Happy Accidents Make Sweet New Designs!

There I was last week, knitting away on my Brother knitting machine, and I was livid. I mean I was in a really foul mood. My crush was doing my head in as per usual, I mean, does he like me or not, what gives? I thought all that vacillation ended in high school. Then I came into the studio only to find that somehow overnight my knitting machine had stopped working. Which, unfortunately is still the case, but luckily I have 6, so I just popped a new one on the table and kept working. I was DETERMINED not to let ANYTHING get in my way. I had come to knit all day and nothing was going to stop me. Except for running out of yarn. Oh yes. Even seasoned knitters like myself, inevitably have a project where the yarn we ordered just isn't enough. It happened to me so much in the past that I had gotten to the point where I was overestimating too much. At one point I returned over $500 bucks of yarn back to Webs. I preceded this return with a apologetic "heads up" email to their customer service department. Well, unfortunately the yarn I was using for this particular project that I was doing was a from a remnant order and I had no chance in hell of getting more of it. What was a girl to do? I decided to bind off and this was what I was left with:

a happy accident

This accident was so happy I decided to make another one in a tape yarn that I got at Silk City Fibers warehouse sale (see blog post below for more info on that). And now we've got a new style over here at Union Textiles: The Float Capelet. Both style are available to buy on Etsy, just click the pictures for the links.

x
charlotte

"Not to be like Me Me Me Me Me, but really, Me."

One day, in my junior year of college, a group of us were talking in our dorm when all of a sudden a girl who had been dominating our conversation said the above.


I will repeat for emphasis:
"Not to be like me me me me me, but really ME."


For some reason this has stuck in my head ever since. In an effort to NOT be like this nameless girl, we here at Union Textiles don't just want to talk about ourselves on this blog! We want to share with you things that we find out in the world, on the internet, things that people say, anything at all that you might think is cool or interesting!

First up is an awesome online retail shop that I discovered last week called Fabricly. The people behind the site scour the internet looking for hottie (stylistically speaking, not phenotypically) unknown fashion designers. Once found they give them the support they need to get a wee collection off the ground which they then feature on their site. It'd probably be better if I let them do the talking:


" Fabricly is here to hand-pick talented emerging designers and incredible existing lines, provide them with everything they need to execute a collection from start to finish (sample-making, sourcing, production, etc.), and then feature them in a tightly-curated collection of entirely exclusive goods for you to pick and shop from. "

Pretty awesome correct? Yes, you say. My favorite piece which is unfortunately sold out, is this hot little number:

nate and carly skirt

$142!! $142!! A steal for something so awesome. 

So anyway. Not to be all like me me me me me, but really me: we've emailed Fabricly in the hopes that they'll like how we do what we do and invite us to hang out with them. But in the meantime drop by the site for some great and reasonably priced finds.

x

charlotte

The Opening Party Pics!

As promised, pics from the opening party:

to see more, click here.

Learn to Machine Knit!!

So many people have been wanting to learn how to machine knit and have been asking me when I can do it, WHEN CAN I LEARN!! Now!! Now is the time!! There are two courses starting NEXT WEEK!! If these times do not suit, don't hesitate to contact me for private lessons (at the same cost). Bring a friend and get a 10% discount on the total course cost. Email info@isobelandcleo.com to sign up or request more information.

Learn to Machine Knit!

Union Textiles Studio

2 Union St

Winner of the 2011 Emerging Designer competition at Charleston Fashion Week, former sweater designer for Free People and designer of isobel and cleo knitwear, Charlotte Hess, is offering machine knitting classes in a convenient downtown location!

Learn innovative striping techniques, jacquards and patterns, lace stiches, hand manipulated stiches and incorporate them in your own sweater designs! Pattern making skills are also included in the course.

Materials included.

Fee $295

Course Dates

Mondays & Wednesdays

July 18^th August 24^th

6:00PM-9:00PM

or

Saturdays

July 23^rd-August 27^th

10:00AM-4:30PM

Private instruction available, with flexible hours and locations.

Space is limited, sign up now!

info@isobelandcleo.com

www.isobelandcleo.com

AND THE WINNER IS.....

First of all, what a great turn out at our Studio Night!!! Thank you to everyone who came and made it so wildly successful! Charlotte and I could not have been more pleased. And, we want to extend special thanks to our friends at The Green, and Lucky Dog Vodka, for their contributions to the evenings festivities. Thank you!!

So, on to the matter at hand...

The Giveaway!!!

The exact number of times I throw my shuttle to create one scarf is 960. So the winner of the Alpaca and Silk Scarf is (drumroll please)....

Jonathan Thayer! Congratulations, for your superior powers of deduction, and your guess of 980 being the closest!!!

We hope you all had as much fun as we did at our little gathering, and don't worry, the Door Prize winners will be named tomorrow!

Until then,

Cara and Charlotte