Grow Your Knitwear! Virtual Workshop

What if your knitwear could grow?

Living Knitwear is a concept created by Alanis that brings together wool, seeds and knitting to explore what happens when something we make becomes something living.

In this virtual workshop, Alanis will take us behind the idea and through the full life cycle of Living Knitwear. From creating the knitted textile and introducing seeds, to germination, growth, care and eventually returning to the earth.

You’ll see how Alanis has experimented with growing knitwear, what she has learned along the way, and how you could begin experimenting with the concept yourself.

WHAT WE’LL EXPLORE

• How Living Knitwear began
• How seeds are incorporated into knitting
• What happens when the seeds begin to grow
• How to care for Living Knitwear
• The complete life cycle of a growing garment
• How you can start experimenting yourself

But Living Knitwear also opens up a bigger conversation.

What is our relationship with the clothes we make and wear? Where does fashion meet nature? And what changes when we start thinking about a garment as part of a living cycle rather than simply a finished object?

BRING SOMETHING WITH A STORY

This will be a relaxed and informal session, so you’re very welcome to bring your current knitting and work on it while we talk.

Alanis also invites you to bring a knit or piece of clothing that means something to you.

Maybe you made it. Maybe someone made it for you. Maybe you’ve had it for years. If you’d like, there will be space to share some of those stories during the workshop.

MEET ALANIS

Alanis is a knitter based in Shropshire, England, with a Master’s degree in Sustainable Fashion from Falmouth University.

She began knitting in 2021, and natural fibres, particularly wool, became an important part of her work. During her Master’s, she began exploring the life within wool as part of the natural world.

For her final project, she developed Living Knitwear, creating prototypes that brought seeds and knitted textiles together and documenting what happened as they grew and changed.

Her work also explores something many of us who knit will recognise: the stories and memories that become attached to the things we make and wear.

Alanis joined Knit for Wildlife as one of our Knitters in Residence for the Vega cohort, where she continued exploring Living Knitwear in connection with the wildlife, culture and environment of the Vega Archipelago.

WHEN & HOW

The workshop will take place live on Zoom on Sunday 20 September at 1 PM UK time and last approximately one hour, with a little extra time if the conversation runs over.

Places are limited to 20 participants to keep the workshop small, relaxed and conversational.

You don’t need any previous experience with growing textiles. Bring your knitting if you’d like, something with a story if you have one, and your curiosity. 🌱

Please use an email address you check regularly when booking. Your Zoom link and practical information will be sent to this address before the workshop.

© Knit for Wildlife