Fashion Knitwear: Design / Create / Construct

Fashion Knitwear: Design / Create / Construct

This practical course combines the two interconnected disciplines of fashion and textiles through the medium of knitted fabric design.

It will start with design and trend research, followed by technical workshops on the industrial knitting machines to create knit samples, and will finish with garment construction.

By the end of three weeks, you’ll have a portfolio of work and a finished, accomplished and wearable piece of knitted fashion.

Nottingham Trent University has one of the most famous fashion and knitwear departments of all UK universities, with a team of expert tutors and specialist technicians that work with students and industry on innovative and creative projects.

In summer, you can immerse yourself in our fashion knitwear world on this three-week creative and technical course.

The course is aimed at anyone interested in knitting and learning to make up a complete garment.

You'll experience industry-level resources, explore design processes, extend your portfolio and create some amazing new work.

And all this takes place in the centre of Nottingham, a city that’s famous for its textile and fashion heritage.

During the course, you’ll learn about and experiment with:

• knitted fabric design - specialising in the industrial Dubied machine
• fashion knitwear trend research
• yarn and material awareness
• knitted garment construction techniques
• the toiling process
• digital knit workshops.

You’ll also see the future of smart knitted textile technology.

The projects will enhance your knowledge of garment specification and terminology, enabling you to understand the potential in taking a piece from concept to manufacture.

By the end of the course you’ll have:

• the expertise to produce samples and swatches on the Dubied knitting machine that you can develop in the future
• the creative and technical ability to design, knit and construct a basic yet accomplished garment
• innovative, contemporary work for your portfolio
• a new network of knit practitioners.

This course is ideal for a range of people, especially:

• students who have completed at least one year of an undergraduate course in fashion or textiles
• fashion or textile professionals looking for inspiration
• teachers and technicians looking for ways to engage with knit design and technology.

Learning will take place during scheduled workshops including technical knit and garment make up sessions, sketchbook and research investigation, and portfolio development.

You’ll be encouraged to use the University's extensive library resources and visit galleries or museums to help generate your own personal concepts.

Supporting your studio work, and to help put your skills and knowledge into a historical and global context, there’ll be a visit to a famous knitwear manufacturer (subject to availability) during the course.

"It has always been my dream to study fashion knitwear at NTU, and the course has been perfect." IW, Switzerland

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at NTU. The course was as good as I hoped it would be, and all the staff involved were helpful and enthusiastic." SC, UK

“I enjoyed getting to focus solely on knitting for three weeks and getting to use industry-standard machines and design software.” TF, Australia