Modular Hand Knitting

Note before reading: This blog was written in 2018, when I was studying for my MA (hence the Harvard referencing!). Where needed, I have edited these posts to correct any factual inaccuracies. This post was last edited Nov 2025.

The chunky yarn I'd dyed a few weeks ago went into creating a hand knitted piece, that was constructed in a modular fashion - randomly knitting sections in basic garter stitch, then starting another colour and building it from there.

I wanted to make something that was constructed in one piece to avoid chunky seams, so I tried a few paper shapes in my sketchbook to create a shrug/bolero type design, and from that I made a calico 'pattern' to loosely follow, to check it was forming a vaguely garment-like shape!

Burns, R. 2018. Modular Knitting 1. Photograph.

Burns, R. 2018. Modular Knitting 2. Photograph.

The piece is growing quite quickly, but I think I may run out of yarn before I reach my desired outcome...

Burns, R. 2018. Modular Knitting 3. Photograph.

Burns, R. 2018. Modular Knitting 4. Photograph.

Burns, R. 2018. Modular Knitting 5. Photograph.

Burns, R. 2018. Modular Knitting 6. Photograph.

References:

• Burns, R. 2018. Modular Knitting 1-6. Photographs.