Experimenting with humor, computer-aided two-color patterning, and making fabric while simultaneously making a dress, the tools I used were DesignaKnit software and a hand-manipulated Silver Reed knitting machine.
Using a photograph of my dog, and a black and white grid, a motif was designed and put into repeat with DesignaKnit software. Each stitch represents a computer pixel. Stitch by stitch, pixel by pixel, the image was manipulated until it looked both like a houndstooth check and, simultaneously, like a dog silhouette.
A full width of black and off-white patterned fabric was then knitted to the length of the dress from merino wool and cashmere/silk yarns. The fabric was draped around the front and sides of a size 8 mannequin and the remaining hourglass-shaped void was measured. The back and straps were then engineered and knitted full fashion to the measurements and shape of the opening in a coordinating black and off-white stripe by hand manipulation of the yarn colors. The edges of each final piece were hand crocheted in black, and then attached to each other with black crocheted seams.
