Featured Maker // Knitluxe Studio
Szilvia Burrows
Knitluxe Studio
Szilvia is the owner and wonderfully talented designer-maker of Knitluxe Studio. She creates luxurious knitted gifts, homeware and winter accessories for people who love colour, using the highest quality, ethically sourced Merino Lambswool to provide softness and comfort. Every piece is designed and created on a hand operated vintage knitting machine by Szilvia in her home studio.
Szilvia’s products range from winter accessories, knitted garments to knitted gifts and homewares. She converted her spare room into a studio space where her luxurious knitted products come to life. She uses the finest Merino wool and Merino lambswool that is available on the market and is ethically sourced. Szilvia is dedicated to only using wool because it is a renewable, biodegradable, and natural fibre, not to mention it’s other wonderful properties such as extremely comfortable and soft against the skin, odour resistant, has body temperature regulating properties and is naturally breathable.
Szilvia studied Art and Design in college and Textiles and Surface Design at University where she specialised in constructed textiles. Szilvia was intrigued by the possibilities of what knitted textiles had to offer and spent most of her time on the knitting machine experimenting with different types of yarns, compositions, and techniques. Her love for textiles has not changed and she still feels so lucky doing what she loves for work.
Here Szilvia tells us a little more about her inspirations, favourite colour palettes and new collections…
Talk us through your making process from start to finish
I start by selecting my yarns for the piece I would like to knit and cast on with the right number of needles. I carefully knit the desired shape and pattern and cast it off. After the cast-off process, I examine the piece as dropped stitches can occur, especially on the edges. Depending on the type of the product, I place the edge’s seams on the linker and link it together (there is no linking in the case of a scarf). After the linking process, I sew the ends back into the fabric. This ensures a neat finish regarding the unavoidable yarn ends that occur from changing colours. I hand wash the piece after that and let the luxurious lambswool gently felt and take shape. I use my washing machine to get rid of the excess water and let the piece dry on its own accord. Another inspection is due when it becomes dry and ready for labelling and packaging.
What is your most enjoyable part of creating?
I absolutely love the making process. It always fills me with joy creating a fabric out of a few cones of fine yarn. I also love counting the rows when knitting, I find this utterly soothing.
“My inspiration comes from the places I visit. I look for unusual colour combinations which then translate back to my knitting... I love using colours in an expressive way. ”
Tell us about your inspirations
My inspiration comes from the places I visit. I look for unusual colour combinations which then translate back to my knitting. It is intriguing how some colours can be paired together to create either a complimentary or contrasting effect. This is what I look for when I create a new colour palette. I love using colours in an expressive way.
Do you have a favourite colour or colour palette you like to work with?
Pinks. I love pink tones and hues. Because this is my favourite colour, I place some sort of pink colour in all the palettes. There are so many beautiful colours available from the spinners I use, and I try to make it my mission to pair them in a fascinating way.
Are there any new ideas or collections you've been working on during lockdown?
My entire Gifts collection was inspired by lockdown. The lavender products arose from the uncertainty and anxiety that I (or everyone else for that matter) experienced and wanted to create some sort of aid that is handcrafted, kind to the planet and relaxing, promoting mindfulness.
Visit Knitluxe Studio’s website: knitluxestudio.co.uk
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