Olga Pobedinskaya has come out with her first book. "Knitting Pleats" is filled with patterns of stunning garments and accessories. The design element of pleating, whether horizontal, vertical or diagonal has the 17 designs in this book jumping off the pages. Pleats, tucks... folds have a decorative effect that will have you standing out in a crowd.
Olga's designs were inspired by the Russian-Ukranian folk dresses she admired in her youth and her interest in unusual Japanese fashion design. The combination of the two different cultures are represented in her fresh and inventive knitted couture.
Understanding knitted pleats opens the book with detailed photographs of the types of pleats and how they are worked in both full rows and sections. Her hats, bags, tops and shawls are worth viewing. Her unique designs are impressive and oh so very different.
Knitted handbags are hot for this spring and Olga has a pattern for Concertina Bag. Opening like an accordian when on your arm and collapsing when set down. Then there is the Vertical Pleats Bag (slideshow) that is beautifully different. Its individuallity makes it hard to describe. For this reason alone, it may have you stopping all the projects in progress, so you can start on it right away. Silver Darts is a sectional pleats t-shirt. A few pleats around the neck and hip give this shirt notice, making it look more complicated than this simple knit is. Borderlines, a pleated-trim jacket that is knit sideways will add style to any outfit.
If you are looking for a new technique, seek out this book. Let us know what you thought about it.
Plan on knitting Olga's designs and you will find some patterns requiring seaming. A professional looking seam brings the final results up a few notches. If you need a brush up class, the following is for you.
Have you been lucky enough to take a class with Judy Pascale--at Stitches, at Vogue Knitting Live, CVKG - you know she is an absolute teaching dynamo and she is from Connecticut. At Knit New Haven, she'll teach you how professional designers seam together sections of a garment to produce a smooth, nearly invisible transition. This class is a four-hour mini-marathon, and will cover a variety of techniques for sleeves, shoulders, necklines and more. You don't need a sweater or a work-in-progress to take this class. Basic knitting skills required; there is some homework to do in advance. The class is being taught on Sunday, January 22, from 10 a.m. to noon for a class fee of $80. The shop is located at 26 Whitney Avenue New Haven, CT 06510 (203) 777-5648.
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