BACKGROUND: I am a PhD researcher at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design at the University of Dundee. My research project is titled: An Investigation of Creative Practice as a Shield for Innate Sensitivity. I believe there is a direct connection between creative practice and being highly sensitive. Knitting is my focus for this project-based PhD, and using the rich knitting heritage of Scotland is the perfect base for my research. My main project is this is me | knitted and I hope to find participants from all over the world! Please read the information below - I’d love you to be involved!
PROJECT: this is me | knitted is a project that will be part of my final dissertation defense. Since my PhD is project-based, this project will form the visual portion of my dissertation. My hope is to curate a collection of at least 100 this is me pieces that will be showcased here - on my website, as well as on social media. No personally identifiable information will be shared and participants can opt-out of social media sharing (more on that in the information packet).
This is an opportunity for you to knit yourself! What could be more fun? Each piece should be approximately 8 inch/20 cm - a ‘fun size’ version of you! This can be knit in ANY way you choose - it can be a true representation of yourself, an abstract version, a younger version… I think I’m going for a thinner version. :) It’s a chance for you to pull out bits of wool that you love and create a mini version of yourself. I will provide a basic pattern for a body if you want to follow it, but it’s not required, what’s important is that you have fun with this! My plan is to do some live Instagram and/or Facebook videos so we can discuss ways to create clothing, hair, faces or anything you want to do.
I’m sure there will be lots of questions and I hope to answer all of them in an information packet as well as updating a Q&A portion of my website and posting some Instagram videos. I know I will be asked if the entire piece has to be knitted and my response is no - but I would like a minimum of 80% of it to be knitted. As for it being an actual person, that’s complicated. The short answer is ‘yes’, because this is part of a larger show, but ‘you’ could be knitted out of baby blue mohair with no facial features but an amazing hat so there’s a lot of room for creativity. If you have questions, contact me. I will be posting some pieces I’ve been playing with and I even embroidered a pair of eyes on one (which look a bit evil, if I’m honest…), and I may play with some bits of scrap fabric here and there. I want the focus to be on knitting and I think it’s a wonderful opportunity to just let go and be creative! This is not about knitting the perfect piece, this is about showing me who you are - an expression of your own story! By creating a small piece, I’m hoping that everyone will use wool from their stash - bits and pieces left over from previous projects so these will really reflect who you are.
Once you sign up to be part of the project, I’ll send you an information packet. It will include the directions to a very basic and easy body, plus another form to capture information as well as whether you identify as highly sensitive. Also, I want to collect your thoughts going into the project, then a reflection once you’ve completed your this is me, and finally, a name/title for your piece and a brief annotation (blurb) to add to your piece when I post it. Of course, there will be project information and a consent form and such as well. Don’t worry, it’ll all make sense…..
I will be collecting the projects and reflections and will provide posting information. Right now I’m hoping to provide two different addresses, one in the UK and one in the US to make it easier to post.
WHAT NEXT: your pieces will form part of my final dissertation defense. I plan on showcasing just how diverse, colourful and amazingly creative we all are. Participants will have the option of signing up for updates on my work as well as presentations and events as they take place.
I am in the process of setting everything up so for now, follow Merrily by Design on Instagram and/or Facebook to see the announcement of when everything goes live! There will be a new Instagram and Facebook page (thisisme_knitted - still in progress) that will feature all the pieces as they are received so this should be a lot of fun!
I hope you’ll join me and many others on this journey - I’m truly very excited to see you - knitted!
Take me to the sign-up page! SIGN-UP PAGE