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Chic-a is going to Yarnosphere!

08 Oct 2015 / 2 Comments / in Knitting, Uncategorized/by Joanna - Chic-a Founder

yarnoshpere web

In a little over a week we will be setting up the Chic-a booth at Yarnosphere! This is a fun weekend show in Long Beach, California. This is the third year and we are excited to be at Yarnoshpere again. I guess I would consider this Chic-a’s home show since it is only a 2 hour drive from Santa Barbara.

I am also excited because this is the first public show where our new print Finlandia and new Duo Interchangeable Case will be available.

finlandia

New Chic-a print Finlandia.

The new print, Finlandia, has a navy blue background with red, gold and light blue flowers and the accent fabric is the fun red and white polk-a-dots.

The new Duo Interchangeable Needle Case

The new Duo Interchangeable Needle Case

The Duo Interchangeable Needle Case is a compact case that holds two complete sets of interchangeable needles. There is an accessory pocket that has a divider for the all the cables and things. You may have already seen them at your local yarn store! I have a shipment arriving this week to be sure we have plenty of the new case and new print at the show!

There is always something fun going on at Yarnoshpere: classes, demonstrations, great shopping and free coffee! I like the free coffee. Check out the schedule and maybe take a class!

I am looking forward to seeing everyone. It is sure to be a weekend filled with friendship, knitting, yarn and relaxing.

Chic-a has Videos!!

28 May 2015 / 0 Comments / in Fun things in the Knitting World, Knitting, Products/by Joanna - Chic-a Founder

Chic-atimeless teaser2

It has been a fun spring preparing new things for Chic-a. One of them is video! There has been a lot of photography and videoing going on around Santa Barbara to give Chic-a a new look. I have worked with a great team of people to make these happen. It has been a very fun, creative learning experience too. Here are a couple of videos to get you in the Chic-a mood.

This first video is a fun and playful display of Chic-a prints. It is called Chic-a Timeless

The second video is a teaser for the Chic-a Video Catalog -Look Book. It is called Chic-a Catalog Teaser

Hope you enjoy watching and please feel free to subscribe to the Chic-a channel.

One Forgotten Knitting Machine

22 Jun 2014 / 1 Comment / in Knitting/by Chic-a

Knitting makes its way into the high-fashion world once again!

Canadian knitwear designer Mark Fast has been around for awhile, and is now becoming a much-heard name in the fashion industry. The London-based designer, who’s gained a cult following for his fitted cobweb-knit designs, has collaborated with Stuart Vevers, Bora Aksu, Christian Louboutin, Swarovski, Topshop, Pinko, Crazy Horse Paris, Woolmark, Lanvin, and Aldo Rise. He is also the winner of loads of prestigious fashion awards. He’s known for his signature skin-tight, holey dresses which he makes for all sizes, from plus-size to maternity.

The thing we love about Mark is that he designs his knits by hand on a domestic knitting machine, forming his pieces onto the body as he knits. He’s devised innovative stitching techniques, blending lycra with the finest luxurious yarns creating new exciting textures.

When Mark was a student at Central St. Martins in London, he discovered a life-changing piece of equipment:

“At Seneca in Toronto, I had studied flat patterning, and thought that this was really it for me,” he says. “But I was walking down Well Street, in Hackney, and I found the most amazing domestic knitting machine at a charity shop. It was about a week before they were going out of business, and I can’t imagine why they would have this massive machine. And you know, I almost didn’t buy it because I didn’t know how to use it. But I just taught myself, and ever since then it is the only machine that I have used.”

With a little luck, a lot of perseverance, and a bit of time, Mark became a bona-fide genius of knits who wields a complex and intricate arsenal of stitches to exalt and enhance the female form. And while his technical skill is far-reaching, his methodology is remarkably singular:

“I always start with the body and the extensions off the body. I get inspired by the severity of stitches as they expand and contrast across the body’s curves, creating an interesting interplay with revealing and concealing elements. I am also inspired by the astounding range of possibilities that the various stitch patterns provide,” he says.

“There’s so much fast fashion out there. I want to create pieces that are different from everything else, that focus on the craftsmanship. Because I use a mechanical knitting machine, each piece requires a substantial time investment. For me, this slowness is important, because it gives each piece a special quality that cannot be mass-produced. It is to create an elegance that is unique and can survive the test of time. I want to focus on the beauty of the woman’s body, and not layer it with so many unnecessary accoutrements and bulk.”

Here’s to Mark and his uniquely-designed knitted couture!




Knitting A Score

05 Jun 2014 / 0 Comments / in Fun things in the Knitting World, Knitting/by Chic-a

Musical inspiration can come from anywhere. Even…a shawl?

When 37-year-old Icelandic composer Hafdís Bjarnadóttir noticed similarities between the score of Ligeti’s “Atmosphères” (a piece she was studying) and the pattern for a lacy shawl she was knitting, she was inspired to score her own piece based on the pattern.

She ended up with a composition called“Thordis’ Fichu”, which became her Master’s project. The first two parts of the score—for symphony orchestra and piano respectively—are an ethereal sound world with pauses where the knitting pattern has holes in it.

This type of “mathematical knitting” has been popular for awhile, but no one has ever done anything quite like Bjarnadóttir.

Neither the composition or the shawl are finished yet, but it’s so amazing how two art forms can be so similar.

Us knitters can find beauty in everything!

Original Knittsters

28 Apr 2014 / 4 Comments / in Knitting/by Chic-a

I’ve been falling madly in love with vintage intarsia and graphic novelty knitted sweaters. They’re simply adorable, and so stylish that it almost makes me wish California were colder. Almost.

One of the coolest things about these vintage sweaters is how you could customize them to your personality—like the saxophone one (if you’re musical), or the one covered in boys’ names (if you, um, date a lot). It makes me want to customize one—or ten—for myself. The animal prints are cute, too.

What print would you choose for your novelty sweater? And can you knit intarsia style?




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How Chic-a Began

Chic-a was founded in 2007 by Joanna Reyes. Born out of an idea to create something practical, yet fun and colorful for knitting and crochet projects, Joanna designed and crafted the Quick Draw Project Bag. Responding to immediate popularity, Joanna continued to develop products to meet the growing demand, and out of this, Chic-a was born.

After 10 wonderful years in business and meeting countless amazing people who have helped make this venture possible, the Chic-a offices are closing their doors. Our products will no longer be manufactured, but you can still find some in retail stores. Click here to find one near you.

If you have any questions about Chic-a, please contact Chicaknitting@gmail.com

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