ConnieLene – KnitDesigner

I do not know the name of the model wearing my Great New Zealand Cloak – but it was a nice surprise to find this photograph today. I had followed an advertisement for the upcoming Italian “Vogue Knitting Italia 2010″ tour and explored and found this photograph from the 2007 tour which came to New Zealand & Australia. That tour was also hosted by Carla Scott and Nicky Epstein, and we were all delighted to meet them.

Vogue Knitter Tour member wearing The Great New Zealand Cloak

What do you know about Mohair?
What do I know about Mohair?
What is the trend with Mohair?

A little about Mohair

Mohair is from the very silky hair of an Angora goat, and is one of the oldest textile fibres in the world. The Angora goat is native to Turkey and they are now farmed all around the world, including of course in New Zealand where I have lived most of my life.

The goats look cute and odd because they are covered in a coat of shaggy, slightly curly hair which is shorn to make make the mohair yarn.

It is an incredibly light yarn, with great insulating properties and is renowned for its softness, sheen and lustre, and takes up dye easily and it maintains its colour well over the life of the piece. The mohair yarn can be thick or thin or it can be spun with an uneven texture creating a chunky or slubby yarn.

It is also a smooth fibre, and a good shake will dislodge stuff from it. If it needs the odd wash, it should be hand washed with a wool wash or fabric softener followed by a clean water rinse, roll in towels to remove excess moisture, or spin dry maybe – I have never done that. Lie the garment flat to dry, in the shade. Do not tumble dry. Can be drycleaned – check your yarn label for information.

Do not hang your mohair garments to store them – make certain they are dry and store them flat.

So all in all the news is that it is a great fibre. Easy to create with, and easy to care for.

Capes and cloaks in mohair are in for 2010 – they are the big in the fashion trends worldwide. I make gorgeous capes and cloaks and they are sexy, gorgeous pieces an essential item to add to your wardrobe for 2010. Capes and Cloaks created in mohair are also light and easy to wear, and so so warm.

Vogue Knitting Tour Group pictures from the Colour Play exhibition.
Fiber artist and knit designer Connie Lene Johnston gave us a sneak peek of her “Colour Play” collection. The show would officially open in a few days, featuring her work as well as that of students from the Whitecliffe College of Arts & Design.

During the wine-and-cheese reception, Ms. Johnston described each garment’s evolution, texture, construction and how she used color in each one. We were invited to try on the clothes—not your typical art exhibit.

Vogue Knitting Tour Group pictures from the Colour Play exhibition thank you to Alice Pepper

at the Randolph St Gallery – Whitecliffe School of Fine Arts & Design. September 2007.

ConnieLene’s unique knit designs alongside the work of BFA Fashion design students from Whitecliffe.

The Vogue Knitting Tour of Australia and New Zealand 2007, hosted by Nicky Epstein and Carla Scott,a Vogue Knitting Editor attended the special opening.