To talk to Ruth and Belinda
or to place an order: 01392 411700
info@ruthandbelinda.co.uk
 

 

 

 

Belinda Harris-Reid BA Hons. MA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Knitting is important to me.

I have created 'performance' and environments that excite and entice for over 25 years.

I love yarn; quality yarn, exquisite, special, natural. I find manipulating traditional designs exciting; to create, to knit and to wear/exhibit.

Belinda will soon be launching her own collection:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My work often appears organic but is in fact highly planned. Challenging preconceptions of knitting by combining traditional knitting designs and stylistics and re-forming them into unusual shapes that are wearable excite and delight me. By constructive and deconstructive exploration (knit and un-ravel), the designs evolve organically, forming pattern through structure.

 

I like the unconventional. The possibilities of hand-knit design are a constant inspiration.

 

Co-Curator/producer and co-founder of R&B Design Events:  promotes, exhibits and trains (hosting ‘the big KNIT show’, exhibitions, art events, etc.) and ‘KNIT in’ (workshops and skills sessions)

 

Please visit my website:

www.belindaharrisreid.co.uk

 

The possibilities of hand- knitting are a constant inspiration.

 

Belinda wearing Bella Wrap

 

 

Ethos: Challenging people to experience humour/pathos/grace, to grow self-determination, to encourage independent design and joyful confidence, to discover unexpected paths into new territories of hand-knitted work.

 

 

 

Elaborate Aran jacket designed and worn by Belinda - an abundance of cables. (Dartmoor, Devon)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Words made Flesh

To call for, to notice, to interpret, to comment upon the productive presence of hand-knitters whether they call themselves artists, designers, makers, fibre-art-practitioners or knitters in this era and the eras long past is to be indebted to the skills and techniques and related modes of working with yarn and to the myriad motifs and stitches and ideas that have been dissected and discussed.

I would like simply and openly to declare my collective debt to the foremothers and fathers of a hand-knitting history, no matter how it is defined or imagined (negatively or otherwise); no matter that some people might misinterpret it or express doubt about the artistic qualities associated with the art or even see it as the perquisite of the older generation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hand-knitting and its curious investigators have changed and are changing the terrain of the possible. These are just words; the hand-knitters have left a legacy. It is based in tradition and expanded by innovation and can be seen today.

 

 

 

Knitting is skilled work, slow art, measured and precise. Special. It is an end in itself, (warm, beautiful and satisfying), and a vehicle for people of all ages and abilities to engage with fellow makers/creators, to share methods and techniques, to establish a network of support; give mutual praise and encouragement for their work and conceptions.

We find that it is a slice of ‘the real people’ when it works well.

As hand-knitting is an endlessly variable transferable, creative and low-tech skill we conclude it should be re-classified as an expressive and significant art.

 

 

Belinda wearing Square Dance