the story behind 'bend the knee dragon coat'
Nearly two years in the making, this is the story of the 'Dragon Coat'...
December 2016: After leaving a show (and selling nothing at all), I decided I needed to create items that were fast and much less expensive.
Thus began the idea: Inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's stain glass windows, I planned to create neck scarves.
Well, as usual the plan has changed. Inspired by a coat designed by Steinmetz - I’m designing a full length coat.
February 2017: At the moment, there are 30 different shades (41 by the end of the project) of Malabrigo yarns included in this piece. I’ve completed several different Vs and hope to be attaching them soon. The Vs will constitute the bottom skirt section of the coat.
March 2017: I’ve spent the last 3 months (+/-) knitting beautiful Vs from many different colors of Malabrigo Rios yarns. They’ve been knit in a very systematic way with one color from the center of the V leading to the next color of the next V.
If you look at the photo you can see the stacks of Vs in different colors behind the constructed piece.
After spending the weekend at the fabulous Mountain
Where it all began: This was actually the first piece knitted for the Dragon Coat - I just didn't know it at the time. I LOVED learning this new stitch and it is WAY fun to knit! This was originally believed to be the upper back panel, but that may change.
May 2017: I’m now in the construction phase and am completing the pleats of the skirt. I have the joy of knitting and grafting BLACK yarn (Ugh)! I keep telling myself it will be worth it when it’s complete. Meanwhile, I have to work with a lighted magnifier most of the time.
June 2017: The weight of the skirt is becoming a design issue and I’ve realized that if I still want this to actually be a co
July 2017: Just uploaded the photos from the ‘skirt’ - it is exactly what I wanted it to look like. The black between the colored stripes really sets the colors off and is designed to open as the skirt moves while walking. I’ve included small eyelets in the black for just a little effect. The skirt weighs in at 4 pounds!
Now, to finish design decisions about the bodice.
How it Got it's Name:
August 2017: The weight of it continues to be an issue and it’s difficult to work on unless I have a lot of space to spread out. Spent the weekend completely immersed working to move this piece forward at the Mountain Hollow Farm Retreat in Pineville KY. I had it spread out on the table the very first night I was there when in walked Shelia Anderson from Richmond VA! She took
Sleeves & Dragon Scales:
September 2017: Sleeves, sleeves, sleeves! The armholes needed to be adjusted so the sleeves could be knitted. I had to knit an extra color for the sleeves as I WAY underestimated the full size they’d need. Once that was completed, I was able to knit the sleeves into two matching cylinders.
I plan to attach the sleeves using short rows where the ‘dragon scales’ will be atta
January 2018: It’s been more than a year on this project.
I ripped out structural pieces originally added to sustain the weight, it became clear it’s got to be lined with a non-stretch fabric.
February 2018: I’ve lined most of the body and it's changed the fit: making it bulkier than I’d like. I plan to line more of the coat than I originally thought. The process is difficult and my hands have the
The Dragon: Made with knitted I-cord. I had no idea it would become part of the coat. It was a fun experiment I worked on while on vacation.
March 2018: Lining is complete. Now I know why I don't quilt: sewing needles and pins bite. Ouch!
The front of the coat has been more complicated than I expected but I’m happy with the outcome.
Using finger knitting that I learned from Charles Gandy, I’ve
July 2018: there were many attempts to find adequate closures that could be hidden: • Hook & eye: nope. Showed too much but were strong. I removed them after getting 9 of them sewn in. Ugh!
Then, I found the right ones: magnetic clasps usually used for purse clasps. They were a little hard to hide on the front of the coat but with a little imagination and determination - they worked beautifully!
Lastly, the tail and the interior caps were knitted and sewn in. The interior caps hide all the ends from knitting in the dragon scales and eventually will be felted into the fabric.
It had to be completed for it's full debut - jurying into the Southern Highlands Craft Guild.
AWARDS:
May 2019: Artfields: Lake City SC. Best of State: Tennessee
January 2020: Vogue Knitting Kaleidoscope Finalist - walks the runway at Vogue!
May 2020: Featured in Vogue Knitting: Spring/Summer 2020, pg: 35.
July 2021: 3rd Place Wearable Art: Handweavers Guild of America
July 2022: