Woolworld
is an electronic knitting-place. Made in 2000, reknitted in 2004.
Mandy
McIntosh visited and recorded knitters from Newfoundland, Tasmania and
Fair Isle, three islands where the craft had a specific resonance unique
to
each place.The main focus of the work was on Fair Isle where the island
craft co-op hosted the artist’s research into their contemporary
practice.Fair Isle is a world famous site in the history of knitting.
Mandy
McIntosh has a degree in knitting and was student handknitter of the
year in 1988.She worked as a knitwear designer at KENZO in Paris from
1989-1991.
Fair
Isle
The Fair Isle Craft Co-op continues to thrive. Their
order books are full.
Conversations with each member can be found here.If you have
realplayer installed you can download this small movie: fairislemovie
Tasmania
Woolworld is actually a wool shop off Elizabeth
street, Hobart, Tasmania. Owned by a mother and daughter.
A conversation which took place in the shop in 1999 can be viewed here.
Newfoundland
1997, St. John’s, Newfoundland. Barbara from
The Harpur's woolshop gave the artist a photocopy of the traditional fisherman’s
triggermitt pattern. There was no image. The shop has since closed down
and the only way to reveal the shape of this traditional
fisherman's mitt is to knit them. The instructions can be viewed here.
Radiant-Circle
Radiant Circle is an independent site about a fictional craft faction.
It forms part of the woolworld knitting network and it urges the browser
to make their own clothes. It can be viewed here.
New
York City
A free knitting pattern made from watching two cinereous
vultures at the Bronx Zoo in New York City. With a short essay to contexualise
the garment.
Atlanta A
free knitting pattern made after purchasing a skein of American cotton
from a thrift store in Atlanta, Georgia.
Portugal Some of the Fish I Ate in Portugal , a dress designed for a new publication
available in Autumn 2007.
Please
email info@hamandenos.comif
you are a knitter who would like to participate in Woolworld.The idea
was originally supported by
The Scottish Year of the Artist and Shetland Arts in 2000.
The site was designed in collaboration with Frozen
River , revised and somewhat simplified in
2004 using Optikski original layouts and
graphics.It has been reactivated as a place to host new knitting work.
With very huge thanks to all the knitters involved, it was an immense
pleasure.
Thanks also to Patrick and Louisa.