The Knit and Stitch at the Ally Pally

My friend, Esther, has come to stay for a few days.  We had a trip to the Knit and Stitch on the last day of the show when it is quietest - I wanted to see the exhibition spaces, and Esther was looking for bargain wool.

We saw Laura Kemshall's amazing seascape quilt on the way in.  Computerised embroidery and quilting on a  panorama quilt, then ironed flat and put through a digital printer to print a photograph on top.  Reversing the usual process.  Very, very innovative use of digital print, and I have no idea of how she managed to get the printer heads to print correctly on a slightly uneven surface.  Absolutely ace.  But what interested me, was the use of phrases said by her daughter on the day out when the photo was taken.   Computerised stitch - large satin stitch of some phrases was very obvious and easy to read, but some of the phrases were in a kind of grid stitch, and only visible when you stood in a specific position to the right of the quilt and the light caught it just right.  Absolutely brilliant use of phrase and technique.  Laura leaves most quilters way behind.

Laura Kemshall, On the Beach, 2016.  Quilt.
Winner of Festival of Quilts 2016

Then Esther and I went to the Manchester University stand.  Alice Kettle was there promoting their courses.  I had my money's worth from the show, just in this stand.  I had quite a conversation with her about my aim to finish my Masters, and then go on to do a PhD.  Alice seemed to recognise me - which surprised me.  I have spoken to her briefly at the V&A class and one or two other places - but she must meet hundreds of middle-aged women interested in textiles, so why she should remember me, I have no idea.  Alice is the Professor of Textiles at Manchester Uni and she has students all over the world.  These students work to different patterns because of their locations. Some attend regularly, others come in for intense bursts of work. I have the benefit of a cheap train ticket, so I could get to Manchester, and, as Jim said, I might be able to get overnight accommodation on campus.  Alice said a couple of her tutors were feminists and worked on this theme, so I felt I might fit.  Definitely a possibility.  I took her business card, and the last post-graduate brochure.



Plan for the rest of today - read my module specification and write a self directed learning plan for the stitch self portrait, using the reading list, and the print class.