My work explores and celebrates folklore, British heritage and traditional knitting/craft techniques. I like to use bold and strong colours and have a passion for fair isle patterns. I enjoy working with natural fibres such as lambswool, yak and cashmere. My work is inspired by artists such as Matisse, Paul Klee, Patrick Heron, Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant.
My mum taught me to hand knit as a child but I do not think she ever thought I would take it so seriously. I graduated this year with an MA in knitted textiles at the Royal College of Art. I joined Outcasts in 2004 just as I returned back to college as a mature student to study textiles. The Outcasts have inspired and encouraged me thoughout my knitty education. A project I took part in for Rowan was based on Outcasts and my love for knit night.
© Emma Bradbury 2009 – Yan, Tan, Tethera Loop scarf. Rowan Project.
Knitting has taken me to amazing places. Last year I travelled to Ladakh in the Himalayas to hand knit with small village communites. It was a project hosted by UNESCO and a local Ladakh NGO – The Snowleopard Conservancy. We trekked to remote villages and helped the locals develop small hand knitted products which they could sell to tourists along the trekking routes.
This travel experience has had a profound influence upon my work. The colours, intense sunlight and clothes worn by the villagers helped to inspire my final MA ‘knitted textiles’ collection at the RCA.
© Emma Bradbury 2010.
More info about my work and my knitwear can be found here:www.emmabradbury.com
Other projects I am working on – a design collaboration with Ma Knitwit:
Really interesting post – thanks Emma!
hello
firstly wow i love your work!!
secondly i was wondering if it would be possibly to do do “work experience” with you at all? Im a student at London college of Fashion studying knit wear, But they do not really help us with “industry work” so i find im being annoying contacting you – if not and i understand is there anywhere i could go to to gain a bit of experence?
many thanks
kera-anne
Hello Kera-Anne, Thanks for your comment. I’m not taking on work experience just yet as I’m in the process of setting up my studio since graduating. Email me via the Outcast contact form and I’ll be in touch when I get sorted next year.