Ballet Winter Knits

The first step in creating this collection was developing a theme rooted in Christmas nostalgia. I wanted the collection to evoke the warm, cozy feeling that the holiday season has always given me. The Nutcracker became a major source of inspiration because it reminds me of my childhood and the sense of magic I associate with Christmas. I also did ballet when I was younger, which made this theme feel even more personal and meaningful to incorporate into my work.

Before beginning the knit development, I sketched several motif ideas to explore how the theme could translate visually. My original concepts included ballet shoes and snowflakes as central design elements. As I transitioned from drawing into working with knit structures, I quickly realized how technically complex it would be to recreate these detailed motifs accurately in knit form. This challenge pushed me to simplify and refine my designs, leading me to take a more minimal and abstract approach for the final collection.

This evolution in process allowed the collection to maintain its nostalgic and elegant inspiration while becoming more wearable, cohesive, and structurally successful as knitwear.

Technical Information

Machine:

Shima Seiki 14 gauge N.SVR
4 color jacquard double knit, birds eye pique on technical back

Yarns:

28/1 Wicket Yellow, 100% cotton (2 ends/carrier)
30/1 Sage, 100% cotton (3 ends/carrier)
30/1 Pastel Pink, 100% cotton (3 ends/carrier)
28/1 Rich Blue, 100% cotton (3 ends/carrier)

Softwares:

NED Graphics
Adobe Illustrator