Adrienne Sloane and Alissa Sorenson, Fiber Artists

Adrienne Sloane

Alissa Sorenson

I want to introduce you to these two fabulous fiber artists Adrienne Sloane ( first 2 pictures) and Alissa Sorenson (second 2 pictures)

Adrienne Sloane is one of seven artists from across the country that will present the age-old arts of knitting, weaving, crochet and basketry in unexpectedly unique and eclectic ways during the “Loose Ends: Contemporary Fiber Arts” exhibit to be held in the Lincoln Center Galleries 417 West Magnolia Fort Collins, CO 80521 from Saturday, Sept. 12, through Oct. 23. Whether made from threads, yarns or even modern plastics and wires, rich, colorful fibers form the core of this exhibit. The art pictured here is a very unique and takes a talented artist with a vision to achieve. I have being seeing some fiber artists doing this sculptural knitting using silk-steel yarns and I am very impressed with their efforts, as this yarn is very difficult to work with. Alissa Sorenson (work pictured above) won Juror’s Choice award and a Greater Columbus Arts Council award, the latter for Hungry, at the Ohio State Fair this year. Alissa Sorenson (work pictured above) won Juror’s Choice award and a Greater Columbus Arts Council award, the latter for Hungry, at the Ohio State Fair this year. Alissa also has a number of stunning fiber sculpture on Flickr as well as her site “Three Faces of Fiber Art” check out this talented Ohio artist.

Adrienne Sloane Artist Statement: Knitting shapes have long been defined by the human form. By moving the context of knitting from clothing geometry to sculpture, knitting becomes a medium with a link to a rich and complex fiber tradition that has the power of history behind it. To be able to turn a single strand of yarn into fiber building blocks with form and function, texture and color is also energizingly low tech. Working in what has long been considered a traditional woman’s medium, I aim to an artistic aesthetic informed by traditional craft, art and politics. My work aspires to dissolve the boundaries between craft and art, mindful of the historical context of the medium. I knit to rejoin the frayed and unraveled places around me.

Alissa Sorenson Artist Statement: My work is a conceptual exploration of the psyche, and the dichotomy of the human condition as beings of energy (spirit) and matter. My process is to use knitting as a metaphor for how we live our lives; each stitch represents a choice – an act – and lays the foundation for creating our futures, both individually and collectively. Education: BA Visual Arts – Studio, University of California, San Diego

One of my favorite things to make on a circular knitting machine is scarves, because they’re a great way to use leftover yarn and certainly faster than knitting by hand.

But if you pay attention to the colors you’re using and how you are using them, you can make fun knitting machine scarves that look like something different when you roll them up.

One of the first versions of this I saw was the sushi scarf, are there are a lot of variations on this one. For example this one from Flower and Anchor that uses five colors of yarn, or this one from Three Threads NE that uses four. These generally are made to look like California rolls, but you could change up the colors to make them different things if you like. Just make sure the outside of the “roll” is black or green to indicate the nori. I found another version on Pinterest if you’re looking for a free pattern, but there’s no image of it rolled up.

Another popular variation is making a scarf that rolls up to look like a mug with coffee, tea or another fun beverage inside. This collection of three mug scarf circular knitting machine patterns from Idaho Cottage Creation includes green tea, a pumpkin spice latte with whipped cream and a candy cane colored confection (which honestly reminds me of the Grinch since it has a green mug!). Again you can change the colors of the mug part and the drink part. The little handle looks like it’s crocheted on these, and it doubles as a loop you can thread the scarf end through when you wear it.

Again there’s a version of the green tea scarf on Pinterest with crocheted elements. I also found a latte done with a striped yarn and a red mug that’s pretty cute and gives you an idea what a different beverage would look like.

I also love this pumpkin pie scarf designed by Jodi Favish Saunier. It has a bit of crocheted edging to give it a fancy crust but you can omit that if you don’t crochet. These are all on Facebook but she also has a watermelon and lemonade pattern that are super cute.

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