PHASE TWO: MEET THE KNITWEAR DESIGNERS
“Gara ndiruke” (sit and let me braid) My yarn bombing is inspired by the transformative joy of being able to explore fluctuating identity through my hair after my mother and nanny taught me. I wore many masks.
“Country Plant” by Fatima Duke-Pratt - @unduku_luku - My yarn bombing is an exploration of the colourful traditional hairstyles and hair accessories I wore in my childhood. In Krio, the most widely spoken language in Sierra Leone, ‘country plant’ describes a type of cornrow/braid that I have featured in my work
“Breanna” by Peju Obasa - @pejuobasa, - A yarn bombing homage to Breanna, my first Barbie doll. With Breanna, my fascination with braiding found its playground!
"Braids For My Girls" by Sheree Robinson - @Shereerarobinson -My yarn bombing features depictions of the dialogue, phrases, symbols, and pictures that make up our familiar hair language; it’s a love letter of joy to the hair of my daughter and sister. The work uses the knitting techniques of Braiding, Faire Isle, Colour Work and Beaded Knitting.
“Combing Through” by Mia Rodney - @allbitsknit - I encourage the viewer to interact with my yarn bombing through touch and feeling. The focus is on hair in its natural curly state, with nods to straightening hair. I explore these intricate curl patterns in my knits, with large hand knitted panels – crafted using relaxing repetitive movements – just like in hair braiding