Knitwear

Juliana Sissons is a practicing designer and lecturer in Fashion and Textiles at Nottingham Trent University and at the University of Brighton in the UK, she also delivers Master Class lectures and workshops on creative pattern cutting internationally. As a knitwear designer and freelance pattern cutter, Juliana's clients have included Alexander McQueen, Shelley Fox, The V&A Museum and the BBC; her work has also been commissioned by artists including Leigh Bowery, Andrew Logan, Britney Spears and style icon Isabella Blow.

• 1. Approach to knitReinventing traditional knittingYarns and fibresConstruction of knitDevelopments in design and technologyIndustry interview. Freddie Robins, Senior Tutor, Knitted Textiles, the Royal College of Art2. Creative developmentThe briefResearchIndustry interview: Shelley Fox, Director of MFA Fashion Design and Society, The New School ParsonsDesign developmentColourSculptural formPresentation and evaluation3. Construction through pattern and textureThe tension swatchBasic techniquesLaceSurface textureIndustry interview. Sophie Steller, Design DirectorPatterned knits4. Construction through shapePartial knitting. three-dimensional effectsCreating flared shapesIncreasing and decreasingIndustry interview. Katherine Mavridis: Knitwear DesignerDraping and shapingCreating a knitting pattern5. Details and trimsCollars and neckbandsIndustry interview. Hannah Jenkinson, Knitwear DesignerButtonholes and fasteningsHand-finishing techniquesEmbellishment6. MenswearHistorical contextsAndrogynous contextsIndustry interview: Cozette McCreeryDesigner case study: Pa ByrneDesigner case study: Ella NisbettDesigner case study: Ben McKernanDesigner case study: Latasha HammondDesigner case study: Matilda DraperDesigner case study: Kendall BakerDesigner case study: Carlo Volpi

Each chapter ends with relevant interviews with top knitwear designers and graduates ... throughout it is well illustrated with up-to-date runway designs, graduate collections, designer swatch samples and sketchbook work. If you want to understand the professional approach, are open minded and curious about different aspects of knit and want to explore and understand the process of design to inspire you to create contemporary knitted garments, then this is a comprehensive read.