK for baggy jumpers). To avoid too much weight the yarn industry adds a certain amount of acryl to the cotton yarn (OK for sweaty sweaters and quickly smelly tops). Thin cotton yarn is often too stiff and won’t drape well (OK for grandma’s crocheted rugs). What to do?
Read More»sep
10
2014
It’s been quiet around Lena. What has she been doing lately? Well, she has been busy troubleshooting. As you know, troubleshooting is a frustrating and time consuming occupation, but it is part of the deal. I cannot avoid it and must go straight through.
People frequently ask me if I can make a scarf for them. It is easy and fast for me to make, they think, and so thought I. How wrong I was! What can be so difficult about knitting a scarf, you ask?
Read More»jul
12
2014
Saar & Soof
Two years ago the daughter of my friend had developed a severe scoliosis. She was thirteen at the time and had to go through a long and risky operation. She ran the risk of becoming lame and had no choice but to hope for the best. We all were relieved after the operation had turned out to be successful. But for Sarah a time of painful rehab began. She never complained and just did it.
A couple of months after the OP I was invited by my friend for dinner. Spontaneously her daughter pulled up her shirt and showed me the oblong scar on her back. It could have been the gesture or de scar itself, I don’t know, but it made quite an impression on me.
Read More»feb
28
2014
It won’t be long before spring is in the air. Already I hear the birds singing their song at dusk. Nevertheless I want to present you a bonnet. My old bonnet was really worn out and I desperately needed a new one for the cold mornings. My bonnet came from some department store. It had been expensive and was no good all the same. To make it fit around the head they had put rubber yarn in it. It made my front and earlobes itch for hours after I had worn it. Whereas I had only wanted warm ears!
feb
22
2014
Lately I’ve been busy with an experiment. A few months back I had the opportunity of buying some beautiful strands of natural coloured handspun yarn. I was especially appealed by the craftsmanship of the spinner and the idea that it had been spun from greasy wool straight from the sheep. I mean, how ecobasic can you get? Maybe I should ask the spinner if she knows the sheep personally!
dec
30
2013
Lily
And now for something completely different: from literature to figurative art! A few years back I came across the website of a young highly talented Russian-Canadian artist who makes porcelain ball jointed dolls. Her name is Marina Bychkova.
dec
21
2013
One early autumn afternoon I was enjoying a cappuccino at a Berlin terrace. I wore my lizard green jumper. The slightly transparent fabric couldn’t conceal that I was wearing my orange/brown bathing suit underneath of which the orange straps showed around my neck. The sun stood low but you could still feel its strength. It scattered such beautiful yellowish light that afternoon!
okt
27
2013
My second source of inspiration was Kate Bush. Now I want to talk about literature: seven years after Kate Bush’ song Wuthering Heights had reached the charts I red the book written by Emily Brontë. In that period I also read ‘The tenant of Wildfell Hall’ by her younger sister Anne and ‘Jane Eyre’ by her elder sister Charlotte.
okt
09
2013
35% silk | 35% mohair | 30% wool
This dress was created directly for the customer. I have not designed a prototype for myself first, like I usually do. Instead, the woman for whom I created it gave me the free hand to design a dress for her.
Read More»sep
28
2013
Last time I stated here I admire women who are in their strength, which gives them the confidence to do what they really want and do it on their own merits and conditions. Of course she doesn’t have to be a woman of fashion. This time I want to talk about another idol of mine: Kate Bush.